2. Making Peace The Costs of War
Millions of soldiers were dead
More wounded
Spanish Influenza, 1918
Pandemic around the whole world
In a few months, flu killed more than 20 million

3. Cost of reconstruction & war debts
Financial Toll
France to Russia, homes, factories, roads, churches, etc. Shelled into ruble
Reconstruction
Cost of reconstruction & war debts

4. Costs of War People were bitter about the war
Allies wanted to defeated foes to pay reparations
Central Powers looked for a scapegoat
Governments collapsed in Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary, & the Ottoman Empire
Conservatives warned against communism
Europe’s colonies in Africa & Asia realized imperial powers weren’t invincible
Returned home wanting independence

5. Paris Peace Conference
Allies met to discuss fate of Europe, Ottoman Empire, colonies around the world
Central Powers & Russia, not invited
British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, President Woodrow Wilson of the United States, French Premier Georges Clemenceau, and Premier Vittorio Orlando of Italy became the leaders of the conference.
The Big 4

6. Conflicting Goals Wilson’s 14 Points
Hard to work with
Britain wanted to rebuild a post war country “Fit for heroes”
Costly
France wanted to weaken Germany
So it could never threaten them again
Italy wanted to honor their secret treaty to obtain A-H lands
Violated self-determination

7. Based on idea of collective security
Wilson compromised on 14 Points, but stood firm on creating an international League of Nations
Based on idea of collective security

8. Treaty of Versailles Germany to assume full blame Huge reparations
June 28, 1919
Allies ordered new German Republic to sign
Germany to assume full blame
Huge reparations
Designed to weaken Germany
$30 billion

9. German resentment poisoned international climate for 20 years
Treaty of Versailles
Limited size of German military
Retuned Alsace- Lorraine to France
Removed 100’s of miles of German territory
Took away overseas colonies
German resentment poisoned international climate for 20 years

10. Self-Determination in Eastern Europe
Allies made separate treaties with other Central Powers
Self-Determination in Eastern Europe

11. Mandate System
European colonies in Africa, Asia, & the Pacific were hopeful of Paris Peace Conference
But… Self-determination only in Europe
Outside Europe, victorious Allies added to their empires
People across Africa, Middle East, & Asia felt betrayed by peacemakers
Britain & France got German colonies in Africa
Japan & Australia got some Pacific islands
Ottoman lands treated like colonies

13. League of Nations Beacon of hope
Agreed to negotiate instead of resorting to war
Take common action against aggressor state

14. Russian Revolution & Civil War
“Mr. War Minister!
“We, soldiers from various regiments,…ask you to end the war and its bloodshed at any cost… If this is not done, then believe us when we say that we will take our weapons and head out for our own hearths to save our fathers, mothers, wives, and children from death by starvation (which is nigh). And if we cannot save them, then we’d rather die with them in our native lands than be killed, poisoned, or frozen to death somewhere and cast into the earth like a dog.”
-Letter from the front, 1917

15. March Revolution
Russia was slow to industrialize despite its potential
Landowning nobles & autocratic tsar controlled government & economy
Most people were poor peasants
But, as Russia began to industrialize, a small middle class & urban working class emerged