...Versailles affected the German economy. I find this subject relevant since it is a big event in European history. During the years after the First World War Germany had a lot of debts and faced a lot of reparation costs. Even though the meaning of most of the peace treaties was to encourage the world economy, re-build cities and maintain peace, not a lot of these goals were fulfilled. Background The First World War was a military conflict that included a lot of countries around the world. The war started at June 28, 1914 and lasted until November 11, 1918. The war was played out between the great power countries and they were divided in to two parts, the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire) and the Entente (Russia, Great Britain, France and USA). When the war ended in 1918, negations began to try to come up with solutions to all the problems and crises that had been caused by the war. All the countries involved in the war gathered in France in 1919 to start the peace negotiations. An important treaty written during these negotiations was the Treaty Of Versailles. It was signed by Germany and the Entente.1 The Demands Germany was seen as being head responsible for the upcoming of WW1 and had caused the most damage to other countries; therefor the Treaty of Versailles included numerous demands that Germany had to obey. France got permission to occupy the coal-mines in Saar Basin for fifteen years and they also got Alsace–Lorraine back. A big part of Prussia...
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...Germans failed to develop a democratic tradition because they preferred a stronger state led by a powerful individual. Historical View #5 suggests that German support of Nazism was an emotional response to the crisis-state; Germans were disoriented with the economic crisis, and similar to View #1, sought firmer leadership. The Treaty of Versailles doomed the Weimar Republic because the German administration was unable to fulfill the treaty’s unrealistic demands for reparations, which ruined their domestic economy and fostered a strong authoritative leadership that would defend Germany against the terms and impoverishing effects of the ill-advised treaty. The Treaty of Versailles was intended to guarantee the Allies (and neighboring countries) peace and safety; however, the Allies neglected to recognize that the harsh demands of reparations would drive Germany into the hands of a dictator. Virtually the whole nation repudiated the Treaty of Versailles; it was introduced to promote peace, but instead stripped Germany of her self-determination and potential prosperity, leading to a domestic rebuke of its onerous terms. Additionally, President Wilson’s following Fourteen Points were also considered to deny millions of citizens their...
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...Weimar Republic in 1923-1928” Do you agree? The period 1925-1929 if often considered to be the ‘Golden Years’ of Weimar Germany’s political history. Gustav Stresemann was in power or in positions of influence between 1906 and 1923. During this period Germany gained political power and the economic difficulties started to be overcome. Stresemann helped rebuild Germany after a year of crisis in 1923. There were many different factors Stresemann controlled behind the main reason of success for the Weimar Republic. These included economic problems such as inflation, Dawes Plan and Young Plan, international affairs and Social Reforms. I agree that biggest success of Stresemann was controlling inflation because he was able to stabilise the money in the country and by this happening it created a domino effect for his other successes. Firstly, Germany faced economic problems. Hyperinflation was a major part of this which is when prices are rising and the value of money is falling. Germany began to suffer inflation during the war but things got further worse after the war when there was a demand of £6,600,000 reparation payments. In 1923 French troops occupied the Ruhr in Germany due to Germany failing to pay an instalment of reparations on time. Workers were told to go on strike and so all workers on strike had to be given financial support. The government responded in printing more and more banknotes resulting in hyperinflation. In November 1923, Stresemann faced a decision of allowing...
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...To what extent was Gustav Stresemann responsible for the increased stability in Germany in the years 1924-1929? Between the years of 1924 and 1929, Gustav Stresemann had a huge influence over Germany and helped it regain stability after World War One and hyperinflation. Before he took charge and became chancellor in 1923 Germany’s economy was extremely unstable, Stresemann came to power to resolve many of Germany’s issues. There were many reasons why Stresemann was responsible for the stability, some of these included the end of passive resistance, the Dawes plan and the change in currency, all of these were good factors however some did hold some negative effects, He focused on improving the economy, relations with other countries and improving the social aspects of living. Although Stresemann’s actions and policies had both good and bad sides, overall it was because of these that Stresemann is responsible for the regained stability of Germany. Stresemann changed the currency when he became chancellor after 1923 from the deutch mark to the Rentenmark, this put an end to hyperinflation. Hyperinflation meant that the German currency became almost completely worthless with price rising by thousands from one day to the next. By making this change, Stresemann gave the Rentenmark a better value and allowed Germany to get out of the, what seemed endless, hyperinflation. However this had a negative effect too as the money the middle and working class lost during hyperinflation, they...
