Background Information on the Sykes-Picot Agreement After the war broke out in the summer of 1914, the Allies—Britain, France and Russia—held many discussions regarding the future of the Ottoman Empire, now fighting on the side of Germany and the Central Powers, and its vast expanse of territory in the Middle East, Arabia and southern-central Europe. In March 1915, Britain signed a secret agreement with Russia, whose designs on the empire’s territory had led the Turks to join forces with Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1914. By its terms, Russia would annex the Ottoman capital of Constantinople and retain control of the Dardanelles (the crucially important strait connecting the Black Sea with the Mediterranean) and the Gallipoli peninsula, …show more content…
On May 19, 1916 representatives of Great Britain and France secretly reach an accord, known as the Sykes-Picot agreement. “The Sykes-Picot Agreement”, officially known as the “Asia Minor Agreement” was a secret agreement between the governments of the United Kingdom(Britain) and France, with the assent aid of Russia, defining their biased proposed spheres of influence that provide them with an advantage of gaining control in the Middle East should the Triple Entente succeeded in dethroning the mighty Ottoman Empire during the first World War back in early 1919. The negotiation of this treaty/agreement occurred between November of 1915 and March of the year 1916. The agreement finally came to a close on the 19th of May 1916.
The agreement effectively used, implied and put into action the famous imperialistic tactic of the Europeans: “Divide and Rule”. This agreement divided the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire outside the Arabian peninsula into areas of future British and French colonization using their advantage in control and/or influence. Under Sykes-Picot, the Syrian coast and much of modern-day Lebanon went to France; Britain would take direct control over central and southern Mesopotamia, around the Baghdad and Basra provinces. Palestine would have an international administration, as other Christian powers, namely Russia, held an interest in this region. The rest of the territory in question—a huge area
It was around the end of the first world war in which the main “compromise” would occur. The first world war ended on November 11,1918 and less than a year later the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919 and around this time frame is in which the main compromise that seemed to attain peace would put tension in the hearts of many. Germany was in a state of chaos, anarchy and economic devastation. Germany had to pay trillions in today’s money as debs of war. The United States of America was trying to cope with the loss of many of it’s soldiers and keep Germany and it’s people under control, great britain was doing a very similar action. Around, may of 1920 there was a rise in totalitarianism one of the mains will be Italy, The Soviet Union and Germany.On November 8–9, 1923, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party led a coalition group in an attempted coup d'état which came to be known as the Beer Hall Putsch. They attempted to create a new government based on race. By Oct. 29, 1922 Mussolini officially takes over Italy.
Ninety-eight years ago, after the fighting of World War I subsided, the Treaty of Versailles (“the Treaty”) was signed at the Palace of Versailles in France by the Allied powers and Germany. The compromise of the Treaty is that it ended World War I. The conflict of the Treaty is that it fed the German’s hate for the Allied Powers and, in turn, was the cause of World War II. “In their hearts was a stern resolution that the fiasco of November 11, 1918, would not be repeated for all serious people in America, as in all nations, remembered that much hailed Versailles Treaty was sown the very seeds of World War II” (Library Of Congress. Manzanar free press, November 12, 1942. 1942. Newspaper. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/sn84025948/1942-11-12/ed-1/. )
Britain, France and the Russians declared war on the Ottoman Empire on the 5th of November 1914, Turkish forces operating from Palestine were restricted by water availability to within 60 kilometres of the Mediterranean coast. However on the third
The reorganization of the world and the crumbling of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the First World War enabled the British Empire to help the Zionists create the Jewish State in Palestine. To arrive at this juncture the British occupied Egypt to protect their interests in India. However, British expansion went far beyond Egypt, they conquered lands throughout the Middle East, capturing Mesopotamia, Palestine and Syria. British’s successes came with the assistance of Arab nationalists who had a desire of their own independence from the Ottoman Turks. Arab nationalist, Husayn bin Ali allied with the British in their war against the Ottomans in exchange for the British’s support for an independent Arab state encompassing all of the Arab provinces
When World War I began in 1914, the Young Turks soon joined the side of Germany (AKA Central Powers), against Russia. One of the Ottoman Empire’s biggest enemies was Russia because Russia posed as a threat to Ottoman borders which was heavily populated with Armenians. Russia had Armenians in their army which was a cause for concern for the Ottoman Empire as they felt that Ottoman Armenians may join the Russians.
The conference was called The Congress of Orr. The members of the Congress included nobles and kings of the countries that were apart of the allied forces that took down France. Each country wanted to take France and Britain for themselves; however, it would violate The System of The Balance of Powers if they did. So they decided to leave France alone for the time being. But it was agreed that Britain was too dangerous to be kept unchecked. The possibility of them using their colonies men to attack Europe was too high. So it was agreed that if Britain were to attack anyone of the allied forces country, Britain would be waging a war on the entirety of Europe. This oath of protection was known as the Oath of Kenrick. This oath secured the protection of the countries in Europe. But before this oath was taken the Ottomans Empire King questioned why were they going to so much extreme length to protect themselves from Britain. One of Russia’s representatives states that The British Empire although spread out is not one to be messed with. Their colonies are scattered all over the world giving them easy access to befriend and make allies with there surrounding countries. That is why the allied forces did not underestimate Britain and went to such extreme lengths to make sure they do not mess with Europe in retaliation for them being
In 1919, the Paris Peace Conference organized by the triumphant leaders of World War I, initiate reparations and peace treaties amongst the Allied and Associated Powers and the conquered Central Powers it led to the rise of the treaty of Versailles. The progression of the treaties that were discussed in the Paris Peace conference, are what formed the new countries and borders that reshaped the entire map of the world and also resulted in many Empires becoming economically unstable. The Paris Peace Conference began with the leaders of the Allied Powers and their contributions were: Wilson’s fourteen points, the Treaty of Versailles, reparations, and the Locarno Pact. Their inability to reach the goals of these treaties led to resentment, and eventually led to the next World War.
