1. Effects of WWI
Mrs. Sample
Social Studies
History of Europe

2. 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?

3. 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)
W – After World War I, leaders from countries involved
in the war met here to write a treaty (peace talks)
H – Treaty outlined the terms of the winners and what
Y they expected of the losing country

5. Many Historians believe that
disagreements happened because the
war affected the countries in many
different ways.
WHAT COUNTRIES WERE INVOLVED...

6. The British Prime Minister thought that if
the Treaty was too harsh, then Germany
might one day start another war.
Some British
750,000 men
people blamed
Germany for the died
war and wanted
revenge 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.

7. They joined in 1917 and lost
113,000 men.
USA wanted a
‘softer’ treaty USA’s homeland
because they was never
thought Germany attacked
was important for
the future... Woodrow Wilson: I don’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.

8. Most of the fighting Germany stole
took place in Northern 90% of France’s
France. coal and iron in
1914
Many roads and 1,250,000 men
factories had been died
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

9. “SIGN THE TREATY
OR WE WILL INVADE
YOU……ITS YOUR
CHOICE!”
FRANCE
USA The treaty was
dictated to Germany--
BRITAIN they did not have a say
in it.

10. Before the Treaty of Versailles

12. WHAT DID THE TREATY ACCOMPLISH?
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
MASSIVE ARMY CUTS This organization of GERMANY’S EMPIRE
The Army was cut to nations would
cooperate to keep All of Germany’s
just 100,000 men, the colonies were taken
Navy could only have 6 peace.
away and given away
battleships, and they to the Allied countries.
were not allowed to
build any new planes,
tanks, or submarines. Treaty of GERMAN LAND GIVEN
Versailles AWAY
Germany lost land to
PAY COMPENSATION
France, Poland, Belgium,
This was know as and Denmark. An area of
reparations. Germany Germany was even
had to pay $33 billion separated from the
dollars. mainland.

13. 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.

14. 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.”

15. 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:

16. 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
German money was only
worthless
good for starting fires…

17. HOW DID THE U.S. HELP GERMANY?
• The Dawes Plan
– Reduced the amount Germany owed
– Set payments Germany could handle
– Loaned Germany $200 million

18. Russian Revolution
• Prior to 1917 (The Great War), Russia
was an autocracy.
• The Czar was the absolute ruler. The last
czar was Nicholas II.
• Nicholas II did not listen to the people or
acknowledge the condition in which the
Russian people were living.
• There was not enough food, soldiers were
lacking food and clothing.

19. Russians Revolt
• Early 1917- Women, factory workers, and
farmers riot and outnumber the police.
• The military could not keep the peace.
• The army turned against the ruling family
and captured.
• A government was set up to try and run
country.
• Still… too many problems.

20. Vladimir Lenin
• Took control of the Russian government.
• He ordered the execution of the czar and his
family.
• He reorganized the country & named it the
Soviet Union.
• The new Soviet Union signed a peace treaty
with Germany.
• Soviets gave up a large part of land to Germany
rich in natural resources and arable land.

21. Vladimir Lenin

22. Worldwide Depression
• Germany wasn’t the only country who suffered
– In the 1930s, countries around the world fell
into a worldwide economic depression
• WHY?...

23. 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
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jobs
• People couldn’t repay their
loans to the bank, so they lost
everything (homes, farms, etc.)

24. 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…