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Treaty of Versailles Evaluation

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Treaty of Versailles Evaluation

It is 1919. The First World War has ended, and leaders have negotiated a peace treaty. Use the sources and timeline on this sheet to weigh what the Treaty of Versailles achieved, what it failed to achieve, and why its effects remain debated. Support your judgements with evidence.

A peace with consequences

The Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28 June 1919. Germany had little say in its terms. The treaty required Germany to accept responsibility for the war, make payments for war damage, reduce its armed forces, and give up territory. Alsace-Lorraine returned to France; parts of Germany became part of the new Polish state, creating the Polish Corridor. The Saar was placed under League of Nations administration for 15 years, after which its people voted on its future. Germany's overseas colonies were transferred to other powers as mandates. The treaty also established the League of Nations, intended to help countries settle disputes peacefully. The United States did not join the League. Some people in France wanted strong protection against another German attack; many Germans regarded the treaty as humiliating and unjust. Historians disagree about how far the treaty itself contributed to later conflict: Germany also faced political divisions, economic crises and choices made by later leaders.

AREA

WHAT THE TREATY DID

Military

Limited Germany's armed forces, including a much smaller army and no air force.

Territory

Returned Alsace-Lorraine to France; transferred land to Poland; placed the Saar under League administration temporarily.

Money and blame

Required reparations and included a clause assigning Germany and its allies responsibility for war losses.

International cooperation

Created the League of Nations, but the United States did not join.

1.Which treaty term was intended most directly to reduce Germany's ability to start another war? Explain how it might have worked.

2.Choose two terms that could be seen as successes in creating a safer or more stable Europe. For each, explain the intended benefit.

3.Which statement is best supported by the information on this sheet?

The treaty gave Germany equal control over its terms.
The treaty combined punishments for Germany with a plan for international cooperation.
The League of Nations included every major Allied power.
The treaty made no changes to Europe's borders.

4.Complete the statement: Payments Germany was required to make to compensate for war damage were called .

5.True or false? The Saar was immediately handed permanently to France in 1919. Correct the statement if it is false.

TrueFalse

6.A German newspaper in 1919 calls the treaty “a dictated peace”. What point of view does this phrase express? Give one reason, using the passage or table.

7.The United States did not join the League of Nations. Why might this have weakened the League's ability to maintain peace? Explain one possible effect.

8.Evaluate this claim: “The Treaty of Versailles made another European war inevitable.” Give one piece of evidence that supports the claim and one reason the claim may be too simple.

9.Make a final judgement: was the Treaty of Versailles more successful as a peace settlement, or more of a failure? State your view and support it with two specific pieces of evidence from this sheet.