USA HISTORY

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM(1890 1919)

TREATY OF VERSAILLES

[SOURCES]
Which long term enemy of Germany wanted to punish Germany the harshest after the First World War?

(A) The USA

(B) Great Britain

(C) ** France

(D) Austria

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -The French, in particular, wanted Germany to pay a heavy price for the war, including loss of territory, disarmament and payment of reparations, while the British saw Wilson’s plan as a threat to their supremacy in Europe.

Concept note-2: -French President George Clemenceau wanted Germany to be severely punished. He wanted Germany to be weakened so they would not be able to pose any threat to France in the future. The two countries had a history of conflict and bordered each other.

Concept note-3: -The Treaty of Versailles held Germany responsible for starting the war and imposed harsh penalties on the Germans, including loss of territory, massive reparations payments and demilitarization.

Concept note-4: -Both Great Britain and France had suffered tremendous casualties during the war and faced serious economic problems because of the war’s costs. The two countries’ leaders wanted to see Germany pay reparations for the cost of the war and accept the blame for causing the war.

Concept note-5: -The document stripped Germany of 13 percent of its territory and one tenth of its population. The Rhineland was occupied and demilitarized, and German colonies were taken over by the new League of Nations. The German army was diminished to 100, 000 men and the country was forbidden to draft soldiers.