The Paris Peace Conference opened on 12th January 1919, meetings were held at various locations in and around Paris until 20th January, 1920. Leaders of 32 states representing about 75% of the world's population, attended. However, negotiations were dominated by the five major powers responsible for defeating the Central Powers: the United States, Britain, France, Italy and Japan.
The main terms of the Versailles Treaty were:
(1) the surrender of all German colonies as League of Nations mandates;
(2) the return of Alsace-Lorraine to France;
(3) cession of Eupen-Malmedy to Belgium, Memel to Lithuania, the Hultschin district to Czechoslovakia,
(4) Poznania, parts of East Prussia and Upper Silesia to Poland;
(5) Danzig to become a free city;
(6) plebiscites to be held in northern Schleswig to settle the Danish-German frontier;
(7) occupation and special status for the Saar under French control; (8) demilitarization and a fifteen-year occupation of the Rhineland;
(9) German reparations of £6,600 million;
(10) a ban on the union of Germany and Austria;
(11) an acceptance of Germany's guilt in causing the war;
(11) provision for the trial of the former Kaiser and other war leaders;
(12) limitation of Germany's army to 100,000 men with no conscription, no tanks, no heavy artillery, no poison-gas supplies, no aircraft and no airships;
(13) the limitation of the German Navy to vessels under 100,000 tons, with no submarines;
Germany signed the Versailles Treaty under protest. The Germans felt that since they had pulled out of the war and surrendered that the Allies would have been less harsh when writing up the terms of the treaty. The USA Congress refused to sign the treaty. The country believed that the terms of the treaty were too harsh on Germany (especially the guilt clause, which required Germany to take responsibility for causing the war. Germany also lost a lot of land, and money, which was lost through the war reparations they owed to the Allied countries.
The treaty caused Germany to lose their strength, and pride, and it caused a lot of hardships in the country.
The terms of the Treaty of Versailles were intended, by the Allies, to punish and weaken Germany, and prevent future wars.
You can maybe include in the intro:
when the meeting was, where, and who attended.
They decided on the terms of the treaty, which included.. mention two terms.
USA did not sign as they found the Treaty too harsh.
Germany was angered by the terms-- very cruel towards Germany
They were also severely weakened and pride hurt.
First paragraph:
The Paris Peace Conference opened on 12th January 1919, meetings were held at various locations in and around Paris until 20th January, 1920. Leaders of 32 states representing about 75% of the world's population, attended. However, negotiations were dominated by the five major powers responsible for defeating the opposition: the United States, Britain, France, Italy and Japan.
(use your own words cause this is straight from a website)
Second paragraph:
The terms were drawn up and Treaty of Versailles was created
It was hard on Germany-- intention to punish and weaken her.
It stated she would lose a lot of important land, would lose armed forces, would pay large sum of money for war reparations, and would have to admit guilty for the cause of the war. This hurt German pride and weakened her significantly. The USA refused to sign it as they believed too harsh.
Third:
The Allies took a lot of land from Germany-- country's strength largely dependent on her size. (thus germany lost influence and authority in the land lost to the Allies) Her economy crashed-- a lot of money owed to Allies and she became very poor country (thus people suffering on large scale) Lost a lot of armed forces-- thus lost military pride. Germany army was very strong-- weakened by treaty. Forced to take responsibility for war-- huge blow to her pride. Germans resentful and bitter. Thus terms caused a lot of suffering in Germany and angered Germans
Conclusion: Treaty very harsh. USA refused to sign. Weakened Germany significantly. Created a bitter and resentful population in Germany.
That's rough of course, see if you can get any other info to add.
GOOD LUCK!