Treaty of Versailles DBQ
Treaty of Versailles DBQ While Woodrow “Woody” Wilson was president of the United States, he managed to accomplish some unthinkable feats, such as fighting for the passage of the 19th Amendment (chartering women’s suffrage) and establishing order in the entropic territories such as Haiti and the Dominican Republic by dispatching US Marines in these places. However, due to weak judgement and intuition, as well as inexperience, “Woody,” made a feeble, manipulatable diplomat. During the Paris Peace Conference and throughout the ratification process for the Treaty of Versailles, Wilson’s ineptitude and stubbornness towards the Republican Party ultimately led the US senate to shoot down the Treaty. Wilson’s perception of a necessary League of Nations and his ever present stubbornness weren’t the only factors in Wilson’s demise, he also was unable to predict failure brought on by an exclusively Democratic group of diplomatic advisors. Wilson completely excluded the Republicans when he failed to communicate with the Senate Majority Leader and the head of the Senate Committee of Foreign Affairs, Henry Cabot Lodge. A man Wilson could’ve potentially brought as an advisor, yet refused to even consult with before departing for his trip. When it was time for ratification, this proved to be a major hurdle for Wilson. Especially after the Republicans won the majority in the midterm elections in 1918. In Paris, representatives from foreign nations exploited Wilson’s vision for a necessary and proper League of Nations. Foreign diplomats (Vittorio Orlando, David Lloyd George, George Clemenceau) began to dissect Wilson’s beloved 14 points, knowing that he will not be disturbed unless the provision for a League of Nations is removed. Many of his 14 points were dismissed without thought in the creation of the War Guilt Clause. It impeded Germany’s self determination in many variations, placed an economic barrier on Germany for they were burdened with paying for the war, and it