Resolution
Resolution of the war
- World War I ended with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
- Treaty of Versailles was opposed by President Woodrow Wilson ("World War I Ended with The Treaty of Versailles June 28, 1919 ", n.d.).
- Imposed major restrictions on Germany, including limiting their army to only 100,000 members.
- Germany and its Allies sign treaty on June 28, 1919. China refuses ("Interactive WWI Timeline", 2016).
- Countries landscapes dramatically changed after war, as far as military, economy and industry was concerned.
World War I lasted four years, but the results of that war are seen and felt to this day.Countries have experienced economic crises such as the ones seen in Greece and Spain and high unemployment rates in places such as France and Italy.Many of these countries were at their height of power both financially and militarily before the war.Afterwards, many European countries lay in tatters.Worse, what could be replaced monetarily could not be replaced in the toll of human life.What little recovery most nations embraced at the dawn of the 1920’s was lost in the Great Depression.(Lyons chapter 28, page 329.)
President Woodrow Wilson opposed the Treaty of Versailles and believed it to be deeply flawed. Wilson instead advocated for a League of Nations.
President Woodrow Wilson opposed the Treaty of Versailles and believed it to be deeply flawed. Wilson instead advocated for a League of Nations.
Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points for Peace
- Proposed by Wilson before Congress on January 8th, 1918 ("President Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points (1918)", n.d.). Called for the end of secret diplomatic agreements, complete freedom of the open seas, reducing trade barriers; give the people the power to govern themselves among others. Wilson’s points were not well received by the leaders of England, Italy and most notably Germany, as the German leaders realized the fourteen points did not apply to them. England, Italy and France were more interested in regaining what they had lost and for the punishment of Germany.
- Before delivering his fourteen points of peace before a joint session of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson had, in earlier speeches, began to lay out his vision of an end to World War I that would bring about a “just and secure peace”. Wilson proposed the elimination of secret diplomatic agreements, free and open seas, the ability of a people to govern itself, the restoration of Alsace-Lorraine to France, among other things.
- While the proposal was looked upon favorably by the United States and notably, Vladimir Putin, it initially received at best, a lukewarm response ("Wilson’s Fourteen Points, 1918", n.d.). England, France and Germany were more concerned with regaining what they had lost during the way and in the punishment of Germany. Wilson’s fourteenth point eventually led to the creation of the United Nations.
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Political Effects in Countries of Both Sides
- Most of Europe had lost their status as financial, militarily and economical leaders of the world.
- Many countries began to adopt a liberal form of government.
- Germany was harshly punished, which ultimately led to World War II.
- Recovery from the war took a heavy toll on many of the countries. Many recovered very slowly, and what recovery they saw in the mid-1920s was all but erased by the Great Depression of 1929.
Before World War I, much of Europe was the envy of the rest of the world. Europe had become one of the world’s leaders in economic, military and industrial size and scope. A great sense of nationalism gripped many of these countries which had led to wars before World War I. Countries such as Prussia, Germany, France and Austria-Hungary were at one time considered some of the most powerful countries in the world.
- However, many of these countries adopted nationalism into their laws and policies. Some were extreme to the sense that country loyalty began taking precedence over political and religious ideologies. This led to overconfidence and over zealousness on the part of some the countries’ leaders, for example, Germany having a war plan that assumed they could defeat France within six weeks.
- Ideas that many conflicts would end in quick strikes in reality turned out to be long, drawn out battles with multiple injuries and casualties. The longer the war drew on, the wearier the soldiers and citizen became and the more distrustful they became in their government ("The Great War Effects", n.d.). Along with the loss of life, the costs of World War I were in the billions of dollars, money many of these countries did not have and were indebted to other countries for. Countries like the United States went from being a debtor nation to a creditor nation, providing food and supplies to many of the allied countries. The United States, of course, saw much of this prosperity end after the Great Depression. (Lyons Chapter 22, page 329).
References
- Interactive WWI Timeline. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.theworldwar.org/explore/interactive-wwi-timeline?gclid=CNGT9fG_ldACFZI6gQod_6ULgg
- President Woodrow Wilson's 14 Points (1918). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=62
- Wilson’s Fourteen Points, 1918. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://history.state.gov/milestones/1914-1920/fourteen-points
Credit: Krystal