Why didn't the treaty of Versailles lay the foundations for a lasting
peace?
The treaty had weaknesses which eventually led to WWII. First of all the treaty humiliated Germany. This was due to it containing a war-guilt clause, which forced Germany to admit sole responsibility for starting WWI, although it was truly Austria-Hungary that started this war to control Serbia. Another factor was the Newfound USSR, formerly Russia, that was preparing to take back the territory they lost to Germany in WWI. And finally, the treaty ignored the claims of colonized people for self determination. Specifically the Vietnamese, who wanted the same political rights as the Western Nations.
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Predict Germany's reaction to the treaty of Versailles. Give reasons for your predictions.
The German's obviously react in the creation of yet another war, but there are reasons behind it. One of which is their response to the War-Guilt clause of the Treaty. Germany did not feel responsible for starting the war, but simply played a major igniting role. Also because of this clause, Germany had been striped of its colonial possessions in the pacific, which might have helped them pay the reparations bill. finally, in Germany's week state, the Russians, now the USSR, decide to take back what territory they lost to the Germans. So, now, Germany is also left with an even smaller country than they had after the war had ended.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
19-3 Critical Thinking #3&5
How did the war affect government power?
The government's power increased enormously during war time. The factors of this were how private businesses were affected, the amount of power given to the president, and the Espionage and sedition acts. The war was a difficult time for small business owners. The government was coming into the industries and made them transfer from producing consumer goods, to producing war supplies. This job was far too complex and important for small business owners, therefore, the larger businesses started to collaborate with the government instead.
As far as presidential power over the economy, Woodrow Wilson was given the majority of the power, which included the ability to fix prices and regulate certain war related industries. The government's power also increased with the passing of the Espionage and Sedition Acts. This made it so a person could be fined up to 10 thousand dollars and sentenced to 20 years in jail for interfering with the war effort.So it could definitely be said that the government gained more power than usual during WWI.
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Do you think that the war had a positive or a negative effect on American society?
The war definitely had both positive and negative effects on our society, but it had many more negative affects. The Propaganda campaign was a definite negative. While the Committee on Public Information was doing well for itself, after selling millions of their biased pamphlets and booklets, it started getting the public to campaign patriotism, which enraged the civil liberties of various ethnic groups and all of those who opposed the war.
However, a positive was the job opportunities given to African Americans, who were recruited as extras in the war, and women, who took over the jobs their husbands would be doing if they were not fighting in the war. However, the other negative was the ridiculous amount of power the government had over industries. With all the businesses producing war supplies, the common consumer would not be able to buy the necessities they normally get from those vendors.
The government's power increased enormously during war time. The factors of this were how private businesses were affected, the amount of power given to the president, and the Espionage and sedition acts. The war was a difficult time for small business owners. The government was coming into the industries and made them transfer from producing consumer goods, to producing war supplies. This job was far too complex and important for small business owners, therefore, the larger businesses started to collaborate with the government instead.
As far as presidential power over the economy, Woodrow Wilson was given the majority of the power, which included the ability to fix prices and regulate certain war related industries. The government's power also increased with the passing of the Espionage and Sedition Acts. This made it so a person could be fined up to 10 thousand dollars and sentenced to 20 years in jail for interfering with the war effort.So it could definitely be said that the government gained more power than usual during WWI.
_________________________________________________
Do you think that the war had a positive or a negative effect on American society?
The war definitely had both positive and negative effects on our society, but it had many more negative affects. The Propaganda campaign was a definite negative. While the Committee on Public Information was doing well for itself, after selling millions of their biased pamphlets and booklets, it started getting the public to campaign patriotism, which enraged the civil liberties of various ethnic groups and all of those who opposed the war.
However, a positive was the job opportunities given to African Americans, who were recruited as extras in the war, and women, who took over the jobs their husbands would be doing if they were not fighting in the war. However, the other negative was the ridiculous amount of power the government had over industries. With all the businesses producing war supplies, the common consumer would not be able to buy the necessities they normally get from those vendors.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
19-2 Critical Thinking #3
In what ways did WWI represent a frightening new kind of warfare?
During WWI, America's time in the war changed view of warfare even to today. America alone had a huge number of casualties. We lost 48 thousand men in battle and 62 thousand of disease. The wounded added even more (about 200 thousand) to the casualties number. However, America wasn't the only country affected by the monstrous number of casualties. The total death count for all countries added together throughout the whole war came to about 22 million. Most countries were affected by the casualty factor even more than America. One of them was Britain, who, during the first day of battle, took 60 thousand casualties a the battle of Somme on July 1st 1916. This battle was the introduction of trench warfare and a new wave of military technology.
The new weapons introduced were more frightening the the patriots of the American Revolution or Civil War couldn't even imagine. Machine guns were introduced with increased firepower of 600 rounds a minute. Airplanes now had guns mounted on the tail, which brought around "Dogfights," and gas filled airships, or Zeppelins, were capable of bombarding the enemy with bombs. Chemical warfare had also evolved from blankets infected with small pox. The were now using poison gas, which caused sickness, suffocation, burning upon it's victims. Gas masks became a necessity on the battlefield. Tanks were also brought to the front line, with the ability to "mow down" anything in it's path.
