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Why did the U.S. Senate refuse to ratify the Treaty of Versailles after World War I?

F The Senate would not support America’s participation in the League of Nations.
G The Senate believed the treaty did not punish Germany enough.
H The Senate thought the treaty did not have the power to prevent secret alliances.
J The Senate could not agree on military disarmament levels.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The U.S. Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles due to objections regarding the League of Nations, concerns over loss of U.S. sovereignty, and the potential for unwanted military commitments, leading to the U.S. not joining the League. The best choice of answer would be F The Senate would not support America’s participation in the League of Nations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The refusal of the U.S. Senate to ratify the Treaty of Versailles was primarily due to objections concerning the League of Nations. Senate opposition centered around concerns that American foreign policy and the decision to go to war would be controlled by an international organization, potentially leading to unwanted military commitments. Additionally, some Senators disagreed with the principle of collective security mandated by the League's Article X, and others were of the opinion that it might restrict America's right to act independently in its own interest.

Despite President Woodrow Wilson's push for the treaty, which included his vision for the League of Nations as a means to prevent future conflicts, disagreements within the U.S. Senate, combined with Wilson's refusal to negotiate with Senate Republicans, particularly Henry Cabot Lodge, led to the failure to achieve the two-thirds majority needed for ratification.

As a result, the United States did not join the League of Nations, and this significantly undermined the League's effectiveness in international affairs. The United States eventually signed a separate peace treaty with Germany, officially ending its involvement in World War I without the conditions outlined in the Treaty of Versailles.

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