IGCSE HISTORY
Background: WW1 (1914-1918)
● Economic Effects
○ Britain, France & Russia left bankrupt; relying on money from USA
○ Inflation hit Germany
■ Currency collapsed: caused black-market & barter
● Social Effects
○ People carrying diseases displaced throughout Europe
■ Spanish Flu killed over 50 million
es
○ Lack of working men = boom in working women
■ Women did industrial work & began pushing for voting rights
■ Hierarchical structure of society was breaking
ot
● Political Effects
○ Germany’s monarchy ended; Wilhelm abdicated in November 1918
N
■ Friedrich Ebert (politician) led Weimar Republic Government
○ Empires of Russia, Austria-Hungary & Turkey collapsed
○ Britain & France’s colonies wanted independence
SE
● Territory Effects
○ Germany lost 15% of adult population
○ Germany’s borders were undecided
C
1) Were the Peace Treaties of 1919-23 Fair?
● Big Three
IG
○ Paris Peace Conference 1919-20
■ At Palace of Versailles
■ 32 nations were present
ay
● Conference for the victors; defeated nations weren’t invited
■ Agreed that 5 treaties would be drawn up at the conference
■ Council of 10 with 2 members from 5 leading countries (USA, Britain, France,
nj
Italy & Japan)
■ Big 3+1 : Vittorio Orlando (PM Italy)
Sa
○ Reasons for differing aims
Differing ideas Differing experiences
Woodrow ● Punish Germany; not too harshly (avoid revenge) ● Hadn’t suffered any
a
Wilson ● Rebuild a better, peaceful Europe from the ruins of WW1 damage during the war
(USA) ○ Strengthen democracy in defeated countries apart from fires started
ni
■ Public wouldn't let their leaders cause another by German agents to
war destroy goods going to
So
■ ‘Fair & lasting peace’ Britain & France
● Make sure war didn't break out again ● Joined the war in 1917
○ Use 14 points as a basis for peace ● Located far away from
■ Came from identifying causes of conflict & Europe where main
devising remedies for each cause destruction was
● Eg. Cause: arms buildup, Sol: Disarm happening
(maintain basic defence)
■ Strengthen democracies
14 points:
○ No secret treaties
○ Free access to seas
○ Free trade
, ○ All nations to work towards disarmament
○ Colonies to have a say in their own future
○ German troops to leave Russia
○ Independence for Belgium
○ France to regain Alsace-Lorraine
○ Frontier between Austria & Italy to be adjusted
○ Self-determination for eastern Europe
○ Serbia to have access to the sea
○ Self-determination for people in Turkish empire
○ Poland to be an independent state
es
○ Set up LoN
● Lack of support at home
○ American Senate rejected the 14 points & adopted an
ot
isolationist policy
○ Didn't want to be the world’s policeman
N
● Forced to compromise as others were less idealistic
● Worried about spread of communism if Germany was too weak
SE
David Lloyd ● Wanted Germany to lose its colonies & navies ● Hadn’t suffered as
George (UK) ○ Threatened the British Empire badly as France but the
○ Keep seas free for British navy people suffered greatly
● Didn't want to crush Germany
C
○ Maintain Germany as a trading partner
○ Britain’s 2nd largest trading partner before WW1
IG
○ Trade with Germany = more jobs in Britain
○ British war recovery was dependent of economic revival
of Europe
○ If Germany lost Rhineland, won’t be rich enough to buy
ay
British goods
● Didn't want to Germany to seek revenge
● Didn’t want France to become too powerful; needed a
nj
reasonably strong Germany to keep it in check
● Wanted a barrier against communism
● Faced public pressures in UK for a harsh treaty
Sa
○ Public weren’t sympathetic to Germany
○ Suffered 1 million casualties, food shortages & other
hardships
○ Won 1918 General election by promising to ‘make
a
Germany pay’
○ Promised British public: ‘squeeze the German lemon
ni
until the pips squeak’
So
Georges ● Wanted security & revenge ● Worst experience due
Clemenceau ○ Germany should take sole blame to their neighbouring
(France) ● Safety from future German attacks location
○ Weakening Germany & reducing military strength ○ ⅔ of French
○ High reparations as compensation for infrastructural army was
damage killed/wounded
○ Invaded for the 2nd time in 50 years ○ Population
● Regain territory decreased by
○ Independent Rhineland 40 million
○ Alsace Lorraine & the Saar ○ French
● Franco-Prussian War, 1870s president
○ History of rivalry (Poincaré)
Background: WW1 (1914-1918)
● Economic Effects
○ Britain, France & Russia left bankrupt; relying on money from USA
○ Inflation hit Germany
■ Currency collapsed: caused black-market & barter
● Social Effects
○ People carrying diseases displaced throughout Europe
■ Spanish Flu killed over 50 million
es
○ Lack of working men = boom in working women
■ Women did industrial work & began pushing for voting rights
■ Hierarchical structure of society was breaking
ot
● Political Effects
○ Germany’s monarchy ended; Wilhelm abdicated in November 1918
N
■ Friedrich Ebert (politician) led Weimar Republic Government
○ Empires of Russia, Austria-Hungary & Turkey collapsed
○ Britain & France’s colonies wanted independence
SE
● Territory Effects
○ Germany lost 15% of adult population
○ Germany’s borders were undecided
C
1) Were the Peace Treaties of 1919-23 Fair?
