The Outcome and Aftermath of World War I A temporary peace and the inevitability of World War II
German Armistice Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria surrender German general asks the government for an armistice Armistice: An end to fighting Kaiser Wilhelm resigns 11/11, 1918 at 11am all fighting ceased
From celebration to mourning
Casualties 8.5 million soldiers killed 21 million soldiers wounded 13 million civilians are killed The flu epidemic of 1918 killed 20 million people
“The sufferings of the men at the Front, of the wounded whose flesh and bodies are torn in a way you cannot conceive; the sorrow of those at home. What a cruel and mad diversion of human activity”
Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to accept full blame for the war The League of Nations was formed Help maintain peace Germany had to: Dismantle its armed forces Give up its colonies Pay $33 billion in reparations Germany is left in pieces Allowed extreme political parties like the Nazi’s to become powerful
World Tensions Continue Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire were broken apart Russia gave up some of its territory Germany was embittered by defeat The United States became the leading world power Japan became an imperial superpower France and Belgium were forced to rebuild France, Germany, Belgium, Russia, and Italy entered a depression
The New Europe
Changes in America New jobs and the Great Migration Women take on “men’s work” The war provided more opportunities for African Americans in northern factories Between 1910 and 1920, about 500,000 African Americans moved north
The Red Scare Labor strikes caused fear of a Communist revolution like the one in Russia Palmer Raids: Homes and headquarters of suspected Communists were raided and more than 6,000 people were arrested Nothing more than paranoia
Continued Racism With African Americans obtaining jobs that whites once worked, there was greater competition between the two Led to: Lynching Resentment Race riots The revival of the Ku Klux Klan
The Birth of Modern America