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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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