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Unit 1: The World in Crisis
1. Impact of World War I in Europe14 Topics-
Impact of World War I
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The Treaty of Versailles
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Terms of the Treaty of Versailles
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Did the terms of the Treaty of Versailles meet the aims of the countries involved?
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German Reactions to the Treaty of Versailles
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Historians’ Interpretations of the Treaty of Versailles
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Origins of the League of Nations
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Aims of the League of Nations
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Structure of the League of Nations
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Peacekeeping Measures of the League of Nations
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Was the League of Nations successful in handling territorial disputes in the 1920s?
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Reasons for the Weakness of the League of Nations (I)
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Reasons for the Weakness of the League of Nations (II)
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Reasons for the Weakness of the League of Nations (III)
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Impact of World War I
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2. Stalin's Soviet Union12 Topics
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Creation of the Soviet Union and Authoritarian Government
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Rise of Stalin (Introduction)
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Rise of Stalin (Non-Disclosure of Lenin’s Testament)
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Rise of Stalin (Leon Trotsky)
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Rise of Stalin (Stalin’s Manipulations)
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Rise of Stalin (Conclusion)
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Stalin’s Dictatorship (Five-Year Plans)
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Stalin’s Dictatorship (Economic Impact)
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Stalin’s Dictatorship (Political Impact)
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Stalin’s Dictatorship (Social Impact)
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Stalin’s Dictatorship (Impact of Policies on Various Social Groups)
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Stalin’s Dictatorship (Conclusion)
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Creation of the Soviet Union and Authoritarian Government
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3. Hitler's Germany27 Topics
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Introduction
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Weaknesses of the Weimar Government
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Hyperinflation
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Impact of the Great Depression on Germany
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Hitler's Leadership Abilities (Nazi Ideology)
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Hitler’s Leadership Abilities (Charisma and Oratorical Skills)
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Hitler’s Leadership Abilities (Exploitation of the Fears of Communism)
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Hitler’s Leadership Abilities (Skilfulness at Making Deals with Politicians)
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Hitler’s Leadership Abilities (Reorganising the Nazi Party)
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Political Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Consolidation of power)
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Political Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Reichstag Fire, 27 February 1933)
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Political Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Enabling Act, 23 March 1933)
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Political Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (One Party Rule, July 1933)
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Political Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Night of the Long Knives, June 1934)
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Political Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Creation of the Fuehrer position, August 1934)
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Economic Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Re-employment)
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Economic Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Rise of Big Industrialists)
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Economic Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Control of Trade Unions)
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Economic Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Organising Workers’ Leisure Time)
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Economic Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Militarisation)
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Social Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Propaganda)
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Social Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Censorship)
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Social Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Rise of the Secret Police)
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Social Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Persecution of Jews and Other Minority Groups)
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Social Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Role of Women in Nazi Germany)
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Social Impact of Hitler’s Ruling (Hitler Youth)
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Summary
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Introduction
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4. Outbreak WWII in Europe13 Topics
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Weaknesses of the League of Nations
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Failure of Disarmament
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1935 Abyssinian Crisis
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Hitler’s Expansionist Policy (Introduction)
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Hitler’s Expansionist Policy (Withdrawal From League of Nations and Geneva Disarmament Conference)
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Hitler’s Expansionist Policy (Conscription and Rearmament)
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Hitler’s Expansionist Policy (Involvement In the Spanish Civil War)
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Hitler’s Expansionist Policy (German Unification with Austria)
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Hitler’s Expansionist Policy (Czechoslovakia)
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Hitler’s Expansionist Policy (Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact)
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Hitler’s Expansionist Policy (Invasion of Poland)
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Reasons for the Policy of Appeasement
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Examples of Appeasement
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Weaknesses of the League of Nations
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5. Germany's Defeat in World War II21 Topics
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The Entry of the US into the War
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US Indirect Involvement (Cash and Carry’ to the Lend-Lease Act)
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US Indirect Involvement (Arsenal of Democracy)
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US Indirect Involvement (Fireside Chats and Aids)
