New borders gave some peoples their own states, but mixed populations meant many groups were left unhappy.
Self-determination means a people should decide its own future. As empires collapsed, new states formed. Poland became independent again. Czechoslovakia was created from lands of Austria-Hungary.
Peacemakers wanted nation-states, where people who shared an identity ruled themselves. But groups were often mixed together. So a new border could leave a minority, a smaller group, inside a state run by another group.
Borders also had to meet security and economic needs. Poland needed a route to the sea. But its corridor cut East Prussia off from the rest of Germany. Czechoslovakia had many German speakers. Some groups gained independence, while others were left unhappy.
Colonised peoples outside Europe did not get independence. Self-determination was applied unevenly, and later nationalists used these grievances. Remember, Versailles dealt with Germany. Other treaties dealt with Austria, Hungary and the other defeated states.
- Self-determination
- A people deciding its own future.
- Minority
- A smaller group inside a state run by another group.
- Polish corridor
- Gave Poland sea access but split Germany.
Worked example: A border solves one problem and creates another
The new Poland gets a route to the Baltic Sea.
- For Poland: sea access helps trade and independence.
- For Germany: East Prussia is cut off, which causes anger.
- Both are true. It depends which group you look at.
Watch out for this
Self-determination gave every language group its own state.
Mixed populations made that impossible. Many minorities ended up in other groups' states.
Check your understanding
Why did the Polish corridor cause problems?
- It gave Germany land that belonged to Poland.
- It gave Poland sea access but cut East Prussia off from Germany.
- It blocked Poland from reaching the sea.