Other Terms and Concepts to Know from Ch 5 - 8 Flashcards
What were the causes and effects of TREATY OF VERSAILLES?
Peace talks focused on the same issues that had started WWI: sovereignty and territory, economic interests and security, and nationalism and national identity. The Treaty of Versailles was the treaty that involved Germany. Harsh financial, military and territorial penalties were imposed. The treaty required Germany:
- to reduce its military strength.
- to pay war reparations to compensate the Allies for the costs of the war.
- to give up territory in Europe, as well as all its colonies.
- to accept responsibility “for causing all the loss and damage” that had affected the Allies.
The Treaty of Versailles did not do what it was intended. It did not forge a lasting peace. Instead, it increased German nationalism and highlighted the Allies’ inability to achieve what it wanted. Hence, the beginning of WWII.
What was APPEASEMENT and the INTERWAR PERIOD?
Appeasement is giving in to demands. A foreign policy practiced by Britain and the US when they granted Adolf Hitler concessions in an effort to avoid WWII.
Interwar Period was the time period from the end of WWI to the beginning of WWII. When the WWI ended, people looked forward to going back to “normal”. However, a post-war recession happened because prices for products sold dropped; soldiers returned; and unemployment rose. In areas where the war happened, there was a great deal of damage to repair which cost billions. Germany, in particular, almost collapsed from the financial costs. The US stepped in to help with the economic crisis. However, the dissatisfaction of the people created ultranationalism in some countries with the hardest conditions. Also during the interwar period, the Great Depression happened. Two main causes of the Great Depression were: the global economy had not fully recovered from WWI and all were dependent on the US, who were helping other nations recover.
Why did WWII happen? What were the key events and results of the war?
The Treaty of Versailles was controversial. Some people believed that it was too harsh and would cause too much hardship for the German people (which it did). Other people believed that it was too easy on Germany. They feared that Germany would be able to rebuild its military strength (which it did). It is believed that the Treaty of Versailles led to the rise of Hitler and the Nazis and to WWII. Hitler was on a mission to install Germany as the world’s greatest country. He started to invade other countries and take over the territory by force. Many people who had experienced the terrible costs of WWI and the Great Depression believed that avoiding another war was one of their most important national interests. So when Hitler started to take over other countries’ territory, people hoped that appeasement - giving in to demands - would prevent another war. The League of Nations - a group of nations that agreed to help one another and to take action to maintain peace - failed. When Britain and France realized appeasement was not working, they declared war on Germany and WWII had began.
The key events of WWII:
- Hitler invaded Poland and Britain and France declared war on Germany.
- Germany invades and takes control of Denmark and Norway.
- Germany uses quick strikes called “blitzkrieg” - meaning lightening war - to take over much of Eastern Europe
- Winston Churchill becomes prime minister of Britain
- Italy enters the war on the Axis side
- Germany attacks Great Britain - “The Battle of Britain”
- Germany, Italy and Japan make up the Axis Treaty
- Germany and the Axis Powers attack Russia
- Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. The US join WWII
- Italy surrenders to the Allies
- D-Day - Allies invade France and push the Germans out. Paris is liberated from German control
- “Battle of the Bulge” - the Germans lose to the Allies
- Franklin Roosevelt dies and is replaced by Harry Truman
- The US Army crosses the Rhine River and Hitler commits suicide.
- Germany surrenders to the Allies
- The US bombs Hiroshima
- Japan surrenders to the Allies
The results of WWI were:
- WWII set a precedent for war crimes and the punishment of war crimes.
- The formation of the United Nations (UN).
- Women’s Rights - the women refused to give up the jobs when the men came back
- The Cold War
What is the LEAGUE OF NATIONS? What was its purpose? What were the pros and cons?
The League of Nations was to be an organization which would oversee all international disputes.
The purpose of the League of Nations was to establish world peace.
Pros of the League of Nation were: established fair labor conditions; improve global health; controlled global arms trade; and protected minorities in Europe.
Cons of the League of Nations were: it had no power to back up what it wanted because the US did not join; no one would listen to the powers of the League of Nation; and it did not have any financial backing because every nation who belonged was going through a recession.
