A-2

= =  ﻿  **POST WWI EUROPE**

**//The Economic, Political, and Social Impact of WWI on Postwar Europe//**
WWI had an impact on the world socially, economically and politically. After the war many changes occurred. Some led to success and some led to conflicts. One change was the countries were deeper in debt than before the war. They were in debt from total war and manufacturing only for the war. Total war costs countries more money because the focus of the country is totally and completely on war. The Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations also accused Germany as the cause of the debt. This is included in the War Guilt Clause. The War Guilt Clause upset Germany and ruined their economy. This ruined their economy because they were accused for all the damages in all the countries and had to pay it off. toc

// **Restrictions Placed on Treaty of Versailles that led to Future Conflicts** //
Several restrictions were placed on Germany's military through the Treaty of Versailles(Roger Beck Pg 302). The first restriction was Germany's army had to be reduced to 1,000 men. Germany was also no longer allowed to have submarines or tanks. The treaty also took away Germany's air-force and all aircrafts. The Rhineland was to be demilitarized and controlled by the allies for 15 years. Germany's manufacturing, exporting, and importing of weapons and poison gas was banned. All of these restrictions upset Germany and they believed they were being treated unfairly. This would create the spark that lead to future conflicts. Three important men Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George, and Georges Clemenceau. The men were split on the decision to crush Germany or to let them off the hook.

// **Paris Peace Conference 1919** //
** The Paris Peace Conference was a meeting held by the Allied victors after the end of Wold War I to set the peace terms for Germany and other defeated nations. Leading the meeting were the great four, Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, and Vittorio Orlando. At the meeting they discussed and came up with a series of treaties that reshaped Europe, and imposed guilt and stiff financial penalties on Germany for the war. Germany was very upset with this because they did not believe that they should have full responsibility for the war (//History//) **

// **League of Nations Weakness** //
The League of Nations was an intergovermental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended World War I(Roger Beck Pg 305). The primary goal of the League of Nations was to maintain world peace. However, the League of Nations was weak because it did not include every country. For instance the U.S.A did not join, even though it was Woodrow Wilson's idea for international peace. Also they didn't allow Russia to join because of their communist party. Then Germany were also not allowed to join because they were the cause of World War I. They were not only weak because of some countries not included, but also because they were not supported by a military, or financed the league of nations. Then later on the weakness of the league of nations lead to an uprise in World War Two.

// **Roles and Rights of Women** //
During the war women took over the jobs that were previously held by men who went to war. Also, many women were nurses in the war. This helped start a movement for women to gain more power and would eventually lead to women suffrage and more respect for women.

// **Impact of WWI on Literature** //
The authors in post world war I question the reason and progress going on in the world. The government was not making much progress because most of the countries were in debt from world war I. They seemed to go backwards instead of making progress. Then for with reason education and thought process were expanding throughout nations. The governments were thinking fast on how to improve the state of their country after being destroyed. They quickly tried to revamp their country and rebuild destroyed buildings, which were destroyed during World War I. Also they were thinking fast how to improve governments and world peace.

// **Core Beliefs of Nietzche** //
Fredrick Wilhelm Nietzche was a 19th century German philosopher and poet who wrote many important texts on religion, morality, culture, and science( Roger Beck Pg. 325). Nietzche beliefs remain important in existentialism, nihilism, and postmodernism. His key beliefs were death of god, perspectivism, eternal recurrence, and will to power.

// **Existe** //// **nialism** //
Generally focused on the existence, and on individuals emotion, thoughts, actions, and responsibilities. Philosophers generally focused on what they believe was objective, such as religion and human states. Existentialism takes these into consideration: -Human free will -Human nature is chosen through life choices -A person is best when struggling against there individual nature, fighting for life. -Decisions are made with stress and consequences -There are things that are not rational -Personal responsibility and government is crucial -Worldly desire is crucial -Society is unnatural

// **Surrealism** //
Surrealism was a cultural movement that began in the early 1920’s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members. Surrealism developed out of the Dada activities during World War I with Paris being the most important center of the movement. From the 1920s onward, the movement spread around the globe, eventually affecting the visual art, literature, film, political thought and practice, philosophy, and social theory.



// **Cubism** //
Cubism was a very influential style of art that came about during the early 1900’s. It is most commonly associated with Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Cubism is a type of art that’s focus is on structure and geometric shapes of natural objects. Cubism during and after the war had a variety of political views. Some used cubism as a way of showing nationalistic ideas and others used it was a way of showing anarchy and dictatorships. Artistic movements in music art and literature were very important during the first world war (//Jazz Age// 24)

// **Jazz** //
Jazz is a musical tradition that started in the beginning of the 20th century with African American people in the southern United States. The music stayed popular from 1910 to 1960. This type of music embodies Americas inventiveness and our spirit of change. It has changed how we hear tone, perceive rhythm and express ourselves artistically. In 1987 it was declared an American National treasure. All in all, Jazz had been a major influence in the world and still is and has helped sculpt it in the wonderful nation it is today.

// **Postwar Government** //
After World War I was over it left a widespread affect on nations all around Europe. One of these affects was on the government. Before the war Europe contained 19 monarchies and three republics, but a few years later had 13 monarchies, 14 republics, and two regencies. A revolution was taking place and people began to express their desires for a better way of life.

// **Sources** //
Beck, Roger. __Modern World History__. Evanstan: Mcdougal Littell, 2007

Drowne, Kathleen. __The 1920’s.__ Westport: Greenwood Press, 2004

“Post-World War I peace conference begins in Paris.” //History// (2011): 1. 5/11/10 < []i-peace-conference-begins-in-paris>

Streissguth, Tom. __The Roaring Twenties__. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002.

“The After Math of World War One.” //U.S Army Center of Military// (2001): 1. 5/10/11 <[|http://www.history.army.mil/books /Lineage/M-]F/chapter4.htm>

__The Jazz Age: The 20’s.__ Alexandra: Time-Life.

“World War One: Aftermath.” //United States Holocaust Memorial Museum// (2011): 1. 5/11/10 <[|http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=1000 7429]>