1. World War I: Russian Revolution and Peace Treaties
Chapters 27.3 – 27.5

2. Russia in WWI WWI highlighted Russia’s weaknesses
Spring of 1917 – the Russian people lost faith in their government and in the czar
The czar disbanded the Duma
March 1917 – the czar gave up the throne

3. Lenin and the Bolsheviks
The Petograd Soviet Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies began to gain a following
The Provisional constitutional assembly government pledged to continue the war
The Mensheviks lost a battle to control the Socialist party to the Bolsheviks
Vladimir Lenin led the Bolsheviks
Lenin’s version of Marxism formed the basis of communism
Nov. 7, 1917 – the Bolsheviks overthrew the provisional government, took control, and renamed themselves the Communist Party

4. Peace and Civil War
March 1918 – Lenin signed a peace treaty with the Central Powers
Civil war soon broke out in Russia
Three year civil war: the Red Army vs. the Whites
The Allies were angry about the separate peace treaty Russia signed
1921 – the Communists won – renamed Russia the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

5. The Fourteen Points
January 18, 1918: Wilson delivers his famous Fourteen Points speech to Congress:
First five points were issues Wilson thought were necessary to prevent another war:
There should be no secret treaties among nations.
Freedom of the seas should be maintained for all.
Tariffs and other economic barriers among nations should be lowered or abolished in order to foster free trade.
Arms should be reduced “to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety, thus lessening the possibility of military responses” during diplomatic crises.
Colonial policies should consider the interests of the colonial peoples as well as the interests of the imperialist powers.
Dealt with boundary changes
14. Called for the creation of the League of Nations

6. Defeat of the Central Powers
Treaty of Brest Litovsk allowed Germans to abandon the Eastern Front
Under the command of Ferdinand Foch, an Allied force stopped Germany at Chateau-Theirry
The Central Powers began falling apart
The Kaiser gave up his throne and a German republic was set up – signed an armistice in November, 1918

7. The Final Toll Bloodiest war in history up to that time:
22 million dead
21 million wounded
Germany and Russia lost 1.8 million, France lost 1.4 million, Austria-Hungary and Britain lost about 1 million each
10 million became refugees
Cost about $338 billion dollars
Toll on the U.S.:
48,000 died in battle
62,000 died of disease
200,000 were wounded

8. The Paris Peace Conference
Wilson failed to recognize how angry the other Allied leaders were at Germany
Georges Clemenceau had lived through two German invasions of France
David Lloyd George had just won reelection on the slogan, “Make Germany Pay”
Vittorio Orlando also wanted concessions
The Paris Peace Conference failed to include the defeated nations
The “Big Four” worked out details on the treaty on their own

9. Debating the Treaty of Versailles
June 28, 1919: The Treaty of Versailles is finally signed
The Treaty barred Germany from maintaining an army and forced them to pay reparations
Also included a war-guilt clause
This treatment of Germany weakened the ability of the Treaty to provide a lasting peace
Furthermore, the treaty angered the U.S.S.R.

10. Fates of Former Territories
The Allies made separate treaties with Austria and Hungary
National self-determination became a major issue
During WWI, the Turks launched a genocide against the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire
1915 – 2 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire; 1923 – nearly non-existent
Bulgaria lost territory to Greece
The Ottoman Empire lost all of its territory except for present-day Turkey
Again, Russia lost much of its territories

11. New Countries

12. The League of Nations
Wilson felt the League of Nations could fix any shortcomings in the peace treaties
The League had 2 goals: 1. Promote international cooperation, 2. Keep peace among nations
The League would work alongside the World Court
Each nation got 1 vote in the League’s Assembly
The members of the League agreed not to go to war to settle disputes
The league could impose economic sanctions on nations who broke this agreement

13. Mandates and the Start of the League
The League set aside newly independent colonies as mandates
The U.S. never actually became a member of the League
1920 – first meeting in Geneva
Germany joined the League in 1926; Soviet Union in 1934