In 1919, after the conclusion of World War I, a formal treaty was signed. This treaty, known as the Treaty of Versaille,
A map entitled European Alliances, 1914 shows the countries that were joined together at this time. The larger, more powerful countries joined each other to go against each other. The less powerful countries didn’t seem like they choose a side. They didn’t want to lose the little land they had left. One alliance was named Triple Alliance. The Triple Alliance contains Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The other Alliance was called the Triple Entente. The Triple Entente contained France, United Kingdom, and Russia. The issue with the Triple Alliance is that it’s in the middle of the Triple Entente. A political cartoon entitled The Crime of the Ages. Who did it? by John T. McCutcheon shows the countries blaming the war on each other. This document was made on August 5, 1914. This was just the start of the war. Germany points to Russia and Russia points to Germany. They were the main leaders of the war, so it’s not a shock they choose each other. The United Kingdom, France, and Belgium take sides with Russia on this decision. Since most of these people were a part for Triple Entente, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that they stuck together with their decision. Austria and Serbia point at each other. The alliances weren’t the best, but it helped the countries have someone back them up. The difficult part is that it made the countries join together to go against others. This wasn’t outstanding because
History identifies the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, as the direct cause of World War One. Nonetheless, historians are in agreement that there were many factors contributing to the conflict between the Great powers, resulting in a large-scale war to break out. The second industrialization—also known as the Technological Revolution—from 1870-1914 cultivated industrial societies to emerge and leading to “new forms of states and of diplomatic and military alignments” (Barzun). These “military alignments” were later to be known as The Great Powers of Europe. The Great Powers were divided into two alliances: The Triple Alliance between Germany, Italy & Austria-Hungry—established in 1882, and The Triple Entente between Britain, Russia & France—established in 1907 (Tonge). There were three main rivalries between the powers: Germany & France over the Alsace-Lorraine territory (5,067 square miles of land that was ceded by France to Germany in 1871 after the Franco-German War), Russia & Austria over the Balkans peninsula in Southeast Europe (a desirable territory for its strategically vital geographic location—surrounded by four seas: the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the Adriatic and the Aegean, and situated at the crossroads of three major empires—Ottoman, Russian and Austro-Hungarian), and Britain & Germany over naval and economic power.
France had suffered damage to both men and building structures in World War I. After Versailles in 1919, there was a clear intention on the part of the French that France should never have to suffer such a catastrophe again. After 1920, French military favored adopting a military strategy that would simply put a stop to any form of German invasion again. The responsibility of drawing Europe’s post-World-War II war borders fell primarily to the Paris Peace Conference of 1919-20. There the victorious countries’ positions of power drafted the Treaty of Versailles with Germany. On 28 June 1919, the peace treaty that ended World War I was signed by Germany and the Allies at the Palace of Versailles near Paris, France. Allied demands were represented by the ‘Big Three’: British Prime Minister, French Premier, and US President Woodrow Wilson. World War I had destroyed much
The Paris Peace Conference was assembled in mid-January of 1919 and was arranged by the allied victors of World War 1. The purpose of the conference was to establish the terms of the peace after the end of World War I. Although twenty-one nations participated in the conference, “The Big Four” which consisted of United States, UK, France, and Italy; directed the procedures and determined the terms of their “Treaty of Versailles”.
The Treaty of Sevres was a binding, post-war agreement signed by the Allies of World War I and the Ottoman Empire in 1920. The treaty brought an end to the formerly unrivaled Ottoman presence in the Middle East and established the nation of Turkey in its place. During the process, the former empire lost several of its territories. Which nations controlled which territories was decided by the Allied powers and had an unmistakable impact on the region moving forward. The Straits of the Dardanelles, which were a very significant waterway in terms of trade, were placed under the control of an international commission. Greece gained control of Thrace and Italy was given a portion of southeastern Anatolia. Additionally, France established the Syrian
The First World War had created a huge amount of consequences for several nations including the Ottoman Empire. But for a time in the war, there was a bright spot for central powers and especially the Ottomans. The one bright spot that was thought to turn the Ottoman’s fortunes was at the Gallipoli Campaign. The victory was for the Ottomans became a very huge confidence boost for the army. The problem was that after Gallipoli, everything turned bad and the Ottomans began to suffer. It is interesting that an Empire that won a great and significant battle fell apart so quickly. In one of the fronts that is seen in this case was in eastern Anatolia. This front against the Russians showed to be very difficult for the Ottomans before and especially
Ottoman Empire was an Islamic empire, which ruled Middle East and some other parts of the world for almost 400 years. On one hand Ottoman Empire became an ally with Germany in the First World War and on the other hand some of the Arab leaders held a revolt against the empire, which were the main reasons of its collapse. While Arab leaders were dreaming of an Arab unification, European powers were seeking their interest and try to secure the territories they took over in the war period. Versailles conference was held between Arab and the European leaders to define borders and create new states. Due to weakness of Arab leaders and their lack of experience most of the decisions were made in favor of the Europeans expectations of the state. And as a result Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon were emerged (Pappe, 2005) and (Fawcett, 2005).