Inquiries Filed Under:

Treaty of Versailles

About the inquiry

The compelling question “Can peace lead to war?” offers students an opportunity to explore the historic controversy surrounding the extent to which the Treaty of Versailles caused World War II. Students consider not only the stipulations of the peace treaty but also the nature of historical interpretation by following the voices of historians throughout the inquiry. While progressing through the inquiry, students consider the original vision of the Treaty of Versailles, the conditions of the treaty itself, and the reactions to the treaty both at the time and by modern-day historians.

Compelling Question

Can Peace Lead to War?

Staging Question

Read the Christian Science Monitor article “Germany Finishes Paying WWI Reparations, Ending Century of 'Guilt'” and discuss why some historians claim World War I did not end until 2010.

Supporting Question

What did President Woodrow Wilson mean by “peace without victory”?

Formative Tasks

Write a definition for the term “peace without victory” and explain why President Wilson saw this as a necessary component of the Treaty of Versailles.

Sources

Source A: Excerpts from “Peace without Victory” Source B: Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points Source C: Woodrow Wilson—The Fourteen Points Source D: Photograph: “The Big Four”

Supporting Question

What did Germany lose by signing the Treaty of Versailles?

Formative Tasks

List Germany’s losses of territory and armed forces, and write one or two sentences explaining why these losses would have upset most Germans.

Sources

Source A: Excerpts from the Treaty of Versailles Source B: Map of German territorial losses

Supporting Question

Why was Germany blamed for World War I?

Formative Tasks

Write a paragraph explaining how the Treaty of Versailles blamed Germany for World War I and how most Germans reacted to the treaty.

Sources

Source A: War Guilt Clause (Article 231), Treaty of Versailles Source B: Excerpts from von Brockdorff-Rantzau's letter to Clemenceau, president of the Paris Peace Conference

Supporting Question

Did the German reparation payments stipulated in the Treaty of Versailles set the stage for World War II?

Formative Tasks

Develop a claim supported by evidence that answers the supporting question.

Sources

Source A: Excerpts from the Treaty of Versailles Source B: Excerpts from The Economic Consequences of the Peace Source C: Excerpts from “Ending the War to End All Wars”

Summative Performance Task

Argument: Did peace lead to war? Construct an argument (e.g., detailed outline, poster, or essay) that addresses the compelling question using specific claims and relevant evidence from historical sources while acknowledging competing views.

Extension: Participate in a class debate on whether or not the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh on Germany or whether the treaty failed to go far enough to protect peace in Europe.

Taking Informed Action

No data found.

Your Voice Matters

join C3 Teachers

C3Teachers.org facilitates open collaborative conversations among teachers as they tinker with their own instructional practice as it relates to the C3 Framework.

We'd Love to Talk

Contact Us

If you are interested in offering more professional development opportunities, rethinking or redesigning your social studies curriculum, we’d love to talk.