WORLD WAR I: THE AFTERMATH - The allies won and met at Versailles near Paris in 1919 to try to create a peace settlement (France, Britain, USA and Italy).

WORLD WAR I: THE AFTERMATH

-The allies won and met at Versailles near Paris in 1919 to try to create a peace settlement (France, Britain, USA and Italy).-The empires of Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary had disappeared.-Russia had suffered a communist revolution.-The population faced starvation, displacement and a pandemic flu (Spanish flu).-Around 9 million soldiers were killed (about 15% of combatants).-Millions were permanently disabled.

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-In France 20% of men between 20 and 40 years were killed in 1914, that’s known as the Lost Generation.-Civilians died directly in the war, and also from famine and disease.

ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES IN EUROPE-Britain spent more than 34 billion of pounds.-By 1918 the USA had lent $2000 millions to Britain and France.-U-boats had sunk 40% of British merchant shipping.-During the 1920s Britain and France spent about 1/3 and ½ of their total public expenditure on debt charges and repayments.

-Britain never regained its financial predominance and lost overseas markets.

-Land and industry were destroyed where the war took place (especially in France).

-Belgium, Poland, Italy and Serbia were badly affected too.

-Roads, railways, hospitals and houses had to be reconstructed; arable land had to be made productive again by removing unexploded shells.

POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES

GERMANY-Revolution broke before 1918.-Sailors mutinied and took Kiel and triggered other revolts.-Socialist led uprisings of workers and soldiers in ports and cities.-The Kaiser abdicated (Nov 9th / 1918) and fled to Holland.-Friedrich Ebert (socialist) became leader of the Republic of Germany.

RUSSIA-The 1st revolution of 1917 overthrew the Tsar Nicholas II and set a provisional government which planned to hold free elections.-The 2nd revolution of 1917 overthrew the government and Bolsheviks seized power.-Vladimir Lenin promised “Peace, land and bread” and the treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed.-There was a civil war from 1918 to 1921.

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

-Austria-Hungary separated into two different states and various nationalities proclaimed independent.

TURKEY-The sultanate collapsed in 1922 and was replaced by an authoritarian ruler.-It left a huge area of Central and Eastern Europe in turmoil.-The Bolsheviks in Russia encouraged the growth of socialism.-Many ruling classes of Europe were afraid of the spread of communism.

IMPACT OUTSIDE EUROPE (1919)

UNITED STATES-They emerged from the war as the world’s leading economy.-During the war US food, raw materials and munitions were sent to Europe.-The US took over European overseas markets during the war.-They replaced Germany as the leading producer of fertilizers, dyes and chemical products.-Wilson hoped that the US would play a larger role in international affairs (collective security).-US citizens were more concerned about problems nearer home: flu epidemic, spread of communism, racial tension, etc.

JAPAN-New markets and demands for goods.-Exports nearly tripled during the war.-Opportunities of territorial expansion.-Seized Shandong and other German colonies in the Pacific.-It wanted to control China.

CHINA-Had fought as Allied since 1917.-Had delegates in the Versailles Conference.-Wanted control over Shandong.-Wanted release from Japanese demands.

PROBLEMS FACING THE PEACEMAKERS IN 1919-The Big 3 dominated the Versailles peace conference.-Japan only cared about the issues regarding the Pacific.-Vittorio Orlando (Italian Prime Minister) played a minor role and walked out of the conference when he didn’t get the territorial gains that Italy had hoped for.-The first problem was the political and social instability in Europe.-Other political issues were:

- different aims among the peacemakers

- the nature of the Armistice settlement

- the German mood

- the popular sentiment in the Allied countries

(SEE PAGE 71 Wilson’s 14 points)

AIMS OF THE PEACEMAKERS-Wilson was an idealist but believed that Germany should be punished.-He also believed that self-determination would end the frustrations that caused WWI and US would take the lead and promote the ideas od democracy.-Clemenceau and Lloyd George didn’t agree with Wilson.-Clemenceau wanted a harsh settlement against Germany (economic and territorial sanctions).-Clemenceau was keen to retain wartime links with Britain and USA.-Lloyd George wanted a less severe settlement (Germany to lose its navy and colonies), and had to be able to recover quickly (for trade reasons and to block the spread of communism).

-Japan wanted recognition of the islands it had gained during the war.-Also, to have racial equality clause in the Covenant of the League of Nations.