Class Notes 11/6

3 Long Term Causes

1. Rise of Dictators
2. Treaty of Versailles
3. Failures of the League of Nations
   

2 Political Causes

1. Appeasement
   
2. Capitalism vs. Communism
   

1 Question

1. How much did WWI influence WWII?
   

SURPRISE INTERPRETATION!!!

World War II is a CONTINUATION of World War I!

• Treaty of Versailles was an act of war on Germany (extreme)
• ToV gave no chance for lasting peace
• United States never signed a treaty, didn't join League of Nations
• France invades Germany in 1923, when Germany defaults on Reparations

Arguments against "Continuation"

• Aside from 1923, no formal fighting
• Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919
  
• By 1929 Germany was back in the international community (member of the League of Nations, signed Locarno Treaty 1925, Kellog-Briand 1928)

Failures of the League of Nations:

• Main aim was to promote collective security and avoid war

BUT... There were problems.

• Perception that France and Britain ran the LoN for their own interests
• France and GB make mandates out of the Middle East
• US never joins, lack of a major power to enforce/pay for enforcement against violations (Japan attacks Manchuria, Italy attacks Ethiopia), other major powers never in at the same time (Germany 1926–1933, USSR 1934–1939, Italy 1920–1935, Japan 1920–1933)