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...during World War 1, said "This [The Treaty of Versailles] is not a peace. It is an armistice for twenty years". World War 1 was caused by the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, the future emperor of Austria-Hungary. Serbia financed the assassination which lead to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. Each country's allies declared war on each other eventually leading to a global conflict. The Great War involved 32 countries killing over 8 million soldiers. After four years, the Treaty of Versailles ended the War-to-end-all-wars on June 28, 1919 in Paris, France. The Allies argued about the punishment Germany should receive. France and England wanted...
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...Effects of the Great Depression on other countries During the Great Depression there was a worldwide economic decline in government tax revenues, prices, profits, income and international trade. Unemployment grew at high speed and political upturn developed in many countries. While many first think the Great Depression only affected the United States, it largely affected and involved many countries throughout the world. Every country had direct or even indirect ties; both industrialized countries and those which exported raw materials were hurt and affected as a result of America’s collapsing economy. One of the worst-hit was Canada, because of its economic position. The Great Depression that started in the United States in 1929 quickly reached Canada. At the time, Canada’s economy was just starting to shift from primary industry to manufacturing. Exports of raw materials drop, and employment, prices and profit fell in every sector. It was further affected as its main partners were Britain and the United States. Between 1929 and 1939 the gross national product dropped 40%. Unemployment reached 27% at the depth of the Depression in 1933. Canada did have some advantages over other countries, especially its extremely stable banking system that had no failures during the entire depression, compared to over 9,000 small banks that collapsed in the United States. But, at the same time, was hurt badly because of its reliance and other commodities, whose prices fell by over 50%,...
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...the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) Nationalist: One who puts their country above all else The Reichstag: The German congress President Hindenberg: Leader of Weimar Republic Surprisingly, given its vast industrial and military power when the war began, Germany emerged from World War I a battered and, in many respects, a bewildered country. In the final months of 1918, Germans had witnessed the reversal of their army’s spring offensive, the resignation of the chancellor and abdication of the Kaiser, and the signing of a hastily arranged armistice, all in the midst of massive civil unrest. Establishment of the Weimar Republic. Germany had also changed internally. When the Kaiser and chancellor left, members of different political parties vied for power, and the country limped along for several months without a firm government in power. Then, in elections in January 1919, 76 percent of Germans voted for the three parties that favored democracy: the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Catholic Center (plus its allies in the Catholic Bavarian People’s Party), and the smaller German Democratic Party (DDP). In February, the elected officials met in the city of Weimar to draw up a constitution and establish a coalition, and the Weimar Republic was born. Understandably, many Germans could not accept that they were the losers of World War I. And yet that was precisely the basis of the Versailles Treaty (so-called because negotiations, to which Germany was not invited, took place...
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...Depression, it wasn’t its only cause. There were many different factors, beginning with the end of the World War I in 1919, that that led up the Great Depression. During World War I, the United States made a lot of money by making and supplying other countries with weapons, food, supplies and other necessities. Farmers, coal miners, textile workers, and businesses were all thriving and doing very well from the war. When World War I came to an end, the farmers, coal miners, and textile workers were the first to feel the effects of the war ending. Their goods were no longer needed for the war, and they immediately found that they had an abundance of goods that they couldn’t sell. They had to cut back on production, and employees, and wages. Once World War I ended, a peace treaty, known as the Versailles Treaty, was signed and it unknowingly became a major cause of the Great Depression. The treaty blamed Germany for the cause of World War I and demanded that Germany pay war reparation to Great Britain and France. Germany was in no position to pay the war reparations; the war cause great devastation to their economy. Great Britain and France demanded Germany to pay. Great Britain and France were indebted to the United States from the supplies and goods during the war, and were using that money to pay the United States. United States did what they could to help Germany get back on their feet. Nothing was getting accomplished. Money was being sent from country to country to...
