Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations
In January of 1919, President Woodrow Wilson and the other Allied leaders met in Versailles, France, outside Paris, to draw up a peace treaty. Wilson hoped the peace treaty would not punish the Central Powers and would make sure there would be lasting peace. He came up with the idea of the League of Nations, which is an international (many nations) organization formed to prevent wars and promote peace. The League of Nations agreed that in the future, countries would work things out peacefully instead of having another war.
The Treaty of Versailles officially ended WW1. Against President Wilson's wishes, Germany was punished harshly. The treaty demanded:
1. Germany had to pay lots of money to the Allies
2. Germany had to promise NOT to rebuild its army
3. Germany had to give up some of its territories (land)
The League of Nations was a good thing that came out of WW1, but the harsh treatment of the Central Powers, especially Germany, eventually led to another conflict - World War 2!!
Even though it was President Wilson's idea, the United States did not join the League of Nations. Many Americans feared that it might force the United States into future wars. People wanted to return to a policy of isolationism. Remember that isolationism is the belief that countries should stay out of other countries affairs
(mind their own business). But that would only last about 20 years...
