In the Aftermath of World War I,Nations Were Forever Changed

German Johannes Bell signs the Treaty of Versailles in France. He is shown sitting in the front chair. The treaty had been

drafted by the Allied powers and was unfavorable and harsh for Germany. Image from the public domain

World War I, which lasted from 1914 to 1918, was bloodier and more devastating than any

war before it. It left Europe and the world greatly changed and set the stage for the violence

and unrest that marked much of the 20th century.

By ThoughtCo.com, adapted by Newsela staff on 10.18.17

Word Count 1,016

Level 1050L

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A new great power

World War I changed the United States in two important ways. First, it turned the U.S. military

into a large-scale, modern fighting force that clearly equaled the armies of Europe. Second, it

made the United States a much greater global economic force, as many of the nations of

Europe had been shattered and drained by the war.

However, these changes were not felt strongly at first. Decisions taken by U.S. politicians

following the war caused the country to retreat from the world stage. This move was called

"isolationism." Because of this, the country's growth in power would only truly bear fruit after

World War II.

The United States' withdrawal from international engagement undermined the authority of the

League of Nations. The League was established in 1919 to resolve disputes between

countries and thus to keep the peace. It was later succeeded by the United Nations.

Socialism rises to the world stage

Russia collapsed under the pressure of the total warfare of World War I. This allowed

communist revolutionaries to seize power there in 1917. The emperor, or "czar," and his family

were killed and a new communist government was set up. The communists, led by Vladimir

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Lenin, did not want a few individuals to own factories and land as private property. Instead,

they wanted workers to have more power and better working conditions. The government took

over the farmlands to manage them for the public.

Germany at first seemed to be headed in the direction of communism but instead formed a

new social democracy. The new Weimar Republic combined democratic institutions with

socialism. Germans could vote for their political leaders, and, although socialism was left-wing

like communism, it was not as extreme. It did not attempt to completely change society by

eliminating private property and allowed for much greater freedoms.

However, Germany's new government soon came under great pressure. It was eventually

toppled by Adolf Hitler and his far-right Nazi Party. With Hitler in power, the stage for World

War II was set.

The collapse of Central and Eastern European empires

The German, Russian, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires all fought in World War I. All

were swept away by defeat and revolution.

The fall of Turkey, which was the heart of the Ottoman Empire, and Austria-Hungary were

probably not much of a surprise. Turkey had long been regarded as the "sick man of Europe."

Austria-Hungary appeared nearly as weak. Much more shocking was the fall of the young,

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powerful and growing German Empire. Its collapse came after the population rose up in revolt

and toppled Kaiser Wilhelm II from power. In all these countries the old order was replaced by

a series of new governments, ranging from democracies to dictatorships.

Nationalism transforms and complicates Europe

Nationalism is the belief that people with the same culture have the right to their own

independent, self-governing country. It had been growing in Europe for decades before World

War I. However, the postwar period saw a major rise in new nations and independence

movements. The fall of old empires gave nationalists the chance to declare new countries.

European nationalism was strongest in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Poland, Estonia,

Latvia, Lithuania, Czechoslovakia and the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes all

emerged as new countries, along with several others.

However, the transition to nationhood was not a smooth process and did not occur

successfully everywhere. Nationalism contributed greatly to tensions between different

communities. Many countries were multi-ethnic, with different nationalities and ethnicities all

living together within the same borders. Nationalism fueled the rise of sometimes violent

independence movements, and at times made national minorities more loyal to a neighboring

country than they were to their own.

The myths of victory and failure

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At the end of World War I, German military commander Erich Ludendorff demanded that

Germany reject the terms of the peace treaty, which he found much too harsh. Ludendorff

claimed the army could and should fight on. However, the new German government overruled

him and declared the war over.

This decision gave Ludendorff and other German military leaders someone to blame for

Germany's loss. Thus began the myth of the undefeated German army being "stabbed in the

back" by liberals, socialists and Jews. These were groups that were heavily involved in politics

right when Germany was suffering from its defeat. This myth severely damaged the power of

the Weimar government and fueled the rise of Adolf Hitler.