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...World War II (1939-1945) was the most destructive war in history. It killed more people, destroyed more property, and disrupted more lives than any other war in history. It probably had more far-reaching consequences than any other war. The war brought about the downfall of Western Europe as the center of world power. It led to the dominance of the Soviet Union and the United States. It set off a power struggle between the two countries called the Cold War. World War II also opened the nuclear age. It is impossible to say exactly how many people died as a result of World War II. Estimates suggest about 20 million soldiers died during the war’s six years. From 30 to 40 million civilians also perished. That makes a combined death toll of 50 million to 60 million people. The battlegrounds of World War II spread to nearly every part of the world. Troops fought in the jungles of Southeast Asia. They battled in the deserts of North Africa. They fought on the islands and seas of the Pacific Ocean. Battles raged on the frozen steppes of the Soviet Union and in the cities, forests, and farmers’ fields of Europe. Submarines fought below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. World War II began on Sept. 1, 1939, when Nazi...
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...How stable were the ‘Stresemann Years’ of the Weimar Republic, 1924-29? Timeline: 1924: May: Nationalist vote increases in Reichstag elections August: Reichstag accepts the Dawes Plan 1925: February: Death of President Ebert April: Hindenburg elected President October: Locarno Treaties signed 1926: September: Germany admitted the League of Nations 1927: August: Commercial Treaty signed – between France and Germany 1928: May: Number of socialist votes in Reichstag election increase 1929: September: Allies begin military evacuation of the Rhineland October: Stresemann dies December: Referendum upholds decision to adopt Young Plan. Relative Political Stability * This period of the Weimar = absence of attempts to threaten republic * However – no political stability = parliamentary system failed to develop * Main reason for no development: Coalition government = not enough support to tackle issues that faced democracy (blame with political parties) * Some parties still acted as interest groups representing own sectional group rather than national parties government (due to their inexperience in forming govt) * Due to PR – parties need to be cooperative [eg. DVP’s association with business interest made them refuse coalition with SPD in 1926] – therefore frequent political paralysis * Inability to cooperate = inability to tackle social/economic problems * Therefore not really politically stable Chancellor’s of the Weimar...
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...died. April 1919 Treaty of Versailles – Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war (Clause 231) and pay £6,600 million in reparations. She was forbidden to have submarines or an air force and could only have a navy of six battleships and an Army of just 100,000 men. She also lost territory to Britain and France. The League of Nations – an international organisation designed to preserve the peace and solve international disputes by arbitration; based on a system of collective security (article 10). 42 countries joined at the start and by the 1930s this became 60. The covenant of the League of Nations was agreed as part of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 held at Versailles – it aimed to stop war, improve people’s lives and jobs, disarm and enforce the Treaty of Versailles). In May 1920, the US Senate voted against Versailles (due to isolationism) and did not join. Summer 1919 John Maynard Keynes published ‘The Economic Consequences of the Peace’ – said that the Treaty of Versailles was ‘economic insanity’ and an example of a ‘Carthaginian Peace’. It sold 60,000 copies in the first 2 months, 100,000 copies in the first 6 months and was translated into 14 languages. Aug 1919 – 1934 ‘Ten Year Rule’ – British spending was only £102 million on defence in 1932, compared to £760 million in 1919 – 1920. March 1921 Anglo-Soviet trade agreement – stopped the blockade of Soviet Russia to resume trade with its people. In the 1920s Germany had 50% greater population than France...
