The War Draws to a Close Lesson 5

How did World War I begin? Military Alliances Imperialism Nationalism Germany declares war on Russia and France

What should be done about … Complete TLS Worksheet 1.1.10: What should be done about … What should happen to the alliance system that caused World War I? What should happen to the armed forces of the countries involved in the war? Who should pay for the damages caused by the war? Who will enforce the peace treaty? How should other countries prevent another war from occurring?

Did the war make Canada more Independent? In the summer of 1918, the tide of war turned in the Allies" favour. Canadian troops played a key role in the final 100 days of the war. They helped spearhead the Allied advance to within a few kilometres of the German border. This rapid advance persuaded the Germans to surrender. The German surrender meant that it was time to mediate a peace treaty. By then, Canada was ready to play a more important role in world affairs.

Canada at the Peace Table When World War I officially ended on November 11, 1918, Canadians had changed. They were no longer willing to allow Britain to speak for them. Canada had made an important contribution to the war: More than 66 000 Canadians, mostly young people, had died in the fighting. As a result, Prime Minister Robert Borden did not want to attend the peace conference in Paris, Frace, as the leader of a British colony.

Canada at the Peace Table Borden argued successfully that Canada had earned the right to send independent delegates to the negotiating table. What’s more, Borden did not want Britain to sign the peace treaties for Canada. He demanded and won -the right to sign as the leader of an independent country.

The Treaty of Versailles The treaty, negotiated between January and June 1919 in Paris, was written by the Allies with almost no participation by the Germans. The negotiations revealed a split between the French, who wanted to dismember Germany to make it impossible for it to renew war with France, and the British and Americans, who did not want to create pretexts for a new war.

The Treaty of Versailles The eventual treaty included fifteen parts Part I created the Covenant of the new League of Nations, which Germany was not allowed to join until 1926. Part II specified Germany’s new boundaries, giving land to Belgium, France, Poland, Lithuania, and Denmark. Part III stipulated a demilitarized zone and separated the Saar from Germany for fifteen years. Part IV stripped Germany of all its colonies

The Treaty of Versailles Part V reduced Germany’s armed forces to very low levels and prohibited Germany from possessing an air force, Tanks, or submarines. Part VIII established Germany’s liability for reparations (repayment) without stating a specific amount Part IX imposed numerous other financial obligations upon Germany The German government signed the treaty under protest

The League of Nations To try to prevent another world war, the Allies at the Paris Peace Conference created the League of Nations. Member nations agreed to cooperate with one another. One of the League’s goals was to find solutions to international disputes before they led to war. The League failed to achieve this goal, but it did set the stage for the creation of the United Nations after World War II.

The League of Nations Canada became a founding member of the League of Nations. The country’s independent membership in the League was another step on the path to independence. Many historians argue that this new-found sense of independence and nationhood was born on the battlefields of World War I.

Show You Know When World War I began, Canada automatically went to war because Britain had declared war. List three ways in which Canada acted more independently by the end of the war.

Map and Timeline Complete Map activity After the Great War: Changes in the Face of Europe 1 Work on timeline assignment 2 Quiz Wednesday on Unit 1 – Theme 1: Canada in the World 3