Welcome to the Peace of 1919!
After the devastating fighting of World War I (which you studied in Chapter 8.2), the world's leaders met in France to decide how to rebuild. This period is known as the Versailles Conference and Peace Settlement. It wasn't just about ending a war; it was about redrawing the map of the entire world. In these notes, we will look at the new countries that were born in Europe and how European powers extended their reach into the Middle East.
The "Successor States": A New Map of Europe
Before the war, Central and Eastern Europe were dominated by massive empires, like the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Russian Empire. After the war, these empires collapsed. From their "ruins," several new, independent nations were created. We call these the Successor States because they "succeeded" or followed the old empires.
According to the AP syllabus, you need to know these four specific Successor States:
- Poland: Re-created as an independent nation for the first time in over a century.
- Czechoslovakia: A brand-new country combining Czech and Slovak territories.
- Hungary: Separated from Austria to become its own independent state.
- Yugoslavia: A new "South Slav" state in the Balkans that combined several different ethnic groups.
Why this matters: The creation of these states was meant to give different ethnic groups their own homes (a concept called national self-determination). However, as we will see in later chapters, redrawing these borders often left different groups living within the same country, which led to tension later on.
Quick Tip: Think of the Successor States like a massive jigsaw puzzle. The old, large pieces (the Empires) were broken, and the peace-makers tried to fit the pieces back together into smaller, brand-new shapes.
The Mandate System: Europe and the Middle East
The peace settlement didn't just affect Europe; it also dealt with the territories of the defeated Ottoman Empire in the Middle East. Instead of making these areas fully independent, the League of Nations created the Mandate System.
In a mandate, a European power was given the authority to govern a territory until it was deemed "ready" for independence. In reality, this often felt a lot like the "New Imperialism" you studied in Unit 7, as European countries maintained a high level of control.
You must know which European powers controlled which mandates:
French Mandates
- Lebanon
- Syria
British Mandates
- Iraq
- Palestine
Did you know? This system is a perfect example of the AP theme Interaction of Europe and the World (INT). Even though the war was over, Europe was still deeply involved in the politics and borders of the Middle East, which has long-lasting effects even today.
Summary of the Peace Settlement
The Versailles settlement was a massive turning point. While it brought an official end to the fighting, it created a fragile new world order. New countries were born in Europe, and the Middle East was divided into European-controlled zones.
Key Takeaway: The Successor States (Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia) changed the face of Europe, while the Mandate System (Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Palestine) changed the face of the Middle East. These changes set the stage for the Global Economic Crisis and Fascism that you will study in the next chapters (8.5 and 8.6).
Quick Review Box:
- Successor States: New nations formed from collapsed empires (Poland, Czech, Hungary, Yugoslavia).
- Mandates: Middle Eastern territories governed by Europe (France got Syria/Lebanon; Britain got Iraq/Palestine).
- Themes: States and Power (SOP) and National Identity (NEI).
Don't worry if these names feel like a lot to memorize! Just remember that "Successor" means "to follow," and these states followed the fall of the big empires.