WW1

Impact of World War One

• Many countries were financially hurt after World War One

• Germany was seen as the scapegoat

• Russia had turned into a Communist state

• Germany became Democratic

  • 9 November 1918, Kaiser renounced throne, and Friedrich Elbert became Chancellor

Paris Peace Conference: 

• The Big Three met in Paris to discuss terms and actions to re-establish peace in Europe. (18 January 1919)

• Discussions were mostly about what to do with Germany

• Who were not invited: 

  • Germany - deemed the loser of WW1

  • Russia - was Communist and was in a civil war. 

• Difficulties involved in signing TOV

• Terms were compromised

  1. Nations were not concerned about terms that didn’t directly affect them

  2. Even though the Big Three wanted all countries to take part in decisions, decisions that required all nations to participate were too slow, thus a Council of Four was established, with other countries joining committees which then advised the Council

• Secret treaties

  1. Britain and France had previously made secret treaties before WW1

  2. These countries now wanted what was promised in the treaties

  3. However, this meant G colonies would given to other countries, opposing principle of self-determination

  4. Majority but not all terms of treaties carried out

• Early self-determination

  1. Before terms of TOV were agreed on, many nations had already decided on new borders

  2. Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia all declared their independence

  3. TOV could shift borders but these nations could not break up

• US isolationism

  1. Increased yearning for self-determination in USA

  2. US government doesn’t want to take part in EU politics again, feared it would lead to another war

  3. Wanted developing and strengthening economy as a priority