The peace treaties

Question 1

what were the economic effects of the first world war?

Answer 1

• Britain, Russia and France were effectively bankrupt which made them rely on USA
• Germany’s currency had collapsed, causing a black market

Question 2

what were the social effects of the first world war ?

Answer 2

• millions of refugees lay displaced across Europe, carrying sickness and diseases with them as they went home which made 50 million people died alone and 35 million worldwide
• women now did industiral work and began pushing to work too

Question 3

what are the political effects in first war ?

Answer 3

• the empires of Russia, Austria-hungary and turkey had collapsed
• Britain and France’s** colonies now began to think about independence**

Question 4

what were the aims/motive for france?

- George Clemenceau

Answer 4

he wanted revenge:
* 2/3rd of france army was killed or wounded
* Clemenceau thought that **germany was a threat to them **
* wanted a treaty that would weaken Germnay forvever - france’s population was in decline and lost a large section oof industry and land

Question 5

what were the aims/motives for USA ?

- woodrow wilson

Answer 5

wilson wanted peace
* he wanted to rebuild a better Europe
* he didn’t want germany to be treated too harshly because he thought when Germany recover, that they will take revenge on them
* he had his 14 point to achieve peace
* he strongly believed in ‘Self determination’- he wanted Europe to rule itself rather than be a part of the empire

Question 6

what were the aims/motives of Britain

Lloyd-George

Answer 6

he wanted trade
* he want Germany to lose their colonies and navy (as they thought these threatened the British Empire)
* He was keen to make sure Germany became a good trading partner so didn’t want them to be crushed – before the war Germany had been Britain’s 2nd largest trading partner

Question 7

why did clemenceau clashed with Wilson over many issue during the peacemaking process?

Answer 7

• they disagreed over what to do about Germany’s Rhineland and coalfields in the Saar.
• in the end clemenceau and Lloyd did give Wilson what he wanted with Eastern Europe despire of the idea of self determination

Question 8

why did clemenceau clashed with Lloyd over many issue during the peacemaking process?

Answer 8

because of Lloyd idea on not treating Germnay too harshly because Clemenceau thinks that britain was more happy to treat germany fairly because France was mostly underthreat

Question 9

Why didn’t Wilson and Lloyd always agree with each other during the peacemaking process?

Answer 9

• Lloyd was unhappy with the 2 points of the 14 points which is allowing all nation to the seas
• Wilsons views on people ruling themselves with a threat to the British goverment

Question 10

what were the terms of the treaty of versallies ?

Answer 10

1. War guilt clause ( article 231)- germany had to accept the blame for starting the war
   2**Reparations **-germany had to pay 6.6billion pounds -designed to be paid up by 1984
2. German territories and colonies - Rhineland was to be demilitarized,forbidden Anschluss, all colonies as ‘mandates’ to the League of Nations.
3. Millitary - Army was limited to 100 000 men, conscription was banned (soldiers had to be volunteers),germany was not allowed any tanks, submarines or aircraft, navy was allowed 6 battleships and the Rhineland became demilitarized (no troops allowed in)
4. League of Nations- The League of Nations was established, as Point Number 14 of Wilson’s ‘14 points’ and
   Germany was not invited until it proved itself to be peaceful

Question 11

what were Germans reactions to the TOV?

Answer 11

• war guilt and reparations- germans did not feel like they started the war
  * german territories- that it was a major blow to German pride, and to its economy
• Disarmament- germans felt that the terms was unfair and the size of the army is too small
  * league of nations- germnay felt further insulted by not being invited to join the league of nations
• non-representated- germans was angry that their govement was not represented at the peace talks and that they are forced to accept tthe harsh treaty without any choice

Question 12

how was political violence a consequence to the treaty?

Answer 12

• because the right wing opponents of elbert’s goverments could not bear the treaty
• The Kapp Putsch. a former army General Luttwiz and Wolfgang Kapp mustered around 12 000 returning soldiers (known as Freikorps) to march on Berlin and install a new government.

Question 13

why did the kapp putsch ended?

Answer 13

• The Putsch ended because of Berlin’s workforce going on strike – around 50 000 workers downed-tools and the government was paralysed. The real army didn’t join Kapp and so he fled. Nevertheless, the strike added to the financial chaos of Germany

Question 14

what happened in the conflict of Ruhr (consequence to the treaty)

Answer 14

• Germany had fallen behind reparation repayment by 1922 and so in 1923 the French invaded the Rhur Valley and took what they felt was owed to them
• This led to another strike, known as passive resistance where workers downed-tools again, further crippling the economy
  The French reacted to this by killing 100 workers and expelling 100 000 from the region - Germany was now creating no goods and paying its workers no money

Question 15

hyperinflation ( consequence to the treaty)

Answer 15

• This led to Hyperinflation in 1923 as the government printed more money in order to try and pay its debts and workers. German marks became worthless and prices spiralled out of control.