Post WW1 Treaties and Agreements

What was the purpose of the Paris Peace Conference of 1919?

The Paris Peace Conference aimed to establish terms of peace after World War I. It produced five major treaties (Versailles, Saint Germain, Neuilly, Trianon, and Sevres/Lausanne) that redrew Europe's borders and punished the Central Powers, especially Germany.

Who were the "Big Three" at the Paris Peace Conference?

The Big Three were President Woodrow Wilson (United States), Prime Minister David Lloyd George (United Kingdom), and Premier Georges Clemenceau (France). They dominated the peace negotiations after WWI.

What were France and Britain's main goals at the Paris Peace Conference?

France and Britain wanted to dismantle Germany to ensure it could never threaten them again. Clemenceau especially wanted to punish Germany because much of the fighting took place in France.

What were the key terms of the Treaty of Versailles (1919)?

The Treaty of Versailles placed full blame for WWI on Germany through the War Guilt Clause, required reparations (amount unspecified), limited Germany's army to 100,000 men, gave French occupation of the Rhineland for 15 years, and redistributed German colonies to Britain, France, and Japan.

How did the Treaty of Versailles impact Germany's borders?

Germany lost territory to Poland and France and all of its colonies to Allied powers. These territorial changes fueled resentment that contributed to future instability.

What did the Treaty of Saint Germain (1919) do?

The Treaty of Saint Germain dissolved the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Austria had to recognize the independence of about 60% of its former territory, which became new nations like Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and parts of Poland.

What were the effects of the Treaty of Trianon (1920) on Hungary?

Hungary lost two-thirds of its territory, leading to massive political disorganization and internal conflict. The instability left Hungary with little focus on foreign affairs.

What did the Treaty of Sevres (1920) attempt to do?

The Treaty of Sevres partitioned the Ottoman Empire into Allied-controlled territories and was accepted by Sultan Mehmed VI but rejected by nationalist leader Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk), who led a resistance.

How did Mustafa Kemal respond to the Treaty of Sevres?

Mustafa Kemal overthrew the Sultan, defeated invading Greek and British forces, and negotiated the Treaty of Lausanne (1923), which recognized the new Republic of Turkey.

What were key reforms under Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk)?

Atatürk established a secular Turkish republic, adopted Western law codes, expanded women's rights, and separated religion from the state—modernizing Turkey along European lines.

What was the Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916)?

The Sykes-Picot Agreement was a secret deal between Britain and France to divide the Ottoman Empire's territories in the Middle East into zones of control after WWI.

What was the Mandate System established after WWI?

The Mandate System allowed Britain and France to administer former Ottoman territories under League of Nations supervision. Britain got Palestine, Transjordan, and Iraq; France got Syria, Lebanon, and parts of southern Turkey.

Why was the Mandate System controversial?

It was supposed to lead to independence but operated as a form of colonialism. The British sought to maintain control of key trade routes like the Suez Canal.

What was the Balfour Declaration (1917)?

The Balfour Declaration was a British statement supporting the establishment of a national Jewish homeland in Palestine, which angered Arabs and contributed to the century-long Arab-Israeli conflict.

How did Arabs react to postwar settlements in the Middle East?

Arabs declared independence in Syria and Iraq but were crushed by French and British forces. The French captured Damascus, and Britain brutally suppressed uprisings in Iraq.

What was President Woodrow Wilson's "Fourteen Points"?

Wilson's 1918 peace plan called for open diplomacy, arms reduction, free trade, national self-determination, and the creation of a League of Nations to prevent future wars.

What was the League of Nations?

The League of Nations was an international organization designed to maintain peace through collective security—protecting member states from aggression and promoting diplomacy to prevent war.

Why did the United States not join the League of Nations?

The U.S. Senate rejected membership, fearing it would undermine Congress's power to declare war and drag the U.S. into future European conflicts.

What problems weakened the League of Nations early on?

The League struggled because the U.S. never joined, newly drawn borders divided ethnic groups, and many new nations were politically unstable and economically weak—making them vulnerable to Soviet and fascist influence.

What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)?

The Kellogg-Briand Pact, signed by 15 countries including France and the U.S., renounced war as a tool of national policy. Although symbolic, it failed to prevent future conflicts like WWII.