Warm Up Discussion Questions What were the four causes of WWI? How did each cause the war? Why did the United States enter the war? Why were the peasants in Russia upset with Czar Nicholas II?
Russian Revolution The Russian Revolution has two parts: the February Revolution and the October Revolution. February Revolution –Started in 1917 –After many centuries of rule by powerful and wealthy czars in Russia the people were unhappy with the difference in wealth. –Many were also unhappy with Russian participation in WWI. –The February Revolution resulted in the overthrow of the czar and it stopped Russian involvement in the war.
Czar Nicolas II and his family
(Russian Revolution Continued) October (Bolshevik) Revolution: –Led by Lenin and based on an ideology by Karl Marx Marx’s idea was communism. In theory, communism would create a classless society, in which all people enjoy equal social and economic status. In the beginning, communism seemed like a good option for starving and powerless people. –This civil war lasted almost 2 years. In the end Lenin won and controlled Russia However, in practice communist governments were very controlling. Most citizens were very poor and the government officials were very rich. The governments cared little for the issues of the working class and sought above all else to keep the power.
Vladimir Lenin
The Great War comes to an end Russia backed out of the Great War early due to the Russian Revolution. They surrendered to Germany in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. On the 11 th hour of the 11 th day in 1918 (November 11, 1918) an armistice (agreement to end fighting) was signed. Allies were victorious
What did Europe look like after the war?
RESULTS OF WWI Deaths in Battle Wounded in Battle Allies France1,357,8004,266,000 British empire 908,3712,090,212 Russia1,700,0004,950,000 Italy 462, ,886 United States 50, ,690 Others 502, ,585 Central Powers Germany1,808,5464,247,143 Austria-Hungary 922,5003,620,000 Ottoman empire 325, ,000
Paris Peace Conference “The Big Three:” –Wilson (U.S. President)- wanted: 14-points (push for democracy)- One of the significant points would allow the people to choose their own government. The League of Nations formed (international peace keeping body) –George (GB)- wanted to build a stronger Britain –Clemenceau (France)- wanted to punish Germany Many small states wanted their own nations but territories overlapped
Woodrow Wilson Lloyd George Georges Clemenceau
STOP! Watch Russia’s Last Czar
So what did the “Big Three” Agree to?
Treaty of Versailles Guilt: Germany had to take full blame for causing the war Army: No more than 100,000 men in the entire army Navy: Limited to 15,000 men, 6 battleships, 6 cruisers, 6 destroyers, 12 torpedo boats and 0 submarines. Germany as a country: Germany stays a country but Great Britain and France administer for some time
Treaty of Versailles (Continued) Reparations: Germany had to pay over $30 billion in war damages League of Nations: approved and included in the treaty Anschluss: Germany and Austria- Hungary are forbidden to unite Baltic States: The independent countries of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia were created
The end of WWI and Treaty of Versailles led: To German resentment- the German people were mad at the results and all that they lost from the treaty. This opened the door for the rise of Nazism as Hitler promised to end unemployment and poverty and bring Germany back to a state of power
Worldwide Depression Dominant theme following WWI: conflict and change Much of Europe was in chaos. Many people were hungry and homeless. Despite these immediate and numerous problems, mostly related to WWI and the Treaty of Versailles, by the mid-1920s mild optimism had appeared- the roaring 20s But then the stock market crashed in September of This set off a ripple effect throughout the world.
Rise of Nazism After WWI the German people lost faith in the government and Germany was severely struck by the Depression. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany. The Nazis, Hitler’s poltical group, gained support by blaming Germany’s problems on the ideas of Communists and the Jewish people. Hitler promised that he would create jobs and Germany would grow to be the most powerful country.