The Peace Conference

The Peace Conference

Purpose

• The purpose of the Paris Peace Conference was simple: to decide on the terms of peace that would be offered to the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans are our main concern) and of course to sign them.

Who was there?

• The Paris Peace Conference was made up of 27 countries, all of whom were victorious in the war against the Central Powers.

• All defeated countries were excluded from the negotiations as well as Russia, who the Allies did not trust.

• None of the defeated nations would have an opputunity to discuss or negotiate thier own terms.

Open Ended

Why was Russia not invited to attend the conference and why did the governments of the Western nations not trust Russia?

Poll

Do you think it was fair that the countries that lost the war weren't allowed to discuss the terms of the Treaties?

• Yes

• No

Open Ended

With reference to your answer in the previous poll, why do you think that? Justify your answer with reasons why or why not.

The Big Three

• Despite the huge numbers of attendants the Conference would come to be dominated by the leaders of the three most powerful allies:

• David Lloyd George of Great Britain

• Woodrow Wilson of the United States of America

• Georges Clemenceau of France

• They were called the "Big Three".

• The Italian Prime Minister Orlando was also a leader of a big winner but he was largely ignored and forgotten.

Left to right- Clemenceau, Wilson and Lloyd-George. It's important you become familiar with the look of each of these gentlemen, especially in cartoons for source work. Note Clemenceau's moustache, Wilsons glasses and Lloyd-Georges smaller moustache.