Chapter One: World War I Consequences, Treaty of Versailles, and the League of Nations

Flashcards covering key topics from Chapter One: WWI consequences, Versailles terms, the League of Nations, and related peace initiatives.

Who were the Big Three at the Paris Peace Conference and what were their main motivations according to the notes?

USA – Woodrow Wilson, motivation: to create the League of Nations; France – Georges Clemenceau, motivation: revenge, pay, and self-determination; Britain – David Lloyd George, motivation: maintain naval power and recover Britain.

Name the five terms of the Treaty of Versailles as listed in the notes.

War Guilt Clause; Demilitarization of the armed forces; Territorial losses; Reparations; League of Nations (Germany was not allowed to join).

Why is the Treaty of Versailles described as both fair and unfair in the notes?

Fair because it held Germany responsible for causing destruction; unfair because Germany did not start the war alone and other powers shared responsibility.

What were the short-term impacts of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany?

Germans felt betrayed and the country faced political instability from internal groups and weak politicians.

What were the medium-term economic consequences in Germany after Versailles?

Hyperinflation and the Weimar government’s inability to pay reparations, with France occupying the Ruhr in 1923 due to nonpayment.

What long-term consequence did the Versailles settlement contribute to?

Resentment and economic hardship that contributed to the rise of Hitler and the start of World War II.

What European changes did Versailles trigger?

Breakup of old empires and the creation of new states from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

What were the aims of the League of Nations?

Collective security and disarmament.

What were the main weaknesses of the League of Nations?

Lacked key powers (USA, Russia, Germany) and was unable to stop aggressors militarily or economically.

What was the Corfu incident of 1923 and what does it illustrate about the League?

Italy attacked Corfu; the League failed to stop the aggression, illustrating the League’s limited effectiveness in the 1920s.

Name a 1920s success claimed for the League of Nations.

Advances in public health (vaccination) and efforts to curb opium trafficking and improve labor conditions.

Name a 1930s failure of the League of Nations.

Inability to stop aggressors such as Japan’s Manchuria incident and Italy’s invasion of Abyssinia.

What was the Rapallo Treaty?

A 1922 treaty between USSR and Germany reestablishing diplomatic relations and canceling reparations, enabling economic cooperation.

What was the Dawes Plan?

A 1924 plan involving loans from the USA to Germany to stabilize the economy and facilitate reparations.

What were the Locarno Treaties?

A 1925 set of agreements where Germany accepted its Western borders with France and Belgium; Eastern borders were not addressed.

What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact?

A 1928 agreement in which many nations promised not to use war to settle disputes; it lacked enforcement mechanisms.

What was the Young Plan?

A plan to reduce German reparations and extend the repayment period.