Assignment: Monumental Documents
Would the Allies win or the Central Powers? Four years after the start of World War I it still was not clear, and the devastation and loss of life continued. World leaders deliberated and the masses wondered how the fighting would end. To understand what helped to end the war, and to understand a changing political landscape in Europe between the two World Wars, you will take a closer look at two important documents.
These two documents, "President Wilson's Fourteen Points" and the Treaty of Versailles, had the power to put an end to World War I and to help move Europe toward peaceful post-war rebuilding. But, what motivated Woodrow Wilson to make a speech to the U.S. Congress in 1918, outlining his "Fourteen Points"? And, how and why did nations agree to come together and sign the Treaty of Versailles in 1919? What did nations hope to achieve?
Aanalyze these two important documents, and examine what countries gained and lost.
To prepare for this Assignment:
• Review the Treaty of Versailles and President Wilson's Fourteen Points in this week's Learning Resources to get a full understanding of the context and content of both documents.
• Consider the similarities and differences in content of the two documents, as well as each document's strengths and weaknesses.
• Determine what each of the major war nations achieved and lost according to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
• Reflect on how victorious nations came to agreement on the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, the tensions among nations that existed at the time of the signing, and which countries were left out of the negotiations.
The assignment:
• Compose a 2- to 3-page essay in which you do the following:
o Compare the Treaty of Versailles with Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, including the strengths and weaknesses of each document.
o Outline what each of the major war nations achieved and lost according to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
o Support your assertions by making at least 2 references to your course readings.