USA HISTORY

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM(1890 1919)

TREATY OF VERSAILLES

[SOURCES]
The treaty forced Germany to give up land that was rich in natural resources. How did this impact Germany’s efforts to rebuild?

(A) Germany would not be impacted; the economy of the country would remain strong.

(B) ** Germany would have more difficulty rebuilding; they used the natural resources to benefit their economy.

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -The Versailles Treaty forced Germany to give up territory to Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Poland, return Alsace and Lorraine to France and cede all of its overseas colonies in China, Pacific and Africa to the Allied nations.

Concept note-2: -The treaty forced Germany to disarm, to make territorial concessions, and to pay reparations to the Allied powers in the staggering amount of $5 billion.

Concept note-3: -Most importantly, Article 231 of the treaty, better known as the “war guilt clause, ” forced Germany to accept full responsibility for starting World War I and pay enormous reparations for Allied war losses.

Concept note-4: -The country subsequently began a slow but continuous improvement of its standard of living, with the export of local products, a reduction in unemployment, increased food production, and a reduced black market.