Unresolved TENSIONS After World War I [AP World History Review—Unit 7 Topic 5]

Summary

The script discusses the aftermath of World War I, highlighting the unfulfilled promises of independence for colonial peoples despite their participation in the war. It delves into the mandate system established at the Paris Peace Conference, which failed to grant self-determination to territories like the Middle East, leading to anti-colonial resistance. The script also touches on Japan's expansionist policies and the formation of resistance movements such as the Indian National Congress and the African National Congress, emphasizing the long struggle for independence that continued beyond World War II.

Takeaways

• 🕊️ World War I ended but left behind tensions, particularly regarding colonial peoples' desires for independence from imperial powers.
• 🏰 Despite colonial contributions to World War I, victorious powers did not grant them independence, maintaining or even expanding their colonial holdings.
• 🇹🇷 The Republic of Turkey emerged as a new state under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, an exception to the general trend of colonial territories changing hands.
• 🏛️ The Paris Peace Conference introduced the mandate system, dividing former Ottoman and German colonies among the victorious powers under the guise of the League of Nations.
• 🌐 The mandate system categorized territories into three classes based on population size and development level, with Class A theoretically ready for independence but often treated as colonies.
• 🗾 Japan, as a non-Western power, expanded its empire in defiance of the League of Nations, creating the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
• 🚫 Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931 was a clear violation of League of Nations rules, leading to its withdrawal from the organization.
• 🌊 The dashed hopes for independence post-WWI sparked anti-imperial resistance movements, such as the Indian National Congress and the African National Congress.
• 🧘‍♂️ Mahatma Gandhi's leadership in the Indian National Congress led to significant peaceful protests against British policies in India.
• 🌿 The African National Congress fought for equal rights in South Africa, influenced by pan-Africanism, advocating for the unity and equality of black people worldwide.
• 📚 The script encