The Treaty Of Versailles And The Great Depression

Japan’s decision to isolate themselves from the world created the conflict. Their decision however, was greatly influenced by the Europeans, who constantly tried to take advantage of the

After the United States of America forced Japan to open up its borders in 1853, Japan was subject to ‘unequal trade treaties’, where Japan gained little in the deals. The people saw this as an insult to their national pride and were convinced that the Americans and other Western nations like Britain and Russia were looking to conquer Japan to dominate in Asia. The people held riots in protest. Consequently, Japan forcefully acquired three major foreign territories: Taiwan in 1895; Korea in 1905, then as a colony in 1910; and the Kwantung Leased Territories in 1905. Many of the residents in Japanese-occupied territories complained of exploitation of labour, marginalisation of history and culture, and environmental exploitation. Despite these claims, the Japanese people were proud of their international achievements as the defeat of Russia gave Japan a new standing as a world superpower and their nationalistic idea of superiority was achieved. Thus, nationalism amongst the Japanese people was beneficial to restoring national pride, although it destabilised conquered

WWI and the Versailles Treaty had only a marginal (limited) relationship to the world Depression of the 1930s

The League of Nations was an organization created following the year after the concession of World War I in 1918. The purpose of this union was to maintain world stability and peace. The League of Nations was proposed by President Woodrow Wilson in his Fourteen Points and was considered relatively controversial. Congress had to vote upon whether the United States would join or not. Two of the Senators gave speeches, Senator Gilbert Hitchcock and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, advocating their parties’ views.

Thesis: The peace treaty that resulted from World War 1 was not too harsh of a punishment for the offenses committed.

Together with the Treaty of Versailles, the League of Nations was established, with the aims of “disarmament,; preventing war through collective security,; settling disputes

A generation can be defined as the period, cohort or age of a group of people. Age is seen as the age that the persons were when particular transitions or events in life take place. Period can be defined as the overall experience of a person’s lifetime. Lastly, cohort can be seen as the overall grouping of people who have shared events during their formative years that more than likely contribute to like-minded behavior throughout the duration of their lives. There are currently four generations in United States society: Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X and The Millennials. The silent generation was born between the years of 1930 and 1945. Significant events during this time period include but are not limited to World War II and the Great Depression. The baby boomer generation was born between the years of 1946 and 1964. Significant events for this generation include the substantial growth of the middle class as well as economic prosperity. Generation X is born in the time period of 1965-1979, this generation was brought together by the big energy issue as well as the Vietnam War. Lastly the final generation that is currently in the workforce are the Millennials. This generation was born between the years 1980 and 2001, this group is brought together by the 9/11 terrorist attacks as well as the internet

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the thirty-second U.S president, and the only president to be elected four times. He led American through the trials of the Great Depression and World War II. He was born on January 30, 1882 in New York. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s curiosity, persistence, and self- confidence served to be extremely helpful traits through his presidency. When he combines all of his super powers together it makes an amazing success story. Sadly Roosevelt’s life was brutally taken by the deadly disease called polio in Georgia in 1945 from polio, a highly infectious viral disease; he still managed to lead this country to providence without fail. His is a president worthy of reputation; He was the beacon of light that led America to

The League of Nations was established in 1919 after the deadly and devastating conflict of World War I. The nations of the world needed a way to rebuild and regain trust in one another after this worldwide atrocity. President Woodrow Wilson believed that an international peacekeeping organization, such as the League of Nations, could achieve this monumental goal. President Wilson was convinced that the League could prevent another wWorld wWar, preserve peace, and promote total disarmament among nations. Wilson went to the Treaty of Versailles negotiations with a Fourteen Point Plan for peace, but he sacrificed almost all of his plans so that the League of Nations could be established. This organization, however, would never live up to the President’s dreams for its success. Despite Woodrow Wilson’s support for the League of Nations, it failed as a peace keeping organization because the United States did not participate, its decision making process was ineffective, and it lacked an armed force to impose its decisions.