● Big Three
IG
○ Paris Peace Conference 1919-20
■ At Palace of Versailles
■ 32 nations were present
ay
● Conference for the victors; defeated nations weren’t invited
■ Agreed that 5 treaties would be drawn up at the conference
■ Council of 10 with 2 members from 5 leading countries (USA, Britain, France,
nj
Italy & Japan)
■ Big 3+1 : Vittorio Orlando (PM Italy)
Sa
○ Reasons for differing aims
Differing ideas Differing experiences
Woodrow ● Punish Germany; not too harshly (avoid revenge) ● Hadn’t suffered any
a
Wilson ● Rebuild a better, peaceful Europe from the ruins of WW1 damage during the war
(USA) ○ Strengthen democracy in defeated countries apart from fires started
ni
■ Public wouldn't let their leaders cause another by German agents to
war destroy goods going to
So
■ ‘Fair & lasting peace’ Britain & France
● Make sure war didn't break out again ● Joined the war in 1917
○ Use 14 points as a basis for peace ● Located far away from
■ Came from identifying causes of conflict & Europe where main
devising remedies for each cause destruction was
● Eg. Cause: arms buildup, Sol: Disarm happening
(maintain basic defence)
■ Strengthen democracies
14 points:
○ No secret treaties
○ Free access to seas
○ Free trade
, ○ All nations to work towards disarmament
○ Colonies to have a say in their own future
○ German troops to leave Russia
○ Independence for Belgium
○ France to regain Alsace-Lorraine
○ Frontier between Austria & Italy to be adjusted
○ Self-determination for eastern Europe
○ Serbia to have access to the sea
○ Self-determination for people in Turkish empire
○ Poland to be an independent state
es
○ Set up LoN
● Lack of support at home
○ American Senate rejected the 14 points & adopted an
ot
isolationist policy
○ Didn't want to be the world’s policeman
N
● Forced to compromise as others were less idealistic
● Worried about spread of communism if Germany was too weak
SE
David Lloyd ● Wanted Germany to lose its colonies & navies ● Hadn’t suffered as
George (UK) ○ Threatened the British Empire badly as France but the
○ Keep seas free for British navy people suffered greatly
● Didn't want to crush Germany
C
○ Maintain Germany as a trading partner
○ Britain’s 2nd largest trading partner before WW1
IG
○ Trade with Germany = more jobs in Britain
○ British war recovery was dependent of economic revival
of Europe
○ If Germany lost Rhineland, won’t be rich enough to buy
ay
British goods
● Didn't want to Germany to seek revenge
● Didn’t want France to become too powerful; needed a
nj
reasonably strong Germany to keep it in check
● Wanted a barrier against communism
● Faced public pressures in UK for a harsh treaty
Sa
○ Public weren’t sympathetic to Germany
○ Suffered 1 million casualties, food shortages & other
hardships
○ Won 1918 General election by promising to ‘make
a
Germany pay’
○ Promised British public: ‘squeeze the German lemon
ni
until the pips squeak’
So
Georges ● Wanted security & revenge ● Worst experience due
Clemenceau ○ Germany should take sole blame to their neighbouring
(France) ● Safety from future German attacks location
○ Weakening Germany & reducing military strength ○ ⅔ of French
○ High reparations as compensation for infrastructural army was
damage killed/wounded
○ Invaded for the 2nd time in 50 years ○ Population
● Regain territory decreased by
○ Independent Rhineland 40 million
○ Alsace Lorraine & the Saar ○ French
● Franco-Prussian War, 1870s president
○ History of rivalry (Poincaré)
