Impact of WWI, Revolution & Collapse, Public Opinion.
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Transcript of Impact of WWI, Revolution & Collapse, Public Opinion.
Impact of WWI, Revolution & Collapse, Public Opinion
Problems Facing the Peacemakers
WWI severely disrupted international tradeEven neutral European countries had suffered
economically through loss of trade and German U-boats destroying their ships
Britain & France had changed their economic focus to meet the demands of war—lost overseas markets to US and Japan
US and Japan hadn’t seen fighting on home soil and emerged more powerful and economically strong
Allies had been forced to borrow from US bankers and had to repay their loans
Had to demand reparations payment from WWI losers
All European economies needed to be rebuilt
Impact of WWI: Economic
Increase in national debt in Europe
Country Increase in national debt (US $million)
Great Britain
30,811
France 21, 266Italy 5,605
Germany 75
(This figure is low because of the impact of inflation)
Casualties of key nations in WWI
Country Estimated # killed in WWI
Germany 2,000,000France 2,000,000Russia 1,650,000Austria-Hungary
1,100,000
Great Britain 750,000British Empire 250,000Romania 250,000
Besides the casualties of war, the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 killed 40 million people around the world—more than the war itself
Total war had involved large numbers of citizensFood shortages, strikes and demonstrations
against GermanyIn Germany, some feared a revolution like in
Russia because people were so bitter and tired of war
People expected the Paris Peace Conference to respond to public demand; and they were feeling pretty nationalistic post-war
Impact of WWI: Social
WWI placed pressure on the tsarist regime and brought a revolution in 1917. Tsar Nicholas abdicated.
October 1917 the provisional government was overthrown by Bolsheviks who wanted out of the war
Bolsheviks made separate peace treaty with Germany: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Revolution and Collapse: Russia
Bolsheviks became first communist state—Hungary was second—it seemed Europe was ripe for a communist takeover
This threat frightened Europe because communism opposes private ownership and the capitalist system and the middle class factory owners
Leaders at the peace conferences felt pressure to act fast and prevent this communist takeover
Revolution and Collapse: Russia
Why did Europe fear a Communist takeover? What made this a legitimate fear?
Italy had been promised (by Britain and France) some sovereignty over the Dodecanese Islands off the Greek coast, but this went against the self-determination theories post-war.
Large #s of non-Italians would be under Italian rule
But Italy was eager to make itself a great power and to show its people they hadn’t fought in vain and refused to release Britain and France from their promises
Revolution & Collapse: C &E Europe
You know everything there is to know about this, but…
Britain had promised support for Arab independence in order to get them to revolt against their common Turkish enemy (the Arab Revolt)
Contradicted the Balfour Declaration which promised the Jews a homeland in Palestine
Britain and US had also allowed Japan some concessions in Asia
Revolution and Collapse: Mid East
Britain and France had general elections within a year of the war ending and in their campaigns, candidates who supported “making Germany pay” won the elections and those who supported Wilson’s moderate views were defeated.
Italy’s economy was so weak, and its people so bitter, Prime Minister Orlando had to ensure Italy made significant gains from the peace treaties.
Public Opinion
One of the greatest difficulties faced by leaders of Britain and France was public pressure—they were elated to have won the war, and wanted to make the defeated nations pay
Public Opinion
Sir Eric Geddes, a British government minister, speaking to a rally in the general election campaign, December 1918.
“If I am elected, Germany is going to pay. I have personally no doubt we will get everything that you can squeeze out of a lemon, and a bit more. I propose that every bit of German-owned property; moveable and immovable, in Allied and neutral countries, whether State property or private property; should be surrendered by the Germans.”