To what extent should the
pursuit of National Interests
shape Foreign Policy?
S oc ia l St udie s 20-1
Pursuits that Shape Foreign
Policy
Identifying
Nation’s Needs
Relationships
with opposing
nations views
Identifying
Nation’s Goals
Justifying
Nation’s needs
and goals
Relations with
similar nations
views
How did foreign policy work
in WWI and WWII
World War I
As we have seen and talked about already, we
know how WWI began.
It was an opportunity for nations to flex their
muscles and see who was the big dog on the
block.
It was about Nationalism and striving for
Nationalism
How did foreign policy work
in WWI and WWII
The Treaty of Versailles
Woodrow Wilson (USA) outlined a blueprint
for what was to happen after WWI.
It was called the 14 Points, and it had a lot of
radical ideas about self determination, open
agreements, and getting rid of the military.
This idea was supposed to be the focus of the
Treaty with Germany after WWI.
How did foreign policy work
in WWI and WWII
Paris Peace Conference (1919)
The big four (GB, Fr, It, and USA) were to
determine the peace. Germany was there, but
not really, and as you will see, each country
had its own motives for the peace.
Who Wanted What?
France - Revenge . Remember Franco-Prussian
war, I told you they didn’t forget.
England - May Germany Pay. Be it through
money or lands, Germany was to pay.
Italy - What England promised them in 1915.
USA - Long Term Peace (League of Nations).
There was compromise, which was leaning
towards the European side of things.
The Treaty of Versailles
Without too much detail here are a few key
points.
1. Army and Navy downsized, Air Force abolished.
2. Loss of territory (Alsace, Lorraine, Colonies)
3. Rhineland demilitarized and kept separate from
Austria.
4. Article 231 - War Guilt Clause, where Germany was
made responsible for the war.
5. Repayment - 33 billion dollars to the Allies.
Real Effects of Nationalism
All these countries went to war over nothing
really at all.
It was said that the Treaty was not a peace, but
an armistice for 20 years.
Countries were created with the treaties and
countries were destroyed with the treaties.
The USA went into a period of isolationism, like
most countries did, as they were so devastated by
the war.
The League of Nations
Before we get into expansionism, it is important
to know why it was allowed.
The League of Nations was an idea of the
Americans. It was to be like a police force for the
world, so that problems that culminated in WWI
never happened.
The problem was that most nations were to
depressed to give 100% to the cause, and the
Americans, who didn’t sign the Treaty of
Versailles, weren’t even there.
Expansionism
Japan
Italy
Germany
Why did
expansion take
place
Why did
expansion take
place
Why did
expansion take
place
Where did
expansion take
place
Where did
expansion take
place
Where did
expansion take
place