European Stability Quiz, 1917-1929

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Which event took place in November 1917?

Greece declares war on the Central Powers.

The First Battle of Passchendaele takes place.

The United States declares war on Germany.

The Bolshevik Revolution takes place in Russia. (correct)

According to the timeline, which event took place first?

United States declares war on Germany

Greece declares war on the Central Powers

Tsar Nicholas II abdicates (correct)

Bolshevik Revolution

What event took place in April 1917, according to the timeline?

Bolshevik Revolution

Tsar Nicholas II abdicates

Greece declares war on the Central Powers

United States declares war on Germany (correct)

In which month did the First Battle of Passchendaele take place?

October (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a topic covered in Chapter Two?

The rise of fascism in Italy (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main argument of the introduction to Chapter Two?

Peace is a complex concept that involves more than just the absence of war. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following events is NOT mentioned in the chapter contents?

The collapse of the Ottoman Empire (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key theme explored in Chapter Two?

The search for European stability after World War I (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main objective of the Dawes Plan?

To promote economic stability in Europe through financial means (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these was NOT a direct consequence of the Dawes Plan?

The establishment of the League of Nations (B) Signup and view all the answers

How did the Dawes Plan impact French-German relations?

It significantly improved relations by easing French anxieties and bringing Germany into the European fold. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What role did Britain play in the Locarno Treaties?

Britain acted as a mediator between France and Germany to facilitate the agreement. (B) Signup and view all the answers

The passage mentions that the Dawes Plan revealed the United States' willingness to use "dollar diplomacy" to stabilize Europe. What does this phrase signify?

The US's desire to influence European affairs through economic means. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Rhineland Pact signed at Locarno?

It formalized the Franco-German détente by guaranteeing the borders between them. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these best describes the US role in European affairs after the Dawes Plan?

The US maintained a policy of isolationism while providing financial support to European nations. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary focus of the Locarno Treaties in terms of European security?

Guaranteeing the borders of Western Europe and reducing the possibility of conflict. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary motivation for Lloyd George's support of Wilson's League of Nations proposal?

He saw it as a way to appease American demands on issues like freedom of the seas. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the difference in approach between the French and the Americans regarding the new international organization?

The Americans emphasized the role of world opinion, while the French favored a system of alliances to maintain peace. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following features was not a part of the League of Nations Covenant as outlined in the text?

A council composed exclusively of the victorious powers of World War I. (C) Signup and view all the answers

The text suggests that the League of Nations was primarily a result of:

A compromise between Wilson's idealistic vision and pragmatic political realities. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary aim of the three-month period of arbitration envisioned for international disputes?

To allow time for negotiations and the mobilization of world opinion against aggression. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How did the League of Nations attempt to promote open diplomacy?

By establishing a council and assembly open to all members, allowing for public discussion of international affairs. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the League of Nations' primary weakness?

Its lack of enforcement power due to the reliance on voluntary cooperation. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the League of Nations as presented in the text?

A compromise between idealistic aspirations and the realities of international power dynamics. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which countries were considered the beneficiaries of the new territorial arrangements following WWI?

Serbia, Romania, Greece, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Yugoslavia (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the 'cordon sanitaire' put in place after WWI?

To prevent the spread of communism from Russia (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which treaty prohibited the union of Austria and Germany, known as Anschluss?

Treaty of Saint-Germain (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was NOT included in the treaties modeled on Versailles?

Provisions for ethnic minority rights (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which country benefited from astute lobbying and well-placed sympathizers among the peacemakers?

Czechoslovakia (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did the Treaty of Riga impact Poland's territorial boundaries?

It determined the eastern border of Poland with Russia. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which treaty, similar to the Treaty of Versailles, was signed with Turkey?

Treaty of Sèvres (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main goal of the French in creating the 'cordon sanitaire'?

To contain the spread of Soviet influence (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary reason for the widespread determination in Germany to undermine the Treaty of Versailles?

The treaty unfairly blamed Germany for the start of World War I. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How did Weimar foreign policy attempt to influence the Allies' relationship?

By exploiting divisions between Britain and France through defiance and compliance. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What did German politicians argue regarding the reparations imposed by the Reparations Commission?

The 132 billion gold mark payment was entirely unfeasible and would cripple the German economy. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main concern for European nations, particularly France, regarding reparations?

The burden of reconstruction costs exceeding their capacity to fund it, leading to financial ruin. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How could American debt forgiveness have potentially resolved the reparations issue?

