Analysis of the Conditions Set Forth in the Treaty of Versailles

After World War I the world went into a panic and nations wanted to prevent such tragic war from happening again; therefore, they came up together to sign a treaty that would ensure the reign of peace in the world. Treaty of Versailles was one of the treaties signed to end the war that left many people dead and mass loss of properties. The treaty aimed at bringing peace between rival countries such as Germany and the Allied powers. The United States played a significant role in the establishment of peace after a long reign of war. The Treaty of Versailles came with various conditions that ensured that another war would not emerge in particular between the rival countries. This paper will discuss the conditions outlined in the Treaty of Versailles and how the United States tried to create a peaceful world through the international policies.

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Conditions in the Treaty of Versailles

The treaty tried to disarm the countries that participated in the war especially Germany. The treaty imposed a complex and comprehensive restriction on post-war Germany army. The treaty further required the German General Staff dissolved. The army supporters were reduced and the police force also reduced. The treaty is further prohibited the establishment of any paramilitary forces. The treaty further required that the military structures be destroyed. Again Germany was banned from engaging in any arms trade across Europe and its battleship limited to six cruise ships and other military machines. Germany suffered greatly after World War I since it was the main player in the war. After World War I the world became economically unstable since most properties were damaged in the process of war. Therefore, the establishment of Treaty of Versailles tried makes the main players in the war like Germany pay for the damages it caused. The treaty held Germany responsible for any damage and required her to compensate the rival, Allied powers (Faragher et al.). Treaty of Versailles ensured that this program would go as planned; therefore, they established the Reparation Commission in May 1921 that would oversee that Germany compensated the allied powers. The commission required German to pay approximately $5 billion by then paid in gold (20 billion gold marks). After World War I countries tried to look for whom to blame for the tragedies and place the consequences on; Germany was readily available for the blame due to its active participation in the war. The establishment of Treaty of Versailles aimed at restoring the peace that existed before war; therefore, there had to be someone to bear the blames. The establishment of War Guilt Clause as a way to blame Germany for war rose emotional attention from the Germans. As a result, most of them felt that they could not bear the powers given to their opponent allied powers and most the members of treaty commission from Germany joined Hitlers socialism movement. The Germans argued that the War-Guilt Clause was to cause resentment in Germany as it presented the German delegates with negative and bad traits; for example, harsh. Treaty of Versailles part I signed in Paris Peace Conference recommended the establishment of an international organization, League of Nations that would oversee the hearing and settlement of international disputes.

Land Redistribution: The emergence of Treaty of Versailles led to territorial changes that stripped Germany approximately 25,000 miles of land and gave it to the rival Allied powers (Faragher et al.). Belgium was given sovereignty over Western Germany, especially around Moresnet and Eupen-Malmedy area. French was given coal mines as compensation for the destruction caused by Germany during the war. Poland was given its independence and Germany was required to renounce its control over Poland.

The United States Efforts to create a stable and peaceful world

After World War I, President Woodrow Wilson tried to support his fellow Americans to the war effort in 1917. President Woodrow gave his promise that he would make the world safe for democracy. President Woodrows ideologies that the United States should serve as an example to other countries around the world were the main argument towards establishing a peaceful world. He came up with ideas to end the war and create a peaceful world for everyone; the ideas that were later referred to as Fourteen Points. Among the main points included in the Fourteen Points document include open covenants of peace. The document advised against secrets treaties and alliances claiming that every alliance and treaty should be made in public and openly arrived at (Faragher et al.). The document further claimed that peace could only exist when every country or state is free and enjoys its freedom. Therefore, the document advised that the regions of the seas were to be given a guaranteed freedom during all times; whether wartime or peacetime. The document also argued that peace cannot exist with the poor economy; therefore, it claimed that a free trade zone was to be established between countries so as to eliminate the fear of retribution. Another important component of the document was that the native people were to be considered and their needs are considered as well. Fourteen Points also argued that an international organization was to be established to oversee settlement of international disputes between countries around the world; therefore, the League of Nations was recommended to be established to meet this purpose. The document further advised against increasing armaments and advised that the national armaments should be drastically reduced.

Policies designed to prevent United Sates involvement in international disputes

After the World War, I most countries became economically disabled as most of the resources was used in the war to pay soldiers and also supplement resources (Faragher et al. Chapter 22). A lot of resources were damaged in the process of war; therefore, countries from both allied powers and Germany contributed to the financial crisis witnessed after World War I. United States realized that the crisis would face her; therefore, President Woodrow enacted various international policies to secure the United States from experiencing the tragic economic crisis that was to hit the whole world. Establishment of Nye Committee was one of the strategies to secure the United States from experiencing a financial crisis. Nye Committee was established to investigate the profiteering American bankers and industrialists oversee. The main aim of establishing this committee was to secure and protect American loans overseas. Neutrality Act was formed between 1935 and 1937 to prevent the United States from engaging in international disputes. The act restricted the United States from involving in arms sales and also established a cash-and-carry policy of sales where the United States was expected to purchase nonmilitary products and pay cash and use its ships to move around. Kellogg-Briand Pact was established in 1928 signed by almost 62 nations aimed at ending the war. The establishment of Kellogg-Briand Pact ensured that no nation would engage in conflict with another. The member countries agreed and signed the treaty to renounce was as a way to settle international disputes.

In conclusion, after World War I the world got into chaos and every country blamed their opponents for the damages that were caused by the war. Primary and major players in the war like Germany were punished and forced to pay for the damages it caused. The United States did not take any alliance before the war; however, towards the end of the war, United States sent hundreds of its soldiers to Germany to help the allied powers end the war that later caused more damage even to Germany. Various treaties were signed; however, Treaty of Versailles was the main treaty that seemed active and functional as most of the policies it recommended bore fruit after the war ended. For example, Germany paid the allied powers for the damages as recommended by the Reparation Commission. The war ended as well as it was the main aim of signing the treaty. The treaty offered some countries independence; for example, Poland that was removed from being a colony of Germany after the war. Although the United States tried to participate in ending the war, it also tried to keep away from any involvement in international disputes. The government under the leadership of President Woodrow Wilson enacted international policies such as Kellog-Briand Pact and Neutrality Acts that restricted the United States from engaging in any form of international dispute.

Work Cited

Faragher, John Mack, Daniel Czitrom, Mari Jo Buhle, and Susan H. Armitage. Out of many: A history of the American people. Prentice Hall, 1999