What were the motives and aims of the 'Big Three' at Versailles?

Clemenceau - France - France had suffered terribly in the war - enormous damaged to its people, land, industry and self confidence. Two-thirds of French soldiers had been killed or injured. Wanted revenge and a crippled Germany to prevent another war. Germany had been at war with France also in 1870. Divide Germany into smaller states. France wanted a buffer zone between France and Germany, plus Alsace Lorraine.

Lloyd George - Britain - Britain had also suffered in the war. Lloyd George has promised to punish Germany, however believed that too harsh a treaty would be the wrong thing. The public wanted a harsh treaty. Lloyd George wanted to punish Germany but allow for her to rebuild to trade with Britain again. Britain wished to keep her naval strength and empire. Revenge by Germany needed to be avoided.

Woodrow Wilson - America - the USA had entered the war late on but had still faced casualties and costs. Wilson was an idealist and believed in securing a lasting peace. A fair treaty. Peace built on co-operation, strengthened democracy and his 14 points. Some key ones were The League of Nations, Self Determination (people shoudl rule themselves), work towards disarmament, access to the sea, no secret peace treaties.