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US Formal Entry into WWII
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US in WWII (Contribution of Vast Resources and Manpower)
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US in WWII (Collaboration with Allies on Military Strategies)
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US in WWII (Control of the Air)
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US in WWII (Control of the Sea)
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US in WWII (D-Day)
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Germany’s Weaknesses and Miscalculations (Introduction)
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Germany's Ineffective Command Structure
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Germany's Inappropriate Use of Resources and Military Funds
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Germany’s Heavy Reliance on Petroleum
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Germany’s War On Two Fronts
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Germany’s Weaknesses and Miscalculations(Conclusion)
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Allied Resistance (Reorganisation of the Soviet Union)
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Allied Resistance (British Resistance to German Invasion)
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Allied Resistance (Resistance Movements in Nazi-Occupied Countries)
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Allied Resistance (Conclusion)
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End of the War for Germany
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The Entry of the US into the War
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6. Outbreak War in Asia Pacific6 Topics
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7. Japan's Defeat10 Topics
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Japanese Aggression in the Asia-Pacific After the US Declaration of War
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Reasons for the Defeat of Japan (USA I)
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Reasons for the Defeat of Japan (USA II)
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Reasons for the Defeat of Japan (USA III)
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Ineffective Defence of Overextended Japanese Empire
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Reasons for the Dropping of the Atomic Bombs (I)
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Reasons for the Dropping of the Atomic Bombs (II)
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Reasons for the Dropping of the Atomic Bombs (III)
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Reasons for the Dropping of the Atomic Bombs (IV)
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The Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
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Japanese Aggression in the Asia-Pacific After the US Declaration of War
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Unit 2: Bi-Polarity and the Cold War8. Reasons for the Cold War in Europe21 Topics
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Ideological Conflict between the US and the Soviet Union
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Continuing Distrust in a Necessary Alliance during World War II
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Yalta Conference
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Potsdam Conference
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American Nuclear Monopoly
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Post-World War II Years: Worsening Relations between the US and the Soviet Union
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Destruction and Decline of the Major European Powers at the End of World War II
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Superpower Rivalry and the United Nations
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End of Wartime Alliance
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Establishment of Soviet Satellite States in Eastern Europe
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Kennan’s Long Telegram
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Iron Curtain Speech
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The Truman Doctrine
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The Marshall Plan
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Soviet Responses to US Containment Policy
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Carving Out Political and Economic Spheres of Influence
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Reasons for Superpower Confrontation in the Berlin Blockade
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Events Leading Up to the Berlin Blockade
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Formation of Military Alliances (NATO)
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Formation of Military Alliances (Warsaw Pact)
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Extension and International Impact of the Cold War in the 1950s and early 1960s
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Ideological Conflict between the US and the Soviet Union
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9. The Korean War19 Topics
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Objectives
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Background of the Korean War
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Post-War Occupation of Korea: Partition of Korea
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Formation of Two Koreas
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Attempts to Achieve Unification by South and North Korean Leaders
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Significance of Korea to the USSR and Communist Bloc
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Impact of Developments in the Soviet Union & China on US Foreign Policy
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Military and Strategic Imbalance Between North and South Korea
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To What Extent Was the Korean War More of A Civil War Than A Proxy War?
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Lead-Up to the Korean War (I)
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Lead-Up to the Korean War (II)
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Lead-Up to the Korean War (III)
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Outbreak and the Development of the Korean War
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Development From Civil War to Proxy War (I)
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Development From Civil War to Proxy War (II)
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Development From Civil War to Proxy War (III)
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Armistice Talks
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Expansion of the Cold War Beyond Europe
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Intensified American Involvement in the Asia-Pacific
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Objectives
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10. Cuban Missile Crisis25 Topics
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Background to the Cuban Missile Crisis
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Tensions Between the US and Cuba (I)
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Tensions Between the US and Cuba (II)
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Tensions Between the US and Cuba (III)
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Tensions Between the US and Cuba (IV)
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Escalating Tensions Due to American Retaliation Against Cuba
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American Attempts to Remove Castro From Power
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Cuba’s formal alliance with the Soviet Union Crisis
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Why did the US and the Soviet Union go to the brink of nuclear war in 1962?
