Outcomes+of+World+War+I

In 1919, the Peace treaty of Versailles ended World War I. This treaty was a settlement between the Allies to determine what they would do with their enemies, the Central Powers. After winning against Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire, the Allies had to come to an agreement upon what they were to do with them. They agreed that Germany was to blame for causing the war and part of the agreement was to make Germany pay for the expenses from the damage from the war and compensate for civilian loss. The treaty also forced Germany to give up a percentage of their land to other countries, including some of their colonies around the world, which reduced the country’s population. The Treaty of Versailles reduced Germany’s trade and military power, rendering it inferior to other countries in Europe and other parts of the world.

Another result from the war was the establishing of the League of Nations. Set up by President Woodrow Wilson, this was basically a call to certain countries, mainly the Allies, to maintain peace and not repeat the events that cause the first World War. Despite the United States creating the League of Nations, they never became a part of it.

Some obvious outcomes of the war were casualties (ten million people were killed while twenty-one million were harmed), huge losses found financially, especially with Germany which was forced to accept responsibility for the war and pay a fine worth approximately thirty-three billion dollars, and territory losses by many countries. Germany had to give up a lot of land as well as Arab lands that once belonged to the Ottoman Empire.

A few empires, which included the Ottoman empire, Germany, the Russian Empire and the Austro-Hungary empire, disappeared for various reasons as a result of World War I. The Russian empire fell under control of the Bolsheviks and the Ottoman Empire’s territory became both Britain's and France’s land. Independent republics arose in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, and Turkey.

Socially, the main outcome of World War I was change in nationalism worldwide. Nationalism is keen to be promoted within a society when a war occurs. Many people fight for their country and if their country wins, they think they are the best, and if they lose, they still believe that they must return to former glory. Competition between other countries also is a factor. Therefore, nationalism was felt everywhere. Specific examples of social standards changing did exist as well. In Russia, towards the end of the war where people were growing tired and refusing to fight, women were allowed to enroll in the army and be trained to fight. In France, soldier also refused to fight because they felt that their attacks were senseless. “...only a small number of the mutineers were punished.“ (The Great War, PBS) With France’s past, it is incredible that people refused to follow orders and were not punished.

In the United States, less change was implemented. African-Americans were allowed to enroll in the army, as was the case before, however, out of the 380,000 that enrolled, only 42,000 ever saw combat. This shows America’s clinging to old beliefs as they refused to see African-Americans as equal citizens. However, women’s rights did change during this time because while their husbands would fight at war, they would stay and care for the family, often getting employed where men would normally work. They did not get the same pay, showing that America was still holding onto old traditions but it was a change nonetheless.

Overall, the changes of World War I were very severe and plentiful. The scale of this war affected nations everywhere in various ways as all wars do. With new governments arising, and old empires falling, the world changed quicker than it ever had before.

Allied delegates in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles witness the German delegation's acceptance of the terms of the Treaty Of Versailles, the treaty formally ending World War I. Versailles, France, June 28, 1919. -National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md. http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005425 []



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