Although Japan changed in many ways from 1853 to 1941, there were also many factors that remained the same throughout the history of Japan. One such continuity was the maintained existence of a figurehead ruler controlled by other political authorities. The feudalistic emperor of Japan was the supposed “highest, most powerful authority” in the land, but was actually controlled by the military leaders- the shogun. Similarly, the militaristic emperor of Japan decades later continued to remain a figurehead ruler controlled by military and government officials. In addition, Japan continued to remain reliant on exports in order to maintain its economy. As a result of Japan’s small geographical size, the island nation had few natural resources and was forced to rely on exports to survive economically. The nation also grew increasingly reliant on other nations to provide materials and supplies that it could not provide for itself. This complete reliance on other nations was seen illustrated when the Japanese military was provoked to attacking another superpower- the United States, in response to the 1940 United States embargo

The first World War had devastated the balance of the 20th century with effects still felt today. The war had obliterated once powerful imperial dynasties, birthed new states from the fallen imperial powers, supported the idea of independence in European colonies, and led to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Yet, it brought hope to the newly independent territories and minority groups, while plunging a heavy recession to countries that were once world powers. The war ended with the defeat of the Central Powers (German Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire, and the Russian Empire) and the signage of the Versailles Treaty. This treaty along with the League of Nations was created to prevent another global crusade from happening again, but failed and led to World War II, which started only twenty years after the Treaty of Versailles was endorsed. And even with end of the Great War, it was evident that the world would never return to how it once was, four years earlier, in 1914. The destructive warfare brought out several unnerving and irreversible social and economic consequences that shook modern society for decades to come.

What responsibility did each of the “Big Three” have for the failure of the Versailles Treaty to bring peace to Europe? Be sure to discuss what each wanted to accomplish.

The league of nations was created by the winners of WWI and was intended to prevent future world wars. The idea was created by the US president Woodrow Wilson. The League of Nations was supposed to be a council that included all the world nations to discuss topics and keep peace. This organization failed in stopping WWII. The League had multiple opportunities to stop the second world war, but failed miserably. The League of Nations had very limited authority on countries such as Japan, Italy, Germany and the USSR. “The main weapon of the League was to ask member countries to stop trading with aggressive countries”(Wheeler). The League of Nations was treated as a joke and could not enforce any of the rules that they set. The League had no authority because they had no army to threaten the aggressive countries. Additionally, countries such as Italy and Germany were not part of the League and therefore had no obligation to listen to them or make peace talks. If the League was set up in a better format and way to work it would not have failed and they could have been able to stop the second world

As Japanese troops were already stationed in Manchuria, it proved an easy target for the Japanese. The Americans, focusing on their own needs, did not interfere with the seizing of Manchuria. This proved to be a bad decision for them as their trade links with China were badly affected, but more importantly Because of the success in Manchuria the military gained power. The public became more enthusiastic and supportive of militaristic nationalism. This led to the military running the government by the late 1930s as many people supported

"The League of Nations was doomed To failure from the start" Adam Jenner Many may believe that the League of Nations was doomed to failure as soon as the doors of their Geneva headquarters were opened; many may say that it was built on unstable foundations; that the very idea of it was a grave misjudgment by the powers that were. Indeed it is true that the League of Nations, when it was set up was marred with many fundamental flaws. The League of Nations was formed after the end of the First World War. It was an idea that President Wilson introduced as an international police force to maintain peace and to ensure the devastating atrocities like the First World War ever happening again. The principle mission of the League of Nations was to maintain World Peace. Their failure as the international peacekeeping organization to maintain world peace brought the outbreak of Second World War. Their failure in policing and preventing peace in settling disputes throughout Europe, erupted into the most devastating war ever. Through my analysis of the failures of the League of Nations to maintain world peace, my arguments will demonstrate the understandings of the reasons and events that created the most devastating environment for the Second World War.