Transcript Document
The Collapse of the Central Powers • With the U.S. in the war, Germany made a last effor to break through on the Western Front – Second Battle of the Marne – Unsuccessful, and used up Germany’s last strength • Austria Hungary Cracked – Surrendered – Fall of the empire- series of nationalistic revolution cont. • Germany implodes – Mutiny – Kaiser fled – Moderate socialists form a government to seek peace • There are a whole series of reasons why radical socialists (Rosa Luxemburg/ Karl Liebknecht) didn’t take over ( like in Russia- know them!) • Important points for later consideration – German military knew it had been beaten, but forced the new government to seek peace terms – Germany surrenders (11-11-18… armistice day), but was never invaded/occupied • Anyone see how this may become significant later? The Treaty Of Versailles • Key Questions– How should European land be politically divided? – What should be done to the losersGermany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire – How Will a Long Term Peace Be Made? Key Figures Georges Clemenceau Woodrow Wilson David Lloyd George • In many ways the key figure of the peace conference • Before the war was even over, he had published The Fourteen Points – A set of post war suggestions with two central goals • #1- ‘Peace Without Victory”. In other words, don’t smash the losers. Help them to their feet to prevent future conflict. • #2 ‘Self-Determination’. A division of land based on Nationalism. No more powder-kegs/revolutions. Wilson’s Plan Wilson’s Plan (cont.) • The Fourteen Provisions Were a Technocratic attempt to remove the stressors that caused World War I • Check out a few of them to see what I mean… • No secret treaties • Freedom of travel in international waters •reduction of all militaries • A League of Nations – group that would solve international disputes non-violently – Next time we have a Balkan-like incident… Quote from Wilson’s 14 Points speech to congress • “…we are willing to fight and to continue to fight until they [the 14 points] are achieved; but only because we wish the right to prevail and desire a just and stable peace such as can be secured only by removing the chief provocations to war, which this program does remove. We have no jealousy of German greatness, and there is nothing in this program that impairs it.” Who Ultimately Blocked Wilson’s Proposal and Why? Censored Treaty of Versailles was Harsh • Britain, and especially France want a harsh treaty – Why? – France even wants to pull off a piece of Western Germany and create a buffer state • Ultimately, the British and French get their way and a punishing treaty is created – Germany takes blame for the war – Monetary Reparations – Loss of Colonial Land – Loss of European land (cont.) • France is Forced to Give on Buffer State Because it Offends the Competing Goal of Nationalism – They do manage to get back Alsace Lorraine and force the Germans to completely demilitarize the Rhineland – Also, the U.S. and Britain agree to help France if it was attacked in the future • Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points Were Almost Entirely Rejected – They only manage to get the League of Nations – Ironically, the U.S. didn’t even join the League of Nations – The U.S. also backed out of its defensive alliance with France – Congress versus President issue How could you argue that the Treaty of Versailles was a bad call even for the French and British? •Germany was crushed so badly that it remained bitter •Much like France after 1871, desires revenge •Some allied countries were even angry- •Italy didn’t get land it had been promised when it joined the allied side because this conflicted with the principle of selfdetermination 1914 1918 One Final Issue- The Colonies • Many African and Asian nationalists (often Western Educated) were thrilled by Wilson’s 14 points – Do we see why? – Interesting story about Ho Chi Minh • Britain and France, the dominant imperialists, reject Self Determination in the non-white world – ‘We need our colonies to help us rebuild our countries.’ – Plus, self-determination is wasted on inferior non-whites • Japan’s attempt at a racial equality clause in Treaty of Versailles (cont.) • Germany’s colonies are divided up – Japan gains land in Asia • Tricky Mandate System is Set Up to Prevent Colonial Uprisings – Mandate System- ‘We (Europeans) will give you (the colonies) your freedom just as soon as you have proven yourselves capable of ruling yourselves’ • Once again- White Man’s Burden – Can you see the ‘trick’ Israel/Palestine • Land known as the ‘holy land’ and the ‘promised land’ by the Jewish Diaspora • Britain had promised this land to Jews in return for their loyalty during WWI • But they’d also promised it to Arab Muslims in return for help against the Ottomans • Uh… oh…