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Soviet Installation of Missiles in Cuba
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American discovery of the missile deployment
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Escalation of Tensions During the Cuban Missile Crisis (I)
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Escalation of Tensions During the Cuban Missile Crisis (II)
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Escalation of Tensions During the Cuban Missile Crisis (III)
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The Immediate Response of the Soviet Union and Cuba to the Blockade
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Road of the Resolution of the Crisis (I)
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Road of the Resolution of the Crisis (II)
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Road of the Resolution of the Crisis (III)
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Road of the Resolution of the Crisis (IV)
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Road of the Resolution of the Crisis (V)
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Factors Leading to the Resolution of the Crisis (I)
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Factors Leading to the Resolution of the Crisis (II)
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The Aftermath of the Crisis (I)
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The Aftermath of the Crisis (II)
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The Aftermath of the Crisis (III)
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Background to the Cuban Missile Crisis
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11. The End of Cold War19 Topics
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Lesson Objectives
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Conclusion
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Reduction of Tensions Due to Détente
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Stalling and Abandonment of Détente
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Long Term Developments Contributing to the End of the Cold War
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American Economic and Military superiority (I)
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American Economic and Military superiority (II)
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Structural Weaknesses of the Command Economy Compared to the Free Market Economy
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Continued Lack of Consumer Goods and Low Quality of Life
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External Economic Burdens of the Soviet Union
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Increasing Resistance Within the Communist Bloc
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Ascension of Gorbachev
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Gorbachev’s Reforms (I)
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Gorbachev’s Reforms (II)
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Gorbachev’s Reforms (III)
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End of Cold War (I)
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End of Cold War (II)
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End of Cold War (III)
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End of Cold War (IV)
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Lesson Objectives
Chapter 1,
Topic 2
In Progress
The Treaty of Versailles
Chapter Progress
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▪ Motivations and Aims of the Victorious Powers at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference
- World War 1 finally ended in November 1918 with Germany agreeing to sign a temporary peace agreement or an armistice.
- Germany did not feel that it had been defeated and the Germans expected to be consulted on the terms of an eventual peace treaty.
- However, the Germans were not invited to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, where the victorious powers met to decide on the terms of the peace treaty.
- The eventual treaty, known as the Treaty of Versailles, was the political settlement that resulted from of this conference.
- The main powers, or the ‘Big Three’, as the US, Britain & France were collectively known, had various perspectives in resolving post-World War 1 matters, particularly in their issues towards Germany.
| Country | Leader | What did they want? | Why? |
| The United States (US) | President Woodrow Wilson • Elected president in 1912 & reelected in 1916. • Tried few times to negotiate peace between the European powers during the Paris Peace Conference. | • The Americans were reluctant to enter the ‘European war’. • Wilson wanted to make his Fourteen Points as a basis for a ‘fair & lasting peace’ & international cooperation. • The US was not keen to be entangled in European affairs and was more concerned about making the world safer. | • The US war experience was different than the European powers’ as it had not been invaded. • It had also entered the war late, in 1917, and thus, they suffered very little and the US was not compelled to seek harsh reparations. |
| France | PM Georges Clemenceau • Was nicknamed ‘The Tiger’ for his fierce pursuit of ‘war until the end’ against Germany in World War 1. | • France hoped to reclaim Alsace Lorraine, which was lost to Germany in 1871. • Wanted revenge for the war, heavy reparations from Germany for its war losses and damages. • Wanted Germany to accept total blame for the war. | • Germany had attacked France twice in 1870 and 1914 and had lost lands. • Determined to weaken Germany militarily so that France could never be in danger again. • Wanted to punish Germany for death and destruction. Had suffered huge casualties and its economy shattered. |
| Britain | PM David Lloyd George • Was re-elected PM in 1918. • Personally he opposed treating Germany too harshly as he feared an unfair peace treaty would lead to another war. | • Wanted German navy to be weak as its own position of naval superiority was previously threatened by German rearmaments. • Wanted Germany to be able to recover economically to prevent rise of communism. | • Britain concerned about threat of communism in Eastern Europe; a strong Germany in Central Europe could stop the communist tide. • However, Britain had also suffered large numbers of casualties during WW1. PM Lloyd George had won 1918 election promising to ‘make Germany pay’. |
| Italy | PM Vittorio Orlando • Was keen supporter of Italy’s entry into WW1 on side of the Allies | • Entered WW1 based on 1915 London Pact which promised Italy control of Dalmatia, part of Germany’s colonies in Asia and Africa, & protectorate over Albania. | • Joined the Allies as it was promised territorial gains and rewards. • Had suffered heavy casualties and expected its sacrifices to be rewarded as promised. |
| Japan | PM Saionji Kinmochi • Former PM and elder statesman • Led Japanese delegation to the Paris Peace Conference | • Wanted control over German possessions in Asia and the Pacific region. • Wanted to be seen as a world power and equal to the European powers. | • At the start of 20th century, Japan had begun to modernise and strengthen militarily. Thus, it hoped to be recognised as equal to European powers. • Entered WW1 based on Anglo-Japanese alliance. |
- In summary, the delegations from Japan and Italy were mainly concerned with getting the territorial gains promised to them for their contributions in the war.
- The British and French representatives faced public pressure back home to keep Germany weakened and punished for waging the war.
- As for the American delegation, President Wilson’s main interest was in securing the Fourteen Points rather than in shaping the future of Germany.
- The final clause of the Versailles Treaty established the League of Nations, which was Wilson’s primary objective.
