USA HISTORY

After World War I, the opposition of some Members of Congress to the Versailles Treaty was based largely on the idea that the Treaty

(A) did not punish the Central Powers harshly enough

(B) did not give the United States an important role in world affairs

(C) ** would require the United States to join the League of Nations and might result in a loss of United States sovereignty

(D) would require the United States to assume the cost of rebuilding the war-torn European economies

Concept note-1: -Senate opposition to the Treaty of Versailles cited Article 10 of the treaty, which dealt with collective security and the League of Nations. This article, opponents argued, ceded the war powers of the U.S. Government to the League’s Council.

Concept note-2: -The Treaty of Versailles caused furious reactions in Germany. Germany had to pay huge sums of money to the countries it had fought in compensation for the damage. In addition, France, England, and the United States wanted to prevent Germany from becoming strong enough to start a new war.

Concept note-3: -The Senate then considered a resolution to approve the treaty without reservations of any kind, which failed on a 38-53 vote. After 55 days of debate, the Senate had rejected the Treaty of Versailles.

Concept note-4: -The Senate opposition to the Versailles Treaty had arisen mainly in reaction to the collective security provisions in the Covenant of the League of Nations, which was to be established under the treaty. They saw these as an unconstitutional constraint on America’s freedom of action in international affairs.