Post- WW1 Problems

Europe in the 1920s and 1930s

Political, Economic, Social Problems in Europe

• Political Problems – Collapse of Old Gov. Weak Democracies– Creation of new Countries Cultural Tensions/Displacements

• Economic Problems– No Industry/Agricultural Production– Impossible Reparations

• Social Problems– Returning Soldiers unable to be integrated back into society/ Disabled– Dealing with HUGE LOSS– Stagnant Population

Purpose of the League of Nations

According to Woodrow Wilson:

KEEP THE WORLD SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY …

so to establish lasting peace.

Failure of the League of Nations

• Pre. Harding knew US would never be a member of the League

• Secretary of State Hughes still wanted to do something to guarantee world peace

• Result:– Began efforts to create safeguards against future

wars– But efforts that would not hamper American interests

2 Efforts to Maintain Lasting Peace

• Washington Conference - 1921

• Kellogg Briand Pact - 1928

Washington Conference of 1921

• Goal: Keep the Peace particularly on the Water

• What it did:– Reduced Navies (warships, fleets, armaments)– Pledge to Continue Open Door Policy in China– US, GB, Japan, France promised to respect

each other’s Pacific territories

Kellogg – Briand Pact of 1928

• French Foreign minister asked US to join an alliance against Germany

• US instead, proposed a treaty that 1. Outlawed war as an instrument of national policies2. Required nations to resolve their disputes by pacifist means

• 14 nations signed the agreement, 48 later joined

• No instruments of enforcement, rather relied on the “moral force” of countries.

Failure of Treaty of Versailles

• “Failed to create a Just and Secure Peace”

– Germans felt blame for starting war was unfair

– Germans felt being stripped of German territory was unfair

– Russia mad at the carving away Russian land for creation of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia

World STILL “Not Safe for Democracy”

After WW1, New Democratic Gov. emerged: Germany, Austria, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania,

Greece

All Lacked democratic traditions

New leaders failed to show citizens how democracy could improve their lives economically

Treaty of Versailles did not allow war torn nations to rebuild, rather made them pay huge war debts

World STILL “Not Safe for Democracy”

All while dealing w/ depression, starvation, homelessness, unemployment

Countries Unable to Cope

New Democracies Collapse

World STILL “Not Safe for Democracy”

Dictators seize power and throw out elected leaders.