The Treaty of Versailles, which was signed on June 28, 1919, aimed to establish lasting peace following World War I, which had lasted from 1914 to 1918. While it officially ended hostilities between Germany and the Allied Powers, the treaty's provisions significantly reshaped European borders and laid the groundwork for future tensions. Several key changes included the loss of territory for Germany, reparations in monetary form, and the establishment of the League of Nations—an organization dedicated to maintaining peace and promoting international cooperation. The treaty's architects, such as British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, French Premier Georges Clemenceau, and U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, envisioned a framework for a stable and peaceful Europe but faced challenges reconciling their nations' interests.The activation of the treaty on January 10, 1920, marked a pivotal moment in international relations. While the treaty aimed to create stability, many of its provisions, particularly the reparations imposed on Germany, bred resentment and discontent, leading to the rise of extremist movements in the following decades. Notably, the United States did not formally join the League of Nations, reflecting a broader sentiment of isolationism that would shape American foreign policy until World War II. The efficacy of the treaty in achieving its peacekeeping goals has been widely debated, with many historians linking its punitive measures directly to the onset of World War II.