THE BIG THREE

Annotations:

• Great Britain

1. Pressures
   1. Lost nearly 1 million men in WW1

      Annotations:

      • This was more than America, but not even close to the amount of French who were lost.
   2. Propaganda made people think Germany was evil
   3. 'Squeeze Germany like a lemon'

      Annotations:

      • This was a common view of the British people. 
2. Aims
   1. Lasting peace
   2. Take Germany's colonies
      1. To boost British empire
   3. Wanted to trade still
   4. Feared German revenge

      Annotations:

      • If they treated Germany too harshly, there was a threat that Germany may retaliate. 
3. Views of others
   1. Wilson: Self determination = bad

      Annotations:

      • It would affect the British Empire. He also agreed with Clemenceau that Wilson didn't understand how hard the war had been for them and France. 
   2. Clemenceau: Too extreme

      Annotations:

      • He thought that Clemenceau's aims were based on his hatred for Germany, which was very dangerous. 

Annotations:

• France. 

1. Pressures
   1. Invaded 3 times in 50 years by Germany
   2. Lost more men than any other country
   3. Towns, villages and countryside destroyed.
   4. Wanted to cripple Germany

      Annotations:

      • This was to keep the French people safe.
2. Aims
   1. Future Security

      Annotations:

      • This was to prevent Germany from attacking them again.
   2. Compensation for war damage

      Annotations:

      • He wanted this in the form of both money and land. 
   3. Germany split into smaller states

      Annotations:

      • Germany had been like this in 1870.
3. Views on others
   1. Wilson: Too soft

      Annotations:

      • He also thought that he was naive.
      1. Didn't understand

         Annotations:

         • The USA didn't have the same amount of casualties or destruction as France, so he felt that Wilson didn't understand what France had been through.
   2. Lloyd George: Selfish

      Annotations:

      • He was too busy worrying about still being able to trade with countries that he didn't punish Germany properly. 

Annotations:

• USA

1. Aims
   1. Punish Germany - not humiliate them

      Annotations:

      • This may have caused Germany to fight against it. 
   2. Self determination for each country

      Annotations:

      • Wanted them to have the right to choose who governed them. 
   3. Set up League of Nations

      Annotations:

      • Although, he never joined. 
   4. 14 Points
2. Pressures
   1. Lost 100,000 men in WW1

      Annotations:

      • No where close to the amount France and Britain had. 
   2. USA became prosperous in WW1

      Annotations:

      • Sold weapons during the war. 
   3. Didn't want to be involved in European problems

      Annotations:

      • Isolationism - protecting themselves.