Treaty of Versailles
A Peace Built Upon Quicksand
, Treaty of Versailles
• Conference January -June 1919
• Settlement drafted by delegates of victorious
nations in WWI: Britain, United States, France,
and Italy
• “We were preparing not Peace only, but Eternal
Peace. There was about us the halo of some
divine mission….For we were bent on doing
great , permanent and noble things.”
Participant of conference at Versailles,
World History: Continuity & Change, p. 612
, Aftermath of World War I:
Consequences
Social:
• almost 10 million soldiers were killed and
over 20 million are wounded
• millions of civilians died as a result of the
hostilities, famine, and disease
• the world was left with hatred, intolerance,
and extreme nationalism.
, Aftermath of World War I:
Consequences Continued
Economic:
• the total cost of the war: over $350 billion. How
was this paid for???
– heavy taxes: causes lower standard of living for the
European people.
• international trade suffers: nations raise the
tariffs on imports and exports.
• Russia: communist seize power and introduce a
new economic system.
• economic collapses bring on the Great
Depression of the late 1920’s and 1930’s.
A Peace Built Upon Quicksand
, Treaty of Versailles
• Conference January -June 1919
• Settlement drafted by delegates of victorious
nations in WWI: Britain, United States, France,
and Italy
• “We were preparing not Peace only, but Eternal
Peace. There was about us the halo of some
divine mission….For we were bent on doing
great , permanent and noble things.”
Participant of conference at Versailles,
World History: Continuity & Change, p. 612
, Aftermath of World War I:
Consequences
Social:
• almost 10 million soldiers were killed and
over 20 million are wounded
• millions of civilians died as a result of the
hostilities, famine, and disease
• the world was left with hatred, intolerance,
and extreme nationalism.
, Aftermath of World War I:
Consequences Continued
Economic:
• the total cost of the war: over $350 billion. How
was this paid for???
– heavy taxes: causes lower standard of living for the
European people.
• international trade suffers: nations raise the
tariffs on imports and exports.
• Russia: communist seize power and introduce a
new economic system.
• economic collapses bring on the Great
Depression of the late 1920’s and 1930’s.
