Why the victors did not get all they wanted Cambridge IGCSE History revision
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In plain words
When the ink was dry, none of the three men who wrote the Treaty was happy with it. One thought it far too soft, one far too hard, and one feared it would mean another war. A compromise leaves everybody a little disappointed.
7 things to know
- The Treaty was a compromise. The Big Three wanted different things, so each had to give way on some points to get others.
- Clemenceau gained Alsace-Lorraine, reparations, a small German army and a demilitarised Rhineland. He had wanted more: a Germany broken up into small states, or the Rhineland taken away from it. Many in France thought the Treaty too lenient.
- Wilson gained the League of Nations, and self-determination for peoples such as the Poles and the Czechs. He had to give up much of the Fourteen Points. Only the defeated countries disarmed, and self-determination was not applied to Germans.
- Wilson thought the Treaty too harsh. The US Senate then refused to approve it, so the USA never joined the League that Wilson had designed.
- Lloyd George gained what Britain wanted most: the German navy was reduced and its colonies were taken. He was welcomed home as a hero. Privately he feared that the Treaty was too harsh and would lead to another war.
- Other pressures shaped the Treaty. Public opinion in Britain and France demanded revenge. Europe was in chaos, with empires collapsing and communism spreading, so the leaders had to work fast.
- The leaders were also bound by promises made during the war to allies such as Italy.
Worked example
"Clemenceau was the most satisfied of the Big Three with the Treaty of Versailles." How far do you agree? This is a 10-mark question.
- Agree: he gained Alsace-Lorraine, reparations, a tiny German army and a demilitarised Rhineland, all of which made France safer.
- Disagree: he had wanted Germany broken up, and thought the Treaty too soft. Lloyd George arguably did better, since Britain got the navy and colonies it wanted.
- Wilson was the least satisfied: most of his Fourteen Points were lost, and his own country rejected the Treaty.
- Judgement: Clemenceau gained a great deal, but Lloyd George came closest to getting what his country wanted.
Tips and tricks
- For "how far" questions, argue one side, then the other, then decide. Two balanced paragraphs and a judgement reach the top level.
- Remember the outcome for Wilson: the USA never joined the League. It shows how little he got in the end.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
Why the victors did not get all they wanted: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
Which leader's country refused to approve the Treaty?
The US Senate rejected it, and the USA never joined the League.
What had Clemenceau wanted that he did not get?
He thought the Treaty too lenient.
What did Lloyd George gain for Britain?
These protected the British Empire and its control of the seas.
Why is the Treaty described as a compromise?
Three different sets of aims could not all be met.
Which of Wilson's aims was achieved?Stretch
It was written into the Treaty, although the USA never joined.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
3 questions, 16 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
Why the victors did not get all they wanted
Cambridge IGCSE History 0470 · 16 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
What did Wilson fail to achieve at Versailles?[4]
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Any four: disarmament applied only to the defeated powers; self-determination was not given to Germans; the Treaty was harsher than he wanted; freedom of the seas was dropped; the US Senate refused to accept the Treaty, so the USA did not join the League.
Why was Clemenceau dissatisfied with the Treaty?[6]
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He wanted Germany made too weak to attack France again, but Germany was left as a single, large country. He had wanted the Rhineland taken from Germany, and it was only demilitarised. He believed the reparations and limits were not harsh enough, and many French people agreed that the Treaty was too lenient.
Why did the Big Three have to compromise?[6]
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They had different aims: Clemenceau wanted to cripple Germany, Wilson wanted a fair peace, and Lloyd George stood between them. No one could get everything without the agreement of the others. They were also under pressure from public opinion at home, and they needed to settle quickly because Europe was in disorder.
Answers: Why the victors did not get all they wanted
- 1. Any four: disarmament applied only to the defeated powers; self-determination was not given to Germans; the Treaty was harsher than he wanted; freedom of the seas was dropped; the US Senate refused to accept the Treaty, so the USA did not join the League.
- 2. He wanted Germany made too weak to attack France again, but Germany was left as a single, large country. He had wanted the Rhineland taken from Germany, and it was only demilitarised. He believed the reparations and limits were not harsh enough, and many French people agreed that the Treaty was too lenient.
- 3. They had different aims: Clemenceau wanted to cripple Germany, Wilson wanted a fair peace, and Lloyd George stood between them. No one could get everything without the agreement of the others. They were also under pressure from public opinion at home, and they needed to settle quickly because Europe was in disorder.