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...their Great Depression, called the Great Slump, right around 1918. This year is important, as World War I had just ended. Britain was suffering the turmoil of the war and never fully recovered by the time the Great Depression had hit the United States. Britain heavily relied on exports to other countries. When other countries’ economies took a nosedive, then Britain could not export the numbers that they wanted. As a result, Britain was hit extra hard by the time the Depression hit in the late 1920’s. Unemployed citizens went from an initial one million to just over 2.5 million during the Depression. Some cities saw unemployment rates as high as 70%. These rates began to turn back to normal around 1935 and further fell each year. The outbreak of World War II basically caused the unemployment rate to return to normal, as men were needed to fight the newly developing war. Another country that suffered just as much as the United Kingdom had was France. Causes of their downward spiral were due to an underdeveloped economy. France’s industry was far inferior to Great Britain’s, particularly in farming. Tourism was also a big part of France’s economy, and during this time, many individuals simply did not have the money to travel around the world. France, like the United Kingdom, also suffered to recover from World War I. While not as bad, France relied heavily on German reparations, to pay for...
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...Sharon Campbell World War I, Europe & the World The impact of World War I is still with us today. Modern Europe is a direct result of what happened during World War I. For a quick example: because France and England severely punished Germany with reparations, Germans were humiliated, and their economy was in shambles. This led to the rise of Adolph Hitler, WWII, The Cold War, and much of the European history that has followed through cause and effect. Causes of the war were growing nationalism, imperialism, militarism and a system of alliances in Europe. Nationalism is the love of one’s country, but it allows individuals to believe they are better than others, so it makes it easier for them to go to war against each other. Before World War I, Europeans were very nationalistic. Imperialism is the domination of one country by another, and European countries established colonies and dominated other nations around the world for their natural resources and their markets. This was no different than the relationship between England and the American Colonies. England believed the colonies existed for the good of England. They thought it was their right to control colonial trade and tax the colonies. Imperialism put European countries in competition with each other for colonies around the world. Militarism is the policy where a country builds up its armed forces. They developed their navys to protect the sea routes to their different colonies. Clearly each country wanted a...
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...LESSON 7. THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND THE INTERWAR CRISIS THE FIRST WORLD WAR The 1st WW was debated between two opposing blocks: The Allies: France, UK and the Russian Empire (with the collaboration of Italy, Japan, Belgium and the USA) And the Central Powers: Germany and Austria-‐Hungary (together with the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria) It was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28th July 1914 and lasted until 11th November 1918, the moment the Allies obtained the victory. By the end of the war the map of Europe was redrawn with several independent nations restored or created, and as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War (the Treaty of Versailles), an intergovernmental organisation was founded with the aim of preventing any repetition of such a terrible conflict (the League of Nations). PROBLEM: This aim failed and, as a result, the renewed European nationalism (together with the German feeling of humiliation) contributed to the rise of fascism that gave birth to the Second World War some years later (1939). The First World War represented the break with the 19th century and a dramatic change...
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...The War of Vietnam Social Science Mr. Thompson 03/25/2014 Why did the USA become increasingly involved in the war of Vietnam? There are many reason why America got involved in the war of Vietnam. The countries Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia were then called the French Indochina. This is because the French had conquered the area before in the 19th century. The French indo china was wanted by the French, because of its materials like rubber, coal and rice. Also Vietnam was the world’s third biggest grower of rice. However, because of these new materials Japan wanted to conquer this too. They took time and waited for the right time to go and attack Vietnam. This finally came down to the year 1940 when France was defeated by the Germans. So Japan went into Vietnam and started taking out what they wanted. In 1940 the French were defeated by the Japanese. Therefore, it meant that Japan had control over the French indo china. This then expanded the Japanese empire even more. Japan had hoped to keep the French indo china but by the end of the Second World War 1945 the French had returned to reoccupy the territory they had lost earlier. In August 1945 the French had defeated the Japanese and took back what was their’s. This couldn’t have been done without the support of the USA. The Japanese got rid of the French and then the Americans got rid of the Japanese. This meant that the Vietnamese was the only military force left in Vietnam. Vietminh are the Vietnamese fighting for the independence...
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