Battle fatigue, more commonly known as "Shell Shock" was a common problem with the men that came home from the war. It was described as a complete emotional collapse from which many soldiers never recovered. During the war, the Men were surrounded by filth, lice, rats and polluted water that caused dysentery. They inhaled poison gas and smelled the stench of decaying bodies. They suffered lack of sleep. Constant bombardments and other horrifying experiences, all these factors led to battle fatigue.
During WWI, America's time in the war changed view of warfare even to today. America alone had a huge number of casualties. We lost 48 thousand men in battle and 62 thousand of disease. The wounded added even more (about 200 thousand) to the casualties number. However, America wasn't the only country affected by the monstrous number of casualties. The total death count for all countries added together throughout the whole war came to about 22 million. Most countries were affected by the casualty factor even more than America. One of them was Britain, who, during the first day of battle, took 60 thousand casualties a the battle of Somme on July 1st 1916. This battle was the introduction of trench warfare and a new wave of military technology.
The new weapons introduced were more frightening the the patriots of the American Revolution or Civil War couldn't even imagine. Machine guns were introduced with increased firepower of 600 rounds a minute. Airplanes now had guns mounted on the tail, which brought around "Dogfights," and gas filled airships, or Zeppelins, were capable of bombarding the enemy with bombs. Chemical warfare had also evolved from blankets infected with small pox. The were now using poison gas, which caused sickness, suffocation, burning upon it's victims. Gas masks became a necessity on the battlefield. Tanks were also brought to the front line, with the ability to "mow down" anything in it's path.
Battle fatigue, more commonly known as "Shell Shock" was a common problem with the men that came home from the war. It was described as a complete emotional collapse from which many soldiers never recovered. During the war, the Men were surrounded by filth, lice, rats and polluted water that caused dysentery. They inhaled poison gas and smelled the stench of decaying bodies. They suffered lack of sleep. Constant bombardments and other horrifying experiences, all these factors led to battle fatigue.
19-1 Critical Thinking #3&5
Describe some ways in which WWI threatened lives of civilians on both sides of the Atlantic.
WWI threatened life on both sides of the Atlantic in two main ways: the threat of death and the threat to peoples "way of life." For those on the west side of the Atlantic, the treats to their lifestyle were difficult in the subject of imported goods. This was especally true for those who were used to German goods. And with so many men being drafted into the war, a threat of death, women's lifestyles were changed by having to take the jobs men were not present to do. Also as a threat to death were the merchants being escorted in the U-boat attacks while trying to bring their goods across the Atlantic.
On the East side of the Atlantic, Belgium was being invaded, most European leaders were facing the possibility of assassination, and countless villages in France were being destroyed by the war being primarily fought in that country. All of which were threats of death. All countries in Europe were required to change their lifestyle by rationing things needed for the war such as ammunition and food. Also, if Germany and her allies were to have won the war there would have been a serious impact on all the countries they would have conquered.
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Why do you think Germany escalated its U-Boat attacks in 1917?
Germany escalated their U-Boat attacks because they were already building up their military. The had built a large Navy and decided to use it. Not to mention their build up was geared towards trying to conquer and empire and were even attempting to match the Naval power of Great Britain. They were attempting to match Britain because they had already stopped Germany from getting weapons and military supplies. Britain was also trying to slow food imports to the German armies in an attempt to keep neutral nations from trading with Germany. However, the Germans did have a reason for using Submarine warfare. This was the fact their needed to counter blockade Britain and show that their Navy was superior when it truly was not.
WWI threatened life on both sides of the Atlantic in two main ways: the threat of death and the threat to peoples "way of life." For those on the west side of the Atlantic, the treats to their lifestyle were difficult in the subject of imported goods. This was especally true for those who were used to German goods. And with so many men being drafted into the war, a threat of death, women's lifestyles were changed by having to take the jobs men were not present to do. Also as a threat to death were the merchants being escorted in the U-boat attacks while trying to bring their goods across the Atlantic.
On the East side of the Atlantic, Belgium was being invaded, most European leaders were facing the possibility of assassination, and countless villages in France were being destroyed by the war being primarily fought in that country. All of which were threats of death. All countries in Europe were required to change their lifestyle by rationing things needed for the war such as ammunition and food. Also, if Germany and her allies were to have won the war there would have been a serious impact on all the countries they would have conquered.
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Why do you think Germany escalated its U-Boat attacks in 1917?
Germany escalated their U-Boat attacks because they were already building up their military. The had built a large Navy and decided to use it. Not to mention their build up was geared towards trying to conquer and empire and were even attempting to match the Naval power of Great Britain. They were attempting to match Britain because they had already stopped Germany from getting weapons and military supplies. Britain was also trying to slow food imports to the German armies in an attempt to keep neutral nations from trading with Germany. However, the Germans did have a reason for using Submarine warfare. This was the fact their needed to counter blockade Britain and show that their Navy was superior when it truly was not.
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