CH1 Impact of WW1 on Europe

CH1: Impact of WWI on Europe CH 1.1: The Treaty of Versailles Pre-War: 1. Causes of WW1: ● Militarism: The production of armaments for the use of gaining or defending territory. - Major countries which were arming themselves include Britain, France and Germany. ● Alliances: Alliances formed in secret between countries to aid and defend each other ● Nationalism: Patriotism towards one’s country and desire for its independence. ● Imperialism: When one country takes over another economically and politically. ● Assassination: The assassination of Austrian-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914. This caused Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia 2. Secret diplomacy (one of the main reasons the LON was set up) turned an assassination-based war into a World War. LON Point 3. Germany did not start war, Austria-Hungary actually caused it (Austria-Hungary broke up, related to war guilt clause) UNFAIR 4. Germany had not been invaded before the armistice was signed, Weimar Republic, new democracy wanted peace and agreed on Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points UNFAIR - This is related to the resulting nationalistic post-war disapproval of the Weimar Republic in Germany Post-War: 1. Germany was not invited to the Paris Peace Conference and was only given 2 weeks compared to the 6 months used to negotiate to make comments, which were ignored. UNFAIR 2. Goals of the Big 3: Woodrow Wilson: ● Bind all countries together in a mutual alliance towards lasting peace ● Wanted to end ‘old world’ diplomacy which had led to war ● Germany should lose all its territorial gains ● Disarmament ● Restrictions on trade should be abolished (Brit opp) Evidence (term) in TOV: ● Proposed 14 point programme to shape modern international relations ● Formation of League of Nations (LON) Terms related to German territorial losses & de-militarization (*refer to specific terms in ToV) Georges Clemenceau: ● Determined to exact vengeance ie. gain back territories lost during 1870 Franco-Prussian War (USA and Brit opp)

● Wanted compensation caused the German war machine on French ground so it will cripple the German economy and make France powerful in Europe (USA and Brit Opp) ● Wanted to weaken Germany so it could never threaten France again eg. A de-militarized zone along border where Germany invaded France (USA and Brit opp) -Germany was never to have troops in Rhineland; French troops there to prevent unwanted attack Evidence (term) in TOV: ● Reparations term ● French troops stationed in the Rhineland (DMZ) to guard against any unwanted German attack Germany to return the province of Alsace-Lorraine David Lloyd George: ● Punish Germany (British public sentiment) (USA opp) ● Continue to conduct trade with Germany (one of British bigger trade partners) ● Prevent economy from failing so Germany would not be lured towards Bolshevism / Communism ● Wanted to retain British suprem