World War I Aftermath: Societal Shifts, Treaties, and League of Nations

Society in the Aftermath of WWI

During the war, men were conscripted or recruited into the armed forces. In European countries and their colonies, advertisements often encouraged patriotism and enlistment.

As soldiers went to war, women replaced them in many economic areas, such as offices and factories. Post-war, many women desired to continue working, but jobs were scarce. Additionally, working women were typically paid less than men. In some countries, the suffragette movement led to women gaining the right to vote soon after the war.

The Post-War World

After the armistice, representatives of the Allied Powers met at the Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920) to determine conditions imposed on the defeated Central Powers.

At the conference, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson proposed a peace agreement promoting reconciliation. However, this was rejected by devastated Allied countries like France, which sought compensation for losses from the Central Powers.

Peace Treaties

The Allies ratified five treaties at the Paris Peace Conference, signed by the defeated countries. The Treaty of Versailles imposed severe terms on Germany:

• It could not have tanks or an air force.
• It had to return Alsace-Lorraine to France, and East Prussia was divided from the rest of Germany by a corridor of land given to Poland.
• It had to pay reparations to the European Allies.
• It had to sign the war-guilt clause.

The Treaty of Versailles became a source of problems due to German resentment over its harsh conditions.

The League of Nations

During the Paris Peace Conference, President Wilson proposed establishing the League of Nations, an international organization to ensure peace and prevent future wars. However, the defeated Central Powers were initially excluded, and the U.S.A. did not join.