It would have reduced the economic pressure on European nations, potentially leading to a Franco-German economic reconciliation. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of the 132 billion gold mark payment set by the Reparations Commission?

To appease public expectations in Europe while providing a bargaining chip in debt negotiations with the US. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the argument made by historians about Germany's ability to pay reparations?

While the proposed figure was burdensome, Germany could have likely met the payment obligation had they seriously attempted to. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the danger for European nations regarding the cost of reconstruction?

It could overwhelm their economies and lead to financial instability and potential economic collapse. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary diplomatic strategy employed by the Soviet Union in the post-World War I era, as outlined in the text?

A balance between promoting revolution and securing the regime's survival. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Rapallo Treaty signed between the Soviet Union and Germany in 1922?

It established diplomatic and economic cooperation between two countries ostracized by the international order. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main source of legitimacy for the Soviet regime?

Its commitment to spreading revolution globally. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred as the primary reason for the deep antipathy towards the Soviet Union felt by the Western powers, specifically London and Paris, as mentioned in the text?

The Soviet Union's ideological threat posed by the spread of communism. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did the Soviet Union's relationship with Germany, as described in the text, impact its relations with Western powers like Britain and France?

It fueled anxieties and deepened the existing divide, reinforcing their opposition to the Soviet Union. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main objective of the Soviet Union's "socialism in one country" policy, according to the text?

To prioritize internal development and security while also supporting international communist movements. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best explains the Soviet Union's diplomatic posture towards the status quo as described in the text?

The Soviet Union sought to achieve peaceful coexistence while also pursuing its revolutionary goals. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the nature of the military cooperation that developed between the Soviet Union and Germany after the Rapallo Treaty?

It was limited to secret assistance to evade disarmament restrictions. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

European Stability, 1917-1929

Peace is not simply the absence of war; it requires resolving the antagonisms that caused the war and addressing new conflicts arising from it.
Armistice does not equal peace; diplomacy is necessary to translate battlefield victories into political settlements.
No single recipe exists for achieving lasting peace; it can involve hegemony, deterrence, or a shared security community among states.
Most successful international systems combine multiple elements such as common values and goals.

Introduction to the Search for European Stability, 1917-1929

The chapter examines the period from the armistice of 1918 to 1929, analyzing the peacemaking process and subsequent attempts at European reconstruction.
It analyzes the influence of Lenin and Wilson on the resolution of World War I.
It investigates the reasons for the failure of the Paris peace settlement to create lasting stability.
The focus shifts to examining the period from the occupation of the Rhineland in 1923 to the Locarno treaties of 1925 to understand the issues associated with peacemaking.
The question posed is whether the détente of 1925-29 represented a sustainable pathway to peace or a temporary lull.

The 'New Diplomacy'

Nineteenth-century diplomacy, characterized by alliances, secret treaties, and balance-of-power politics, was discredited by World War I.
There were calls for stronger international laws, world courts, and a restructuring of international systems to resolve international competition.
Radical solutions proposed transforming social, economic, and political structures to create a global community of working people.
Leaders like Lenin and Wilson advocated for alternative approaches to international relations, emphasizing the need to resolve inter-state competition and address suppression of peoples and minority groups.
Wilson's Fourteen Points and Lenin's Decree on Peace emphasized open diplomacy, self-determination, and a new international order.

The Armistice

The initial break in the stalemate occurred on the home front in Russia, with the refusal of the Petrograd garrison to fire on strikers in March 1917 leading to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II.
A dual authority emerged, comprising the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet, both initially committed to continuing the war.
The Petrograd Soviet called for an end to the war without annexations or indemnities, based on national self-determination.
The Bolshevik seizure of power in November 1917 resulted in Russia's withdrawal from the war and the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
Germany's offensives in early 1918 aimed at breaking through the Allied lines, but the offensives failed, and by July 1918, Allied counter-attacks and increased American troop involvement reversed the situation.

The Paris Peace Settlement

In January 1919, representatives from more than 30 Allied nations gathered at the Paris Peace Conference.
The conferences were marked by administrative chaos and organizational improvisation.
The major decisions were taken by the Council of Four (Wilson, Lloyd George, Clemenceau, and Orlando).
Lesser peace treaties were later negotiated with Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
Critiques of the Paris settlement include a lack of just settlement, pursuit of selfish national interests, and a failure to create a lasting peace.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge on the search for European stability between 1917 and 1929. This quiz delves into the complexities of peacemaking following World War I, addressing the influences of key figures like Lenin and Wilson, and the failures of the Paris peace settlement. Explore the various elements that contribute to lasting peace and international relations.