The Paris Peace Settlement of 1919–1920 attempted to reorganize international relations after the First World War.
The Conference
Representatives of the victorious powers met in Paris. Major personalities included Georges Clemenceau of France, Woodrow Wilson of the United States and David Lloyd George of Britain.
Aims
- To settle the war and punish the defeated powers.
- To redraw boundaries and create new states.
- To establish a system for collective security.
- To apply Wilson’s ideas, including the principle of self-determination, unevenly.
Treaty of Versailles
- Germany accepted responsibility for the war.
- Germany lost territory and colonies.
- Its military was restricted.
- It was required to pay reparations.
- The League of Nations was created as an international peace organization.
Assessment
Supporters argued that punishment was justified by German aggression, while critics argued that the terms were excessive and created resentment that contributed to later conflict.
