The Treaty of Versailles ‘The Kaiser has abdicated. Abdication of the Crown Prince. Ebert becomes Chancellor.’ How and why did the ‘Big Three’ want to punish Germany?

Aims of the Lesson To find out: What members of the public in allied countries thought of the Germans in 1918 The terms of the Treaty of Versailles What the German people thought of the Treaty of Versailles

Great Britain, America and France were the three most powerful Allies and they wanted to exert their influence upon the Treaty of Versailles. Yet they wanted different things.

Germany to be justly punished, but not too harshly Lloyd George (UK) Germany to be justly punished, but not too harshly Germany to lose its navy and colonies as these were a threat to Britain's own navy and empire Germany and Britain to become trading partners

to cripple Germany so it couldn't attack France again. Clemenceau (France) to cripple Germany so it couldn't attack France again. Wanted Germany broken down into smaller states (weakened). France had suffered the most during the war so Clemenceau was under great pressure from the French people to make Germany pay.

a better and more peaceful world Wilson (USA) a better and more peaceful world a League of Nations that would help and support each other and help to promote world peace the right to self-determination. The right to decide which country you wish to be governed by The U.S.A. had joined war late (1917) and hadn't suffered as much as the other Allies in terms of human and material costs.

Treaty Of Versailles Leaders Wanted Did not want David Lloyd George Woodrow Wilson George Clemenceau

The Treaty of Versailles The terms of The Treaty of Versailles What would members of the public in Allied countries think of the Germans in 1918?

What does this source tell you about the British public’s feelings towards Germany in 1918? “The Germans, if this government is elected, are going to pay every penny; they are going to be squeezed, as a lemon is squeezed, until the pips squeak.” (Sir Eric Geddes, December 1918)

Around 8 million people had been killed Does this information help you to understand why so many people wanted revenge after the war? Around 8 million people had been killed The cost of the war was roughly nine thousand million pounds The destruction of land, homes, farms and factories was huge Millions more people died after the war due to famine and disease “In France and Belgium, where most of the war was fought, 300,000 houses, 6,000 factories, 1,000 miles of railway, 2,000 breweries and 112 coal mines were destroyed…In some ways, mankind has never recovered from the horrors of the First World War.” John D. Clare, First World War (1994)

The Treaty of Versailles The terms of The Treaty of Versailles How would the German people have felt about the terms of the Treaty?

Germany had to accept total responsibility for starting the First World War. this was called the War Guilt Clause or Article 231.

Germany had to pay $33 billion in reparations to cover war damages and other Allied losses. These were called reparations.

Germany had to hand over some 70,000 square kilometres of land. This accounted for about 13% of all of her land and six million of her people who lived there.

Germany was to have her colonies taken away from her. These colonies were to become mandates run by the Allies on behalf of the League of Nations.

The German army was to have no more than 100,000 men and the navy was limited to 15,000 sailors. There was to be no airforce and no submarines.

The German navy was only allowed six battleships and Germany was forbidden to buy any more weapons and other war material.

Quick Test In which year was the Treaty of Versailles signed? How many soldiers were the German army allowed to retain under the treaty? 3. How much land was taken off Germany within Europe? 4. How much were the Germans supposed to pay the Allies in reparations?

Quick Test 1919 In which year was the Treaty of Versailles signed? How many soldiers were the German army allowed to retain under the treaty? 3. How much land was taken off Germany within Europe? 5. How much were the Germans supposed to pay the Allies in reparations? 1919

Quick Test In which year was the Treaty of Versailles signed? How many soldiers were the German army allowed to retain under the treaty? 3. How much land was taken off Germany within Europe? 5. How much were the Germans supposed to pay the Allies in reparations? 1919 100,000

Quick Test In which year was the Treaty of Versailles signed? How many soldiers were the German army allowed to retain under the treaty? 3. How much land was taken off Germany within Europe? 5. How much were the Germans supposed to pay the Allies in reparations? 1919 100,000 70,000 sq km

Quick Test In which year was the Treaty of Versailles signed? How many soldiers were the German army allowed to retain under the treaty? 3. How much land was taken off Germany within Europe? 4. How much were the Germans supposed to pay the Allies in reparations? 1919 100,000 70,000 sq km

Quick Test 1919 100,000 70,000 sq km $33 Billon In which year was the Treaty of Versailles signed? How many soldiers were the German army allowed to retain under the treaty? 3. How much land was taken off Germany within Europe? 4. How much were the Germans supposed to pay the Allies in reparations? 1919 100,000 70,000 sq km $33 Billon

The Great Depression The GD lasted for ten years. It was the worst economic disaster- it brought terrible suffering to many people. Stock Market Collapsed ! Businesses went bankrupt ! Workers lost their jobs! Prairie farmers in Western Canada experienced a terrible drought.

Causes of the Great Depression Dependence on the sale of exports of natural resources. Too much optimism about the future. Growing dependence on credit. High Tariffs Low Incomes = low standard of living!

Natural Resources Canada’s income drew upon natural resources: Wheat Fish Paper Minerals Coal Wood The good times were dependent upon the continued sale of these products!!!!

Causes of the GD… Society believed that the good times would last forever. Farmers borrowed money from financial institutions to purchase more land. They bought more factories and machines and hired extra workers. It was based on the belief that the demands for goods would increase!

Banks and Credit Banks lent money out because they felt confident about the future. Buying on credit became popular. People were buying every product ranging from: Homes Cars Appliances Entertainment

Stocks and Investors!!! Some people even bought shares of a company stock on credit, called buying “on margin”. A share is one unit of ownership in a company that can be purchased or sold in a placed called a stock market. Investors were buying on margin offering up their homes, business, cars and other assets. This was risky, but there was a belief that shares would steadily increase in value and that they would be cashed in later at a higher price.

Over Production of Goods… Consequently, the demand for Canadian goods, fell dramatically. Canadian workers were laid off. Economic clouds were gathering in the later 1920s, but few people noticed … Many businesses found that they had over produced, and began to stockpile their goods in a warehouse. Suddenly, there was less demand for Canadian natural resources. Factories in other countries had large stockpiles of goods, they to started to produce less. Therefore, they didn’t need to depend on Canadian exports. The Canadian government decided to raise the tariffs on foreign imported goods. In turn, other countries raised their tariffs on imports which resulted into less trades.

GD Hits Farmers The Hardest! A terrible drought hit the prairies in 1929—it lasted ten years. For example, lack of rain, over farming, high temperature, and plagues of locusts turned sections of the Canadian West. The drought lasted for ten years. Between 1931-1941 250,000 farmers abandoned their farms in the West and joined the ranks of the unemployed.

The Initial Spark! The start of the GD was triggered by the stock market crash on October 29th, 1929. This day was called “Black Tuesday” because prices for shares collapsed in the US and in Canada. Investors suddenly realized that their stocks were over priced, and tried to sell them all at once. On this day in NY over 16 million shares traded, lost half their value (9 billion). 16 Companies lost 300 million. Many investors lost their savings and went bankrupt. Some even committed suicide.

Results From The Crash… The crash resulted into a mass unemployment. This meant that there was less money in the economy and less purchasing power. With the collapse of the stock market in 1919, companies that had over spent and over produced misjudged their markets and went bankrupt. PM King thought that the stock market crash would be a temporary setback for the Canadian economy. For one cause or another, it has become necessary to impose restrictions upon the use of many commodities, including not a few of the necessities of life.     Mackenzie King