Roadmap for Answer Writing

1. Introduction

• • Briefly introduce the significance of both treaties.
  • Mention their roles in the aftermath of World War I.
    • Treaty of Versailles (1919): Ended World War I, focused on punishing Germany.
    • Treaty of Sèvres (1920): Aimed to dismantle the Ottoman Empire and redraw borders in the Middle East.

2. Body

• Divide the body into two sections: one for the Treaty of Versailles and one for the Treaty of Sèvres.

Treaty of Versailles

• Unintended Consequences:
  1. Rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party:
     • The treaty’s harsh terms caused widespread resentment in Germany, which Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party exploited to gain power. Hitler promised to undo the treaty’s terms and restore German pride, leading to WWII.
  2. Failure of the League of Nations:
     • The treaty established the League of Nations, but it failed to prevent WWII because it lacked key support, notably from the United States.
  3. Japanese Aggression:
     • Japan, despite being a victorious power, felt dissatisfied with the treaty and began pursuing aggressive expansion in the Pacific, contributing to future conflicts.
  4. Russian Revolution:
     • The treaty denied the Bolshevik government territory they hoped to gain from Germany, which fueled discontent and exacerbated the Russian Revolution.

Treaty of Sevres

• • Unintended Consequences:
    1. Rise of Turkish Nationalism:
       • The treaty’s attempt to partition the Ottoman Empire led to Turkish resistance and the rise of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who rejected the treaty’s terms and formed modern Turkey.
    2. Middle Eastern Instability:
       • The treaty’s division of Ottoman territories into new states (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon) ignored ethnic and religious divisions, leading to ongoing instability in the region.
    3. Kurdish Question:
       • The promise of Kurdish autonomy was never fulfilled, creating a long-standing issue between Turkey and its Kurdish population.

3. Conclusion

• • Emphasize the broader theme: both treaties, while meant to ensure peace, ended up sowing the seeds of future conflicts.
  • Mention how these unintended consequences shaped global politics, especially in the lead-up to World War II and the turbulent Middle Eastern geopolitics.

Relevant Facts and Sources for Answer:

1. Treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919):
   • Rise of Hitler: The treaty’s punitive terms (war guilt clause, reparations) created deep resentment in Germany, exploited by Hitler for political gain. The Nazi Party used this dissatisfaction to rally support and rise to power, directly leading to WWII.
   • Failure of the League of Nations: The League, established to ensure peace, lacked support from major powers like the U.S., and was ineffective in preventing WWII.
   • Japanese Aggression: Japan, despite its role as an Allied power, felt dissatisfied with the treaty’s outcome, leading to an expansionist policy in Asia, especially in China and the Pacific.
   • Russian Revolution: The treaty’s impact on the Russian Empire’s territorial ambitions and the denial of crucial resources intensified the internal crisis in Russia, fueling the Bolshevik Revolution.
2. Treaty of Sevres (August 10, 1920):
   • Rise of Turkish Nationalism: The treaty aimed to partition the Ottoman Empire but faced strong opposition, particularly from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who led a successful campaign against the Allied forces and established the Republic of Turkey.
   • Middle Eastern Instability: The arbitrary drawing of new borders in the Middle East ignored ethnic and religious divisions, contributing to ongoing regional conflicts.
   • Kurdish Question: The promise of autonomy for the Kurds in the treaty was never realized, leading to long-term tensions between Turkey and its Kurdish population.