Postwar Democracy

Postwar Germany ► With the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II on Nov. 9 th, 1918, Germany became a republic under the leadership of the Social Democrats. ► This came as a shock to most, since they believed Germany was winning the war. ► The republic faced its first challenge with the Spartacist Revolt in Jan

Weimar Republic ► German voters chose democracy as the National Assembly met in Weimar to draft a constitution. ► It created a two house parliament (elected by proportional representation) and a president. ► Despite this, many conservative nationalists remained in positions of power and resented the republic.

Economic Problems ► The reparations debt of 132 billion marks ($33 billion) crippled Germany. ► Default allowed the French to occupy the industrial Ruhr Valley in ► The industrial workers there refused to work for the French. ► To support them, Germany printed money, causing rapid inflation.

Economic Recovery ► Gustav Stresemann, replaced the old mark with a new one, stabilizing the currency. ► Passive resistance was ended in the Ruhr and the reparations issue was addressed. ► The Dawes Plan had Germany pay variably depending on economic strength ► In 1925, the Ruhr occupation ended. ► The infusion of foreign loans and investment led to recovery in the late 1920s.

France ► Northern France is devistated by the war. ► 1919 elections have the center-right National Bloc take power led by Aristide Briand. ► National Bloc took a hard line against Germany. ► National Bloc government occupied the Ruhr when Germany defaulted in 1922.

France ► In May 1924, coalition of Socialists and Radicals won elections as the Left Cartel ► Edouard Herriot became premier. ► The government was ineffective in dealing with economic problems and there was considerable infighting in the coalition. ► The government had 6 different cabinets in less than two years.

Britain ► Wartime trend toward greater social equality continued, helping maintain social harmony. ► Representation of the Peoples Act (1928): women over 21 gained the right to vote. (Representation of Peoples Act of 1918 had given women over 30 the right to vote). ► Unemployment was Britain's biggest problem in 1920s: about 12% ► Did not recover from economic losses suffered during WWI

Britain ► 1926, General Strike: support of miners who feared a dramatic drop in their low wages swept the country. ► Gov’t outlawed such labor actions in 1927 ► Gov’t provided unemployment benefits of equal size to the unemployed and supplemented those payments with subsidized housing (200,000 units), medical aid, and increased old-age pensions. ► Liberals and Conservative governments lost power to a new Labour government in 1926.

The Irish Question ► After Easter Rebellion (1916) the extremist Sinn Fein faction gained prominence in Ireland. ► Prompted a civil war between the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the Black and Tan, England’s special occupation forces there. ► October 1921, London created the Irish Free State, from which Ulster withdrew, as part of the British Commonwealth (Northern Ireland) ► In 1922, Britain granted southern, Catholic Ireland full autonomy after failing to suppress a bitter guerrilla war.

Disarmament ► The Washington Conference  Produced the Five Power Treaty  Limited tonnage on battleships. ► Locarno Pact of 1925  France and Germany agreed on borders  Germany accepted permanent demilitarization of the Rhineland.  Britain and Italy acted as guarantors.  Germany given seat in League of Nations.

Disarmament ► Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928  60 countries signed agreement renouncing war. ► London Conference of 1930  U.S., Britain and Japan limit construction of cruisers, destroyers and subs. France and Italy do not participate. ► Geneva Conference of 1932  Meant to limit land araments, conference broke down in 1933.