After World War I

G2 Full History - syllabus K227, 2027

Why was peace hard after the First World War? The Treaty of Versailles, its effects on Germany, and the League of Nations' successes and failures in the 1920s.

• Why 1918 did not settle the peace

  The fighting stopped in November 1918, but leaders still had to agree on borders, payments and how to stop another war.

• What each peacemaker wanted

  France wanted security from Germany, Britain wanted payment and a stable Europe, and the USA's Wilson wanted a League to keep peace.

• What Germany had to accept

  Under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany accepted blame for war damage, paid reparations, cut its forces and lost land.

• How Versailles affected Germany

  The treaty strained Germany's economy and gave enemies of democracy a grievance to attack the new government.

• Why new borders did not end disputes

  New borders gave some peoples their own states, but mixed populations meant many groups were left unhappy.

• How the League was meant to keep peace

  The League of Nations relied on collective security, members acting together against an aggressor, so it only worked if governments kept their promises.

• The League's record in the 1920s

  The League settled the Aland Islands dispute peacefully in 1921, but in Corfu in 1923 Italy used force and still got paid.

• Put it together: Why did the League get different results?

  The League helped Finland and Sweden agree over the Aland Islands in 1921. In 1923, Italy occupied Corfu and received compensation before withdrawing. Why did the League find one dispute easier to settle fairly? Compare the explanations below.