1. An introductory Overview
Between the Wars
An introductory Overview

2. The End of WWI Paris Peace Conference Officially Ended in 1919
Treaty of Versailles
Germany made Reparations
Germany had to de-arm
Germany had to take responsibility for the war with the Allies (France, Russia, Great Britain, and the US)
Officially Ended in 1919

3. The World After WWI Politically: Economically: Socially:
Downfall of 4 monarchies:
Russia – 1917
Austria-Hungary – 1918
Germany – 1918
Turkey – 1922
Economically:
Hurt all European economies badly
US becomes world’s leading economic power
Socially:
Flu epidemic killed 25 million worldwide
Armenian Genocide occurs at this time

4. What Happened to Russia?
Deaths in WWI – 3.3 million
During WWI – economic issues and losing the war
Causes a revolution – Communists take power (Lenin) and withdraw Russia from the fighting
Civil War occurs at this time and many former Russian territories break free from Russia
Soviet Russia (Communist Russia) or the USSR regains control of Belarus and Ukraine, but loses Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, and Estonia – eventually Stalin becomes leader

5. What Happened to Great Britain?
Deaths in WWI – 990K
During WWI – helped France defeat Germany, defeats Ottoman Empire in the Middle East
Gains territory in the Middle East, but struggles because the war was expensive and a lot of lives were lost
Economic problems make it hard to control their colonies
Ireland declares independence in 1921

6. Critical Thinking Questions
Synthesis - Prediction:
What do you think will happen if Great Britain is losing control of their colonies?
Analysis - Cause and Effect:
Based on your answer to the first question, how will this affect Great Britain’s economy and stability?
When you are finished writing the answers to your questions, you will share with a partner and then with the class using equity cards so be prepared to answer!

7. What happened to France?
Deaths in WWI – 1.69 million
During WWI – lost land to the Germans, but stopped their spread
After WWI – beat Germany
Devastated by the trench warfare fought on French land
It ruined their industrial land and they lost a lot of French lives
So, they suffered huge economic consequences

8. What happened to Germany?
Deaths in WWI – 2.4 million
During WWI – declared war on France and immediately occupied land there, were defeated when the US entered the war
After WWI – Treaty of Versailles
Had to pay reparations and de-arm
Lost overseas territories
Economy and morale declines sharply, leads to rise of the Nazi party

9. Critical Thinking Questions
Analysis - Cause and Effect:
Why would reparations have had such a bad effect on Germany’s economy?
Synthesis - Prediction:
How do you think this made German citizens react?
When you are finished writing the answers to your questions, you will share with a partner and then with the class using equity cards so be prepared to answer!

10. What happened to Austria-Hungary?
Deaths in WWI – 1.5 million
During WWI – Started the war declarations when Franz Ferdinand was assassinated
Caused the domino effect of the alliances
Defeated terribly
After WWI – forced to give up large areas of land
Economy suffered

11. What happened to Italy? Deaths in WWI – 1.2 million
During WWI – originally allied with Austria, but turned on them and invaded – beat them badly
Helped break up the Austria-Hungarian empire
After WWI – got some Austrian land
Faced difficulties at home, which led to the rise of the socialist party and Mussolini
Italy becomes fascist under Mussolini which aligns with the German Nazi party

12. Critical Thinking Questions
Comprehension – Summarize
Why will Italy and Germany eventually become allies?
Application – Example
Give an example of the domino effect that occurred with the alliances in WWI.
When you are finished writing the answers to your questions, you will share with a partner and then with the class using equity cards so be prepared to answer!

13. What happened to the US? Deaths in WWI – 117K
During WWI – helped tip the war in favor of France, which caused Germany to sign the armistice
After WWI – did not receive land since on a different continent, did not have many war costs
Economy was thriving, unlike all of the European countries
Became the world power at the time
Treaty of Versailles creates the League of Nations

14. What is the League of Nations?
President Woodrow Wilson created it
40 nations signed onto it at the Treaty of Versailles
It was supposed to be a forum to negotiate disputes or arguments rather than resorting immediately to war
Like the modern day United Nations
The US Senate would not agree to the league of Nations so the US withdrew and it lost all of its power
The senate was worried it would mean that the US had to fight in future wars

15. Critical Thinking Questions
Knowledge – Recall
Who became the dominant world power after WWI?
Comprehension – Summarize/Explain
Summarize what happened with the League of Nations.
When you are finished writing the answers to your questions, you will share with a partner and then with the class using equity cards so be prepared to answer!

16. The rest of the world
Europe wasn’t the only part of the world affected after WWI
Nationalist sentiment and revolutions for independence started spreading throughout the globe, including in:
Latin America
Africa
The Middle East
India
China
Japan

17. Western Democracies and the Rise of Totalitarianism
Western Democracies are struggling because of the effects of WWI
Some countries begin to become socialist, communist, or fascist because the people just want their lives to be better – leading to a rise of totalitarianism
Totalitarianism = a dictator that requires complete subservience to the state (the dictator themselves)
All of this will lead up to Hitler and the Rise of the Nazi party

18. Critical Thinking Questions
Comprehension – Summarize
Give a summary of what the world was like after WWI.
Evaluation – Compare/Contrast
Compare and contrast the world before WWI and the world after WWI
When you are finished writing the answers to your questions, you will share with a partner and then with the class using equity cards so be prepared to answer!