Paris Peace Simulation Pack
The Paris Peace Table
Name:
Date:
"A peace to end all peace." — Archibald Wavell
Simulation Instructions
- Role Assignment: You will be assigned to a group representing the USA, United Kingdom, or France. One student will act as the German Observer (who may not speak during negotiations).
- Secret Briefing: Read your role card carefully. Do not show it to other delegations!
- Negotiate: Your goal is to draft a treaty that addresses four key areas: Territory, Military, Money (Reparations), and Responsibility.
- The German Response: Once the treaty is finished, the German Observer will read their "Reaction Card" and the class will compare your results to the actual 1919 Treaty of Versailles.
The Draft Treaty of 1919
| Category | Your Group's Proposed Terms |
|---|
| Territory | |
| (Colonies & Borders) | |
| Military Limits | |
| (Army/Navy size) | |
| Financial Costs | |
| (Reparations) | |
| War Guilt | |
| (Who is to blame?) | |
Delegation Briefing Cards
France
CLEMENCEAU
Primary Goal: Security & Revenge
- Germany must be weakened so it can never invade again.
- Demand massive reparations to pay for the destruction of Northern France.
- Return the territory of Alsace-Lorraine to France immediately.
- The German army should be reduced to almost nothing.
United States
WILSON
Primary Goal: Lasting Peace
- Advocate for the League of Nations to prevent future wars.
- Promote Self-Determination: ethnic groups should choose their own nations.
- Avoid "crushing" Germany; a desperate Germany might seek revenge later.
- Push for "Peace without Victory."
United Kingdom
LLOYD GEORGE
Primary Goal: Trade & Imperialism
- Germany should be punished, but not destroyed (they are a key trading partner).
- Ensure the British Navy remains the strongest in the world.
- Take control of German colonies in Africa as "mandates."
- Balance the needs of France without letting France become too powerful.
Germany
OBSERVER
Status: Excluded (No Vote)
- You are waiting in the hallway. You cannot speak or negotiate.
- Your country is starving due to the naval blockade.
- You expect a peace based on Wilson's 14 Points.
- If the terms are too harsh, you will feel betrayed and humiliated.
Uneasy Peace Slides
Uneasy Peace
Paris, 1919: Designing the Post-War World
AP European History // Unit 7
Quick-Write Warm-up
"If you won a fight that destroyed your house and killed your brother, what would you demand from the loser?"
05:00
The Paris Peace Conference
Embedded media
10:24 - 14:07 WATCH FOR: Differing Allied Goals
Focus Questions
- Who were the "Big Three"?
- What did Wilson want vs. what the Europeans wanted?
- What was the "War Guilt Clause"?
The Peace Table Simulation
Negotiating the Treaty of Versailles
Form Delegations
Groups of 4: France, USA, UK, and one silent German Observer.
Secret Briefing
Read your goals. Do NOT share your secret objectives with other groups.
Outcome
By the end of 20 mins, you must have a signed treaty document.
Negotiation Rules
- Germany may not speak or vote.
- France, USA, and UK must agree to all terms.
- Focus on Territory, Military, Money, and Guilt.
The Verdict of History
Article 231 (War Guilt)
Germany forced to accept "total responsibility" for all loss and damage.
Reparations
Fixed at 132 Billion gold marks (approx. $400 Billion today).
Military
Army capped at 100k men. No air force. No submarines. Rhineland demilitarized.
Territory
Alsace-Lorraine to France. All overseas colonies taken. "Polish Corridor" created.
League of Nations
Created as a "General Association of Nations" — but Germany and Russia were excluded, and the USA refused to join.
Failure to Secure Peace?
"This is not peace. It is an armistice for twenty years."
— Marshal Ferdinand Foch (1919)
REFLECTION QUESTION
Was the Treaty of Versailles too harsh, or not harsh enough? Why did it fail to bring lasting stability?
Uneasy Peace Teacher Guide
Uneasy Peace: Facilitation Guide
Teacher Resource // AP European History
Unit 7 Versailles
Instructional Objectives
- Analyze the conflicting motivations of the Allied powers at the Paris Peace Conference.
- Evaluate the specific terms of the Treaty of Versailles and their impact on Germany.
- Assess the extent to which the Treaty of Versailles was a cause of future conflict (World War II).
Pacing & Flow
05m
Warm-up: The Personal Peace
Use the personal prompt to frame the concept of "revenge vs. security." This builds empathy for the French position specifically.
10m
Video: Crash Course European History #34
Focus on the 10:24 mark. Prompt students to list the "Big Three" and their priorities before the simulation begins.
25m
Simulation: The Paris Peace Table
Students negotiate in groups of 4. Use the simulation pack cards. Circulate to ensure France is being sufficiently "demanding."
10m
Debrief: Comparing Treaties
Reveal the actual terms of the Treaty of Versailles (Slide 5). Ask the German Observers to share their emotional reaction.
Facilitation Tips
The Silent Observer
Ensure the German student remains silent. This mimics the actual exclusion of the Central Powers and creates a sense of helplessness that is critical for understanding the subsequent "Stab in the Back" myth.
Deadlock Handling
If groups can't agree, remind them that the public at home is demanding a result and that the war is officially still "paused" until a treaty is signed.
The Verdict of History: Fact Sheet
Territorial Changes
Alsace-Lorraine: Returned to France (won back from 1871 Franco-Prussian War).
Polish Corridor: Land given to the new state of Poland to give them sea access; this split Germany in two (East Prussia separated).
Colonies: Germany lost all African and Pacific colonies; given to UK/France as "Mandates."
Military Restrictions
Army Size: Limited to 100,000 volunteers (no conscription).
Naval Limits: 6 battleships; no submarines.
Air Force: Entirely forbidden.
Rhineland: Permanently demilitarized (no German troops allowed in this border region near France).
Financial & Responsibility
Germany must accept sole responsibility for causing the war.
