WORLD HISTORY: AFTERMATH OF FIRST WORLD WAR – Part 2
EFFECTS OF THE WAR
- Appalling death toll of the armed forces.
- In Germany, hardship and defeat caused a revolution; the emperor was compelled to abdicate and a republic was declared.
- The Habsburg Empire collapsed completely; Austria and Hungary split into two separate states.
- In Russia the pressures of war caused two revolutions in 1917- first overthrew the Tzar Nicholas II, and the second brought brought Lenin and Bolsheviks to power.
- The war had been a drain on Italy’s resources and she was heavily in debt. Dictator Mussolini took over control.
- Some countries outside Europe, particularly Japan, China and the USA, took advantage of Europe’s preoccupation with the war to expand their trade.
- US President Woodrow Wilson came up with a plan for a League of Nations, which would settle future disputes by arbitration so that wars were not repeated.