The Aftermath
The "Big Four"
Despite the cease-fire in November of 1918, the war had many long lasting effects on the entire world. Woodrow Wilson, the first United States president to leave the country while in office, was one of the front-runners in decision making when creating the Treaty of Versailles. Therefore, the United States had a major influence on the aftermath of World War 1 and the way things turned out.
Woodrow Wilson came to the Paris Peace Conference with a Fourteen Point Plan to establish everlasting world peace. This plan consisted of points such as freedom of the seas, no secret covenants, reestablishing boundaries, and most importantly it created a League of Nations. The other Allied leaders were not quite on board with these ideas because they thought Germany deserved a much more severe punishment. Also, the other “Big Four” members were not in favor of the League of Nations because they wanted to continue to dominate as the world powers. The majority of Woodrow Wilson’s plan was not approved by the Big Four, but he was successful in establishing the League of Nations.
Back in the United States, a wide variety of reactions followed the conclusion of the treaty. The Senate, which was predominantly republican, was very annoyed with the way Wilson determined American foreign policy because they did not want to be drawn into foreign issues by the League of Nations that were not their problem. Irish, German, and Italian-Americans were all upset because they did not feel the terms did proper justice, and the only Americans that seemed to really be satisfied with the outcome was the democratic supporters of President Wilson.
Despite angering a good percentage of the country, there were several benefits in the United States after the end of World War 1. During the war a great deal of men throughout the workforce became soldiers and were sent off too fight, and as result millions of women eagerly took their positions. Since women had worked so hard in munitions factories and other areas they felt that they had a large impact on America’s war effort. When the war ended the workforce became much more tolerant of women employees and they also finally gained the right to vote. Another benefit from the war was the United States was the biggest producer and exporter for the war. Due to total war, factories and farms started to expand, unemployment decreased almost entirely, and as result the economy flourished. Despite some political unrest, the Great War provided many benefits for the United States.
Woodrow Wilson came to the Paris Peace Conference with a Fourteen Point Plan to establish everlasting world peace. This plan consisted of points such as freedom of the seas, no secret covenants, reestablishing boundaries, and most importantly it created a League of Nations. The other Allied leaders were not quite on board with these ideas because they thought Germany deserved a much more severe punishment. Also, the other “Big Four” members were not in favor of the League of Nations because they wanted to continue to dominate as the world powers. The majority of Woodrow Wilson’s plan was not approved by the Big Four, but he was successful in establishing the League of Nations.
Back in the United States, a wide variety of reactions followed the conclusion of the treaty. The Senate, which was predominantly republican, was very annoyed with the way Wilson determined American foreign policy because they did not want to be drawn into foreign issues by the League of Nations that were not their problem. Irish, German, and Italian-Americans were all upset because they did not feel the terms did proper justice, and the only Americans that seemed to really be satisfied with the outcome was the democratic supporters of President Wilson.
Despite angering a good percentage of the country, there were several benefits in the United States after the end of World War 1. During the war a great deal of men throughout the workforce became soldiers and were sent off too fight, and as result millions of women eagerly took their positions. Since women had worked so hard in munitions factories and other areas they felt that they had a large impact on America’s war effort. When the war ended the workforce became much more tolerant of women employees and they also finally gained the right to vote. Another benefit from the war was the United States was the biggest producer and exporter for the war. Due to total war, factories and farms started to expand, unemployment decreased almost entirely, and as result the economy flourished. Despite some political unrest, the Great War provided many benefits for the United States.