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The '''Paris Peace Conference''' of 1919, also called the '''Versailles Conference''', was the most important diplomatic meeting of the 20th century.  The victorious Allied powers of World War I dictated the peace terms to the defeated Central Powers, declared explicitly the guilt of Germany for starting the war, and imposed very heavy reparations on Germany so that it would eventually pay all the costs of the war, rearranged the map of Europe to allow some self determination and create numerous new nations (such as Poland, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia), and created the League of Nations in order to prevent future wars. The major provisions were included in the [[Treaty of Versailles]], along with several other treaties. The U.S. led by President [[Woodrow Wilson]] played a major role at Versailles, but the U.S. Senate rejected the Versailles Treaty and refused to join the League of Nations. Historians give a mixed verdict to the conference. Many believe it sowed the seeds of World War II by mistreatment of Germany, others say it was about as good a result as could have been expected.  

The '''Paris Peace Conference''' of 1919, also called the '''Versailles Conference''', was the most important diplomatic meeting of the 20th century.  The victorious Allied powers of World War I dictated the peace terms to the defeated Central Powers, declared explicitly the guilt of Germany for starting the war, and imposed very heavy reparations on Germany so that it would eventually pay all the costs of the war, rearranged the map of Europe to allow some self determination and create numerous new nations (such as Poland, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia), and created the League of Nations in order to prevent future wars. The major provisions were included in the '''Treaty of Versailles''', along with several other treaties. The U.S. led by President [[Woodrow Wilson]] played a major role at Versailles, but the U.S. Senate rejected the Versailles Treaty and refused to join the League of Nations. Historians give a mixed verdict to the conference. Many believe it sowed the seeds of World War II by mistreatment of Germany, others say it was about as good a result as could have been expected.  

[[Image:Lgeorge1.jpg|thumb|290px||A pleased Lloyd George brings an Easter egg to Britain in the form of the Versailles Peace Treaty, April 1919'']]

[[Image:Lgeorge1.jpg|thumb|290px||A pleased Lloyd George brings an Easter egg to Britain in the form of the Versailles Peace Treaty, April 1919'']]

   

   

The Peace Conference opened met in Paris from January 1919 to January 1920, finishing its most important work regarding Germany in June 1919. It wrote five major treaties: (1) the Treaty of Versailles with Germany, June 28, 1919; (2) the Treaty of Saint-Germain with Austria, Sept. 10, 1919; (3) the Treaty of Neuilly with Bulgaria, Nov. 27, 1919; (4) the Treaty of Trianon with Hungary, June 4, 1920; and (5) the Treaty of Sevres with Turkey, Aug. 20, 1920 (which was modified by the Treaty of Lausanne, July 24, 1923).  

The Peace Conference met in Paris from January 1919 to January 1920, finishing its most important work regarding Germany in June 1919. It wrote five major treaties: (1) the Treaty of Versailles with Germany, June 28, 1919; (2) the Treaty of Saint-Germain with Austria, Sept. 10, 1919; (3) the Treaty of Neuilly with Bulgaria, Nov. 27, 1919; (4) the Treaty of Trianon with Hungary, June 4, 1920; and (5) the Treaty of Sevres with Turkey, Aug. 20, 1920 (which was modified by the Treaty of Lausanne, July 24, 1923).  

==Big Four==

==Big Four==

[[Woodrow Wilson]] was the hope of idealists everywhere; even the Germans looked to him for a statesmanlike peace. But the cry for vengeance was strong among the Allies, especially the French. Wilson sought the self-determination of peoples, but there were many overlapping interests and no simple solution was possible. Secret agreements among the Allies, especially promises made to Italy, hindered Wilson's treaty-making, and, idolized though he was by the peoples of Europe, he had to modify his aims to the practical demands of [[Georges Clemenceau]] of France, [[David Lloyd George]] of Britain, and Vittorio Orlando of Italy.  

[[Woodrow Wilson]] was the hope of idealists everywhere; even the Germans looked to him for a statesmanlike peace. But the cry for vengeance was strong among the Allies, especially the French. Wilson sought the self-determination of peoples, but there were many overlapping interests and no simple solution was possible. Secret agreements among the Allies, especially promises made to Italy, hindered Wilson's treaty-making, and, idolized though he was by the peoples of Europe, he had to modify his aims to the practical demands of [[Georges Clemenceau]] of France, [[David Lloyd George]] of Britain, and Vittorio Orlando of Italy.  

• [[World War II]]

• [[World War II]]

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

* Andelman, David A. '' A Shattered Peace: Versailles 1919 and the Price We Pay Today'' (2007), highly negative assessmnent by journalist

* Albrecht-Carrie, Rene. ''Italy at the Paris Peace Conference'' (1938) [http://www.questia.com/read/27941224?title=Italy%20at%20the%20Paris%20Peace%20Conference%20(Part%20One%20%22The%20Orlando-Sonnino%20Ministry%20(November%2c%201918%20-%20June%2c%201919)%22) online edition]

* Andelman, David A. ''A Shattered Peace: Versailles 1919 and the Price We Pay Today'' (2007) popular history that stresses multiple long-term disasters caused by Treaty. [http://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Peace-Versailles-Price-Today/dp/0471788988/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210532673&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Bailey; Thomas A. ''Wilson and the Peacemakers: Combining Woodrow Wilson and the Lost Peace and Woodrow Wilson and the Great Betrayal'' (1947) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/wilson-and-the-peacemakers-combining-woodrow-wilson-and-the-lost-peace-and-woodrow-wilson-and-the-great-betrayal-by-thomas-a-bailey.jsp online edition]

* Bailey; Thomas A. ''Wilson and the Peacemakers: Combining Woodrow Wilson and the Lost Peace and Woodrow Wilson and the Great Betrayal'' (1947) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/wilson-and-the-peacemakers-combining-woodrow-wilson-and-the-lost-peace-and-woodrow-wilson-and-the-great-betrayal-by-thomas-a-bailey.jsp online edition]

* Boemeke, Manfred F., et al, eds. ''The Treaty of Versailles: A Reassessment after 75 Years'' (1998). major collection of important papers by scholars [http://www.amazon.com/Treaty-Versailles-Reassessment-Publications-Historical/dp/0521621321/ref=sip_rech_dp_7 excerpt and text search]

* Boemeke, Manfred F., et al, eds. ''The Treaty of Versailles: A Reassessment after 75 Years'' (1998). major collection of important papers by scholars [http://www.amazon.com/Treaty-Versailles-Reassessment-Publications-Historical/dp/0521621321/ref=sip_rech_dp_7 excerpt and text search]

* Clements, Kendrick, A. ''Woodrow Wilson: World Statesman'' (1999)

* Clements, Kendrick, A. ''Woodrow Wilson: World Statesman'' (1999) [http://www.amazon.com/Woodrow-Wilson-Statesman-Kendrick-Clements/dp/1566632676/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192010890&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Greene, Theodore P. ed. ''Wilson at Versailles'' (1957), short readings by experts

* Greene, Theodore P. Ed. ''Wilson at Versailles'' (1957), shortr excerpts from scholars [http://www.questia.com/read/9467242 online edition]

* Henig, Ruth. ''Versailles and After: 1919-1933'' (2nd ed. 1995), 100 pages; brief introduction by scholar [http://www.amazon.com/Versailles-After-1919-1933-Lancaster-Pamphlets/dp/0415127106/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c  excerpt and text search]

* Henig, Ruth. ''Versailles and After: 1919-1933'' (2nd ed. 1995), 100 pages; brief introduction by scholar [http://www.amazon.com/Versailles-After-1919-1933-Lancaster-Pamphlets/dp/0415127106/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c  excerpt and text search]

* Keynes, John Maynard, ''The Economic Consequences of the Peace'' (1920) famous criticism by leading economist [http://books.google.com/books?id=0VcKN-RbPnoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:Economic+intitle:Consequences+intitle:of+intitle:the+intitle:Peace&lr=&num=30&as_brr=0 full text online]

* Keynes, John Maynard, ''The Economic Consequences of the Peace'' (1920) famous criticism by leading economist [http://books.google.com/books?id=0VcKN-RbPnoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:Economic+intitle:Consequences+intitle:of+intitle:the+intitle:Peace&lr=&num=30&as_brr=0 full text online]

* Knock, Thomas J. ''To End All Wars: Woodrow Wilson and the Quest for a New World Order'' (1995)

* Knock, Thomas J. ''To End All Wars: Woodrow Wilson and the Quest for a New World Order'' (1995) [http://www.amazon.com/End-All-Wars-Woodrow-Wilson/dp/0691001502/ref=sr_1_8/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192010890&sr=8-8 excerpt and text search]

* MacMillan, Margaret. ''Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World'' (2002), well-written scholarly history [http://www.amazon.com/Paris-1919-Months-Changed-World/dp/0375508260/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231806254&sr=8-15 excerpt and text search]

* Lederer, Ivo J. ''The Versailles Settlement--Was It Foredoomed to Failure?'' (1960) excerpts  from scholars [http://www.questia.com/read/6098836?title=The%20Versailles%20Settlement--Was%20It%20Foredoomed%20to%20Failure%3f online edition]

* Macmillan, Margaret. ''Peacemakers: The Paris Conference of 1919 and Its Attempt to End War'' (2002), also published as ''Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World'' (2003); highly influential study [http://www.amazon.com/Paris-1919-Months-Changed-World/dp/0375760520/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210532673&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]

* Schwabe, Klaus. ''Woodrow Wilson, Revolutionary Germany, and Peacemaking, 1918-1919: Missionary Diplomacy and the Realities of Power'' (1985) [http://www.questia.com/read/104678514 online edition]

* Steiner, Zara. ''The Lights that Failed: European International History 1919-1933'' (Oxford History of Modern Europe) (2007), major scholarly work [http://www.amazon.com/Lights-that-Failed-International-1919-1933/dp/0199226865/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231806541&sr=1-2 excerpt and text search]

* Steiner, Zara. ''The Lights that Failed: European International History 1919-1933'' (Oxford History of Modern Europe) (2007), major scholarly work [http://www.amazon.com/Lights-that-Failed-International-1919-1933/dp/0199226865/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231806541&sr=1-2 excerpt and text search]

* Walworth, Arthur. ''Wilson and His Peacemakers: American Diplomacy at the Paris Peace Conference, 1919'' (1986) 618pp[http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=104399613  online edition]

* Walworth, Arthur. ''Wilson and His Peacemakers: American Diplomacy at the Paris Peace Conference, 1919'' (1986) 618pp[http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=104399613  online edition]

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