The aims of the Big Three at Versailles Cambridge IGCSE History revision
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In plain words
In January 1919 three men sat down in Paris to redraw the map of the world. They had won the war together. They agreed on almost nothing about what to do with the peace.
8 things to know
- The Paris Peace Conference opened in January 1919. The main decisions were made by the leaders of France, Britain and the USA, known as the Big Three. Germany was not invited to negotiate.
- Georges Clemenceau was Prime Minister of France. France had lost about 1.4 million soldiers, and its north-east had been wrecked by the fighting. Germany had invaded France twice in fifty years, in 1870 and in 1914.
- Clemenceau's aims: to punish Germany, to make it pay for the damage, and to weaken it so much that it could never attack France again.
- Woodrow Wilson was President of the USA. The USA had joined the war in 1917 and had suffered far less. Wilson was an idealist who wanted a fair peace that would last.
- Wilson's aims were set out in his Fourteen Points of January 1918. They included an end to secret treaties, disarmament, self-determination, which means the right of peoples to rule themselves, and a League of Nations to keep the peace.
- Wilson feared that a harsh treaty would leave Germany wanting revenge.
- David Lloyd George was Prime Minister of Britain. He stood between the other two. The British public wanted Germany punished, and he had just won an election by promising to make Germany pay.
- Privately, Lloyd George wanted Germany to recover enough to trade with Britain and to act as a barrier against communism spreading from Russia. He did want Germany to lose its navy and its colonies, which threatened the British Empire.
Worked example
Explain why Clemenceau and Wilson wanted different things from the peace. This is a "why" question worth 6 marks.
- Give a reason for Clemenceau and explain it: France had been invaded and devastated, so he wanted Germany weakened for the sake of French security.
- Give a reason for Wilson and explain it: the USA had not been invaded, and Wilson believed that a harsh peace would cause another war, so he wanted a fair settlement based on the Fourteen Points.
- Link the two: their countries' different experiences of the war led to different aims.
Tips and tricks
- For each leader, learn the aim and the reason for it. "Clemenceau wanted security, because France had been invaded twice" is one mark for the aim and one for the explanation.
- Lloyd George said one thing in public and thought another in private. That contrast is worth explaining.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
The aims of the Big Three at Versailles: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
Who was the leader of France at the Paris Peace Conference?
Clemenceau wanted Germany punished and weakened.
What were the Fourteen Points?
Wilson announced them in January 1918.
What does self-determination mean?
It was one of Wilson's key ideas.
Why did Lloyd George not want Germany treated too harshly?
His private aims were more moderate than his public promises.
Which statement best explains why the Big Three disagreed?Stretch
France had been invaded, Britain had an empire to protect, and the USA was far away.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
3 questions, 14 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
The aims of the Big Three at Versailles
Cambridge IGCSE History 0470 · 14 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
What were Wilson's aims at the Paris Peace Conference?[4]
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He wanted a fair and lasting peace based on his Fourteen Points. He wanted self-determination for the peoples of Europe. He wanted disarmament and an end to secret treaties. He wanted a League of Nations to settle disputes.
Why did Clemenceau want a harsh peace?[6]
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France had suffered enormous losses: about 1.4 million soldiers were dead, and farms, mines and towns in the north-east had been destroyed. He wanted Germany to pay for this. Germany had invaded France in 1870 and 1914, so he wanted Germany weakened so that it could never threaten France again. French public opinion also demanded revenge.
What did Lloyd George want from the peace?[4]
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He wanted Germany punished, but not so harshly that it would seek revenge. He wanted Germany to lose its navy and colonies, which threatened the British Empire. He wanted Germany to recover as a trading partner, and as a barrier against communism.
Answers: The aims of the Big Three at Versailles
- 1. He wanted a fair and lasting peace based on his Fourteen Points. He wanted self-determination for the peoples of Europe. He wanted disarmament and an end to secret treaties. He wanted a League of Nations to settle disputes.
- 2. France had suffered enormous losses: about 1.4 million soldiers were dead, and farms, mines and towns in the north-east had been destroyed. He wanted Germany to pay for this. Germany had invaded France in 1870 and 1914, so he wanted Germany weakened so that it could never threaten France again. French public opinion also demanded revenge.
- 3. He wanted Germany punished, but not so harshly that it would seek revenge. He wanted Germany to lose its navy and colonies, which threatened the British Empire. He wanted Germany to recover as a trading partner, and as a barrier against communism.