. France (CW pages 44 - 46)
Describe how each of the following is related to the
French quest for security•
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Reparations (include Ruhr invasion) France faced economic difficulties - it looked to Britain and the USA for
assistance but both were concerned with their own economies.
When Germany defaulted on their reparation payments France occupied
the Ruhr valley in an attmept to gain natural resources from Germany.
After several months of an unsuccessful occupation France was
persuaded to withdraw and the Americans proposed the Dawes plan
international agreements
the Little Entente - successor states in Eastern Europe could not
cooperate and this also united Germany and Russia,
Locarno guranteed only the western borders of Germany not the east
Briand Kellog gave the illusion of peace with no method to back it up
Washington treaties some modest succes but in the 1930s the agreements
broke down as an arms race began
France Cont’d
•
Maginot Line - a series of fixed fortifications along the French German border that were to be a deterrant to German aggression. There
were two vulnerable points - the border of Lorraine where the Ardennes
forest was was considered too hilly for invasion and the Belgium border.
(Hitler took advantage of the Aredennes force and brought a 100 mile
long column of armoured vehicles through this area.)
• Look at diagram on p.33 of Contemporary
World (CW)
USSR - FOREIGN POLICY (CW pages 60 - 62)
1.
What was the basis of the new Soviet government’s foreign
policy and what initial actions (early 1920s) were taken?
1) Belief in world wide communist revolution
2) Capitalist countries would try to destroy the Soviet
Union
Lenin created the Communist International (Comintern)
and engated in a campaign To destabalize capitalist
countries through strikes, and general labour unrest,
subversion, propaganda would be the tools used.
Russia Cont’d
2. What developments during the 1920s demonstrate that the above policy
was modified?
The Soviet government became preoccupied with the civil war (between
the Reds and Whites. Lenin was practical. He signed a peace treaty
with Germany (Brest Litovsk) in order to end the war and preserve the
revolution.
To stablilize their position internationally the Soviets sought allies.
After the Communist revolution Russia was an and international
“outcast”. In 1922 it signed the Treaty of Rapallo with Germany
(another “Outcast”) ending its isolation.
When Stalin came to power he abandoned the focus on world
revolution and adopted a policy of building a strong communist
government in one state.
Describe two stages of the Russian Revolution.
•
The first revolution occurred in March 1917. Disatisfaction with
food shortages and the general mismanagement of the country
led to a spontaneous uprising in St. Petersburg. This spread and
led to the abdication of the Tsar. A provisional government took
over.
•
In October 1917 a small group of Bolsheviks (communists)
overthrew the provisional government and seized power. Lenin
became the leader and began to establish a communist state.
Explain the significance of the following policies
:
•
War Communism - use of force and terror to implement
communism. Justified by Lenin because of the civil war
between Reds and White army
•
New Economic Policy - with the economy on the verge of
collapse in 1921, Lenin instituted some private ownership of
small farms and businesses. Production greatly increased
•Five year plans - central planning agency gosplan set quotas.
Production emphasised heavy industry
•Collectivization of Farms - farmers were forced to collectivize.
Those who resisted were shot or sent to prison camps. In 193233 so much grain was taken out of the Ukraine that it caused a
terrible famine.
USA
Describe specific developments which illustrate that
US foreign policy had both isolationist and non isolationist tendencies.
• The American Senate refused to ratify the treaty of
Versailles - they did not want to be dragged into an old
world conflict.
• USA became involved in the issue of German
reparations with the Dawes and the young plan. It also
was involved in disarmament talks. however the USA
steadfastly refused to join the league of nations.
Describe the purpose, terms and impact on Japan of each of the
following:
• i) Washington Treaty (1921)
Washington Naval Conference froze the number of ships
for 10 years - the ratio was Britain and USA 5, Japan 3,
Italy and France 1.67
• Ii) NINE POWER TREATY - respect for China’s
territorial integrity and an open door policy that allowed
accest to trade with China
• iii) Four Power Treaty USA, Britain, France, Japan - bound
to consult each other over territorial disputes
China
• The Emperor of China was overthrown and China
became a republic in 1912.
• Three groups fought for power:
The War Lords - Military leaders who used their army
to control an area
The communists - very successful in gaining the
support of peasants
The Kumiotang or Nationalists supported by
business and urban populations
ITALY - FASCISM
• Summarize the main principles of fascism.
ULTRA-nationalist: glorification of the state is the central
justification and motivation for everything
Violence and War : the strong are glorified ; democrats
and pacifists are despised as weak
Devotion to the leader: a heroic, infaliable father figure is
in control of the government
Creation of Scapegoats: Mussolini blamed trade unionsts,
Hitler blamed the Jews, and they both attacked the
communists
Italy -Post WWI Conditions
• Italy dissatisfied with the Versailles Treaty
because territory promised during the war
was not given
• Economic weakness prior to the war
continued and currency devalued and
inflation increased
• Parliament unstable and political extremism
on right and left increased.