Ending of World War I

11/11/11/18 Armistice-Ending fighting until Treaty can

be drawn up

Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Point Peace Plan – Go Easy on Germany

No one to blame for the war. No secret Treaties/Alliances Freedom of the Seas for all Nations Removal of all economic barriers for all

nations Reduction of national armaments Fair adjustment of colonial claims Establishment of League of Nations

Provisions of the Treaty

9 new nations created in Europe-France gets Alsace-Lorraine back.

Pay $33 billion in reparations to the allies. Germany forced to accept total blame for the

war. Forced to accept a democratic government

(Weimar Rep.) Germany’s colonies divided amongst victors Lost it’s economic base (Ruhr Valley) Abolished military in Germany,

no reserve army, no navy, no air force, no arms manufacturing,

Wilson’s Biggest Point (14th) League of Nations

Wilson’s idea to let nations talk about problems before they lead to war.

All nations are allowed to join. Primary goal was to preserve peace –

Mutual protection society All disputes settled through international

agreement.

New boundaries create new problems

Russia loses vast amounts of land (Purple)

Parts of Germany divided into several nations (blue and green) Austria, Czechoslovakia,

Italy and Poland Ethnic minorities still

want their own nations, (a cause of WWI)

The Allies Reject Wilson’s Peace Plan Georges Clemenceau

of France- Livid over Franco

Prussian War and WWI

determined to prevent future invasions. Wanted buffer zone, takes Rhineland as buffer zone.

David Lloyd George of Britain – wanted to “Make Germany Pay” for the war.

Defeated powers not part of the peace plan. Germany not invited

to the table. They have no say in

their own future. Not usually done this

way.

Russia left out. They left the war We leave them out of

the peace. They lose more land

than Germany.

Opposition to the Treaty at Home Many feel the treaty was too harsh: it will

lead to another war. It’s just shuffling colonies around from one

owner to another. Henry Cabot Lodge- Senator, isolationist.

League of Nations violates Constitution. It takes War Powers away from Congress and the

President. He was miffed that he wasn’t part of the deal in

France and was not consulted by Wilson at home.

Debate over the League at Home Wilson goes to the American people directly

to ask for ratification.Travels across the country by trainTrip wears on his health, suffers a stroke

Lodge wants no part of League, kills the Treaty

America signs a separate peace with Germany

League of Nations

America doesn’t joinWe never ratify Versailles TreatyWithout America, enforcement of League

sanctions impossibleWilson predicts, correctly, that without

America in League, there will be another war.

Legacy of the War

America emerges as greatest industrial power

Great Migration- African-Americans move north to work in factories

Nativism intensifies Over 1 million women now in workforce

Spending Per Nation

American Prosperity in the 20’s

Foreign governments owe US large war debtsWe become rich nation on paper Isolationistic feelings emerge again

We don’t want to get involved in world affairs

Prosperity stumbles

Wages don’t keep up with productivityWorkers cannot buy what they makeFactories overproduce and lay off workersFarmers expand after the war, borrow money

and overproduce End up losing the farm

Protectionism

Tariffs and restrictions on imports limit international trade

Europe cannot pay off it’s debt without trade

Factories in Europe have same problems as American factories, lay off workers

Depression

Good harvests in Europe cut demand for US farm products

Decreased purchasing power by farmers leads to factory layoffs

Industry cuts jobs and hours

Europe depends on US loans to rebuild

Farmers cannot repay loans, banks cannot loan Europe money

Europe stops buying US products

Cycle of Poverty

Germany borrows money from USPays reparations with loans, money goes to

England and France England and France buy US products with

reparation cash When US stops loaning Germany money,

France and England stop buying US goods

Great Depression

Wall Street Crash October, 1929 People panic, sell stock

People who bought on credit lose everything

American Statistics 25% of labor force out of work Whole industries fail Banks fail People embarrassed to ask for assistance,

independent in nature American government does little to help

Laisse fairre economics, no gov’t interference in the economy.

Britain Statistics

25% unemployment Government insists on balancing the

budget, a bad move at this time Went off gold standard

Devalued the pound

Cut government workers pay

France

Unemployment widespread Increased taxes cut spending produced

misery and gloom When Germany stops reparations, France

falters

Germany

Foreign trade falls 75% 33% unemployment Withdraw of US loans create depression Government owned bank fails

France lets bank fail to destroy union with Austria

Led to unstable government, rise of Hitler

Hitler rises to power because of Depression Industrialists and army help him rise to

power Stamps out all opposition with SS He promises end to Depression, restore

social order, get rid of Treaty Offers glory and revenge for WWI

Hitler

Blames Jews for bad economy and problems of Germany

Offers program of defiance of League, and way out of depression

Mein Kampf-My Struggle, book containing Hitler’s plan to take over the world.