Britain was also greatly reshaped by the war. Despite emerging victorious, it came to view

World War I as a bloody disaster. This attitude affected Britain's response to international

events during the 1920s and 1930s. In 1938, at the eve of World War II, it made Britain more

willing to give in to Hitler's demands for new territories. This approach, called appeasement,

was meant to keep the peace as long as possible.

A "lost generation"

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Eight million people died during World War I, which was perhaps 1 in 8 of the

combatants. Many other people were so physically or mentally damaged by the war that they

took their lives. In most European countries, it was hard to find someone who had not lost a

loved one to the war.

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Quiz

1 Examine the image in the section "A new great power."

How does this image contribute to the reader's understanding of the United States after World

War I?

(A) by showing that it became a large modern fighting force

(B) by showing that it was a greater global economic force

(C) by showing that its growth in power began after World War II

(D) by showing that its isolationism hurt the League of Nations

2 Look at the map in the section "The collapse of Central and Eastern European empires."

Which detail from the article is BEST illustrated by the map?

(A) The fall of Turkey, which was the heart of the Ottoman Empire, and Austria-

Hungary were probably not much of a surprise.

(B) In all these countries the old order was replaced by a series of new

governments, ranging from democracies to dictatorships.

(C) However, the postwar period saw a major rise in new nations and

independence movements. The fall of old empires gave nationalists the chance

to declare new countries.

(D) However, the transition to nationhood was not a smooth process and did not

occur successfully everywhere. Nationalism contributed greatly to tensions

between different communities.

3 The following sentence from the section "Socialism rises to the world stage" supports the idea that

reactions to the outcome of World War I led to World War II.

With Hitler in power, the stage for World War II was set.

Which section of the article provides further support for this idea?

(A) "The collapse of Central and Eastern European empires"

(B) "Nationalism transforms and complicates Europe"

(C) "The myths of victory and failure"

(D) "A 'lost generation'"

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4 Read the section "A lost generation."

Eight million people died during World War I, which was perhaps 1 in8 of the combatants. Many other people were so physically or mentallydamaged by the war that they took their lives. In most Europeancountries, it was hard to find someone who had not lost a loved one tothe war.

What conclusion is BEST supported by this section?

(A) People in the United States were not negatively affected by World War I.

(B) Most of the population in Europe was affected in some way by World War I.

(C) Physical and mental health care were not very good following World War I.

(D) More combatants died in World War I than in any other war in history.

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Answer Key

1 Examine the image in the section "A new great power."

How does this image contribute to the reader's understanding of the United States after World

War I?

(A) by showing that it became a large modern fighting force

(B) by showing that it was a greater global economic force

(C) by showing that its growth in power began after World War II

(D) by showing that its isolationism hurt the League of Nations

2 Look at the map in the section "The collapse of Central and Eastern European empires."

Which detail from the article is BEST illustrated by the map?

(A) The fall of Turkey, which was the heart of the Ottoman Empire, and Austria-

Hungary were probably not much of a surprise.

(B) In all these countries the old order was replaced by a series of new

governments, ranging from democracies to dictatorships.

(C) However, the postwar period saw a major rise in new nations and

independence movements. The fall of old empires gave nationalists

the chance to declare new countries.

(D) However, the transition to nationhood was not a smooth process and did not

occur successfully everywhere. Nationalism contributed greatly to tensions

between different communities.

3 The following sentence from the section "Socialism rises to the world stage" supports the idea that

reactions to the outcome of World War I led to World War II.

With Hitler in power, the stage for World War II was set.

Which section of the article provides further support for this idea?

(A) "The collapse of Central and Eastern European empires"

(B) "Nationalism transforms and complicates Europe"

(C) "The myths of victory and failure"

(D) "A 'lost generation'"

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 9

4 Read the section "A lost generation."

Eight million people died during World War I, which was perhaps 1 in8 of the combatants. Many other people were so physically or mentallydamaged by the war that they took their lives. In most Europeancountries, it was hard to find someone who had not lost a loved one tothe war.

What conclusion is BEST supported by this section?

(A) People in the United States were not negatively affected by World War I.

(B) Most of the population in Europe was affected in some way by World

War I.

(C) Physical and mental health care were not very good following World War I.

(D) More combatants died in World War I than in any other war in history.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 10