Effects of WWI

Mrs. SampleSocial Studies

History of Europe

In November 1918 Germany surrenders to the Allied countries. The most powerful ones, being France, USA

and Britain, wanted to create a treaty that clearly explained what Germany would now have to do.

BUT WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?

WHEN: January 1919• Allied countries could not agree on what the

treaty should include, but...• They could agree on WHERE it should take

place: A French palace in a city called Versailles (near Paris)– After World War I, leaders from countries involved

in the war met here to write a treaty (peace talks)– Treaty outlined the terms of the winners and what

they expected of the losing country

WHY

Many Historians believe that disagreements happened because the

war affected the countries in many different ways.

WHAT COUNTRIES WERE INVOLVED...

750,000 men died

Spent nearly $8 billion of which $1 billion was

borrowed from the USA

Some British people blamed

Germany for the war and wanted

revenge

The British Prime Minister thought that if the Treaty was too harsh, then Germany

might one day start another war.

I don’t want to cripple Germany in the Treaty. I think that this could start another war in the

future, but people in Britain want Germany to pay.

They joined in 1917 and lost 113,000 men.

USA’s homeland was never attacked

USA wanted a ‘softer’ treaty because they

thought Germany was important for

the future... Woodrow Wilson: I don’t agree with France. Its probably because we didn’t suffer nearly as much as

the French. However, I want to focus upon setting up the League

of Nations.

US did not join the League of Nations for fear of being drawn into more wars. This also means the US did not sign the Treaty of

Versailles.

Most of the fighting took place in Northern

France.

1,250,000 men died

Germany stole 90% of France’s coal and iron in

1914

Many roads and factories had been

destroyed

I want to make sure that Germany pays for the problems

it has caused us. We suffered the most in WW1 and we

demand revenge and reparations

Clemencau

FRANCE

USA

BRITAIN

“SIGN THE TREATY OR WE WILL INVADE

YOU……ITS YOUR CHOICE!”

The treaty was dictated to Germany-- they did not have a say

in it.

Before the Treaty of Versailles

LEAGUE OF NATIONSMASSIVE ARMY CUTS

The Army was cut to just 100,000 men, the Navy could only have 6 battleships, and they were not allowed to build any new planes, tanks, or submarines. GERMAN LAND GIVEN

AWAY

Germany lost land to France, Poland, Belgium, and Denmark. An area of

Germany was even separated from the

mainland.

GERMANY’S EMPIRE

All of Germany’s colonies were taken

away and given away to the Allied countries.

PAY COMPENSATION

This was know as reparations. Germany had to pay $33 billion

dollars.

Treaty of Versailles

WHAT DID THE TREATY ACCOMPLISH?

This organization of nations would

cooperate to keep peace.

Not only did Germany lose about 10% of its land, it also consequently lost 10% of its population. German people

were now living in foreign countries.

Land taken away from Germany under the treaty of Versailles

“Today in the Hall of Mirrors of Versailles the disgraceful Treaty is being signed.

Do not forget it. The German people will press forward to reconquer the place among nations to which we deserve. Then will come revenge for the shame of 1919.”

Excerpt from a German newspaper on the day the treaty was signed...

Germany was a proud country due to its military strength and strong traditions of dominance

within that area of Europe. However, the treaty of Versailles created different feelings:

The war had left Germany almost

bankrupt. As its people starved and the country lay in chaos, the Allies

gave them a bill (Treaty of Versailles) that they simply could not afford

to pay...

RESULT: German money become

worthless German money was only good for starting fires…

HOW DID THE U.S. HELP GERMANY?

• The Dawes Plan–Reduced the amount Germany owed –Set payments Germany could handle–Loaned Germany $200 million

Russian Revolution• Prior to 1917 (The Great War), Russia

was an autocracy.

• The Czar was the absolute ruler. The last czar was Nicholas II.

• Nicholas II did not listen to the people or acknowledge the condition in which the Russian people were living.

• There was not enough food, soldiers were lacking food and clothing.

Russians Revolt• Early 1917- Women, factory workers, and

farmers riot and outnumber the police.

• The military could not keep the peace.

• The army turned against the ruling family and captured.

• A government was set up to try and run country.

• Still… too many problems.

Vladimir Lenin• Took control of the Russian government.

• He ordered the execution of the czar and his family.

• He reorganized the country & named it the Soviet Union.

• The new Soviet Union signed a peace treaty with Germany.

• Soviets gave up a large part of land to Germany rich in natural resources and arable land.

Vladimir Lenin

Worldwide Depression• Germany wasn’t the only country who suffered

– In the 1930s, countries around the world fell into a worldwide economic depression

• WHY?...

USA's Economic Depression• 1929—USA experienced a stock

market crash– Value of stocks began to drop

so stockholders began to sell their stocks as fast as they could

• Businesses could no longer sell their goods because people had less money to spend, so many had to close & workers lost their jobs

• People couldn’t repay their loans to the bank, so they lost everything (homes, farms, etc.)

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/greatdepressioncauses/

Worldwide Economic Depression• Businesses around the world traded with the

US:– When the US stopped buying goods, it hurt

businesses in other countries– When US banks closed, banks in other countries

were hurt too– Stockholders in other countries could no longer sell

their stocks to American companies• As businesses and factories around the world

closed one by one, buying and selling almost stopped…