Countries Between World Wars

League of Nations No control of major conflicts. No progress in disarmament. No effective military force.

France French cities in ruin, scarred by trenches & shell holes Coalition government (many political groups joined together) – shaky Maginot Line – fortifications – false sense of security French not prepared for WWII

Great Britain Raised taxes to pay war debt – Labor unions fought for higher wages – Industry owners resisted Result – serious labor unrest  strikes Colonies demanded more freedom, self-government, or complete independence

Ireland Irish nationalists  Easter Rebellion of 1916 “Black and Tans” fought against the IRA IRA = Irish Republican Army (wanted independence)

Political split of 1921 Southern Ireland = Irish Free State Self-governing  Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland = remained part of Britain Religious split Southern Ireland (Rep. of Ire.) = Roman Catholic Northern Ireland = Protestant

Egypt Great Britain controlled Egypt since 1882 WWI  Britain declared Egypt independent 1930s  Egypt became member of League of Nations GB & Egypt agreed to help each other in war Egypt agreed GB should hold military control of Suez Canal for 20 years

Middle East Oil resources – sudden demand for oil due to industrialization Great Britain & France received parts of Middle East – However, Middle East wanted independence All but Palestine achieved independence

Palestine Conflict between Arabs & Jews – Palestine  original home of Jewish people – Jews had dispersed to other lands Zionism = resettle Jews in Palestine – Chaim Weizmann Palestine key for British because vital oil pipeline from Iraq ended in Haifa, Palestine Holy Land for Arabs, Jews, & Christians

Turkey Mustafa Kemal led Turkish nationalists to overthrow Ottoman emperor Established Republic of Turkey – 1 st republic in Middle East Kemal set out to modernize Turkey – Broke connection between Islamic church & state – Secular courts, secular public schools Women given legal & political rights (vote) Kemal became “Ataturk” or “father of the Turks”

Iran (formerly Persia) 1921 – Army officer Reza Khan seized power Established military dictatorship – Reza shah Pahlavi – Program of Westernization (schools, roads, industrialization, women’s rights) British & Soviet troops invaded – Reza Khan deposed, replaced by son Mohammed Reza

Anti-shah riots  CIA helped to restore Shah (Mohammed Reza) to power Conflict between U.S. and Iran 1979 Islamic revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini  overthrew Shah – 52 American hostages taken in Teheran, Iran  released 444 days later

India India on Allied side during WWI – After WWI, India wanted independence from Britain Mohandas Gandhi – Indian leader – Live simply, no material rewards – Be tolerant – Serve others – Fight against injustice Civil disobedience/passive resistance Encouraged people to boycott (refuse to buy) British goods, refuse to pay taxes, or obey laws 1947 – Hindu India & Muslim Pakistan became independent nations 1948 – Gandhi assassinated

Japan Japan became member of League of Nations Japan’s weak gov’t  civilian leaders had little control of armed forces, army leaders only loyal to emperor Military leaders took control after Great Depression Solve economic problems by creating Pacific Empire – Seized Manchuria Japanese military “cult” in which emperor was divine – Help to win popular support for army leaders who ruled in emperor’s name

China Nationalist People’s Party (Kuomintang) overthrew last Ch’ing emperor – Established republic Dr. Sun Yat-sen became president of China – Real power still w/warlords 1925 – General Chiang Kai-shek succeeded Yat-sen – Against warlords

China Chiang Kai-shek’s gov’t became less democratic & more corrupt – Some Chinese favored Soviet communism Civil war between Nationalists (Chiang Kai-shek) & Communists (Mao Tse- tung) Mao Tse-tung (Zedong) led his Red army on Long March to northwestern China When Japan invaded Manchuria, Nationalists & Communists united to fight against Japan Mao Tse-tung looked to as real leader of China