Treaty of Versailles DBQ

By 1918, both the Allies and the central powers knew the had to end the war. Therefore, at 5:00am on November 11, 1918 an armistice was signed. The recuperation process of the was was to be decided by the Treaty of Versailles but it faced great opposition from the U.S. senate. The U.S. senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles because it established the league of nations and Wilson refused to compromise of the League. Although there was a great opposition from both, liberal and conservatives. It was Wilson's stubbornness to compromise that led to the defeat of the Treaty of Versailles.
William Borah in his speech to the U.S. senate questioned President Wilson, " will anyone advocate that those matters which are of vital importance to our people shall be submitted to a tribunal created other than by our own people and give it an international army subject to its direction and control to enforce its decrees?"(Doc A) Borah predicted correctly, the Republican senate Refuse to ratify the Treaty of Versaille because it established the power to make U.S. foreign affairs decision on the League of Nations. Other reasons Republican refused to ratify the treaty because it didn't guarantee any of the goals that the Americans claimed as the reasons to joining the war. America's war aims were to free the European people of imperial powers but the "Treaty of Versailles doesn't even try to satisfy these aspirations."(doc B) " Liberals all over the world hoped that a war...would end in a peace which would moralize nationalism by releasing it from class bondage and exclusive ambitions.
Eventhough there was great opposition , if Wilson had compromised the Treaty would have been accepted. Wilson would not compromise even if some of his closest advisers told him . Herbert Hoover, in a letter to Wilson suggested that some how the treaty had to go into effect. Hoover explained that" the delay have already seriously imperiled the economic recuperation of Europe."(Doc D) Wilson supported the treaty and the League of Nations by stating to the public that America is the " light of the world created to lead the world in the assertion of the rights of free nations... this light the opponents of the league would quench."
As a result of the Wilson's stubborness, the U.S. senate failed to ratify the Treaty and join the League of Nations. Both Wilson and the Republican failed to see the " need for continued effort to bring about an adequate internal organization." Since they failed to see this America has alienated itself from foreign affairs.