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Treaty of Versailles and the Worldwide Depression. Unit 2 Notes. In November 1918 Germany surrenders to the Allied countries. The most powerful ones, being France, USA and Britain, wanted to create a treaty that clearly explained what Germany would now have to do. BUT WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?.
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Treaty of Versaillesand theWorldwide Depression Unit 2 Notes
In November 1918 Germany surrenders to the Allied countries. The most powerful ones, being France, USA and Britain, wanted to create a treaty that clearly explained what Germany would now have to do. BUT WHAT SHOULD THEY DO? PUNISH? REVENGE! REBUILD? TAKE OVER?
WHEN: January 1919 • Allied countries could not agree on what the treaty should include, but... • They could agree on WHERE it should take place: A French palace in a city called Versailles (near Paris) • After World War I, leaders from countries involved in the war met here to write a treaty (peace talks) • Treaty outlined the terms of the winners and what they expected of the losing country W H Y
Many Historians believe that disagreements happened because the war affected the countries in many different ways. WHAT COUNTRIES WERE INVOLVED...
The British Prime Minister thought that if the Treaty was too harsh, then Germany might one day start another war. Some British people blamed Germany for the war and wanted revenge BRITAIN 750,000 men died Spent nearly $8 billion of which $1 billion was borrowed from the USA I don’t want to cripple Germany in the Treaty. I think that this could start another war in the future, but people in Britain want Germany to pay.
They joined in 1917 and lost 113,000 men. USA USA wanted a ‘softer’ treaty because they thought Germany was important for the future... USA’s homeland was never attacked Woodrow Wilson: Idon’t agree with France. Its probably because we didn’t suffer nearly as much as the French. However, I want to focus upon setting up the League of Nations. US did not join the League of Nations for fear of being drawn into more wars. This also means the US did not sign the Treaty of Versailles.
Most of the fighting took place in Northern France. Germany stole 90% of France’s coal and iron in 1914 FRANCE 1,250,000 men died Many roads and factories had been destroyed I want to make sure that Germany pays for the problems it has caused us. We suffered the most in WW1 and we demand revenge and reparations Clemencau
“SIGN THE TREATY OR WE WILL INVADE YOU……ITS YOUR CHOICE!” FRANCE USA BRITAIN The treaty was dictated to Germany-- they did not have a say in it.
WHAT DID THE TREATY ACCOMPLISH? LEAGUE OF NATIONS This organization of nations would cooperate to keep peace. PAY COMPENSATION This was know as reparations. Germany had to pay $33 billion dollars. GERMANY’S EMPIRE All of Germany’s colonies were taken away and given away to the Allied countries. Treaty of Versailles MASSIVE ARMY CUTS The Army was cut to just 100,000 men, the Navy could only have 6 battleships, and they were not allowed to build any new planes, tanks, or submarines. GERMAN LAND GIVEN AWAY Germany lost land to France, Poland, Belgium, and Denmark. An area of Germany was even separated from the mainland.
Land taken away from Germany under the treaty of Versailles Not only did Germany lose about 10% of its land, it also consequently lost 10% of its population. German people were now living in foreign countries.
Excerpt from a German newspaper on the day the treaty was signed... “Today in the Hall of Mirrors of Versailles the disgraceful Treaty is being signed. Do not forget it. The German people will press forward to reconquer the place among nations to which we deserve. Then will come revenge for the shame of 1919.”
Germany was a proud country due to its military strength and strong traditions of dominance within that area of Europe. However, the treaty of Versailles created different feelings: Humiliation Embarrassment Bitterness Revenge
The war had left Germany almost bankrupt. As its people starved and the country lay in chaos, the Allies gave them a bill (Treaty of Versailles) that they simply could not afford to pay... RESULT: German money become worthless German money was only good for starting fires…
HOW DID THE U.S. HELP GERMANY? • The Dawes Plan • Reduced the amount Germany owed • Set payments Germany could handle • Loaned Germany $200 million
Worldwide Depression • Germany wasn’t the only country who suffered • In the 1930s, countries around the world fell into a worldwide economic depression • WHY?...
USA's Economic Depression • 1929—USA experienced a stock market crash • Value of stocks began to drop so stockholders began to sell their stocks as fast as they could • Businesses could no longer sell their goods because people had less money to spend, so many had to close & workers lost their jobs • People couldn’t repay their loans to the bank, so they lost everything (homes, farms, etc.)
Worldwide Economic Depression • Businesses around the world traded with the US: • When the US stopped buying goods, it hurt businesses in other countries • When US banks closed, banks in other countries were hurt too • Stockholders in other countries could no longer sell their stocks to American companies • As businesses and factories around the world closed one by one, buying and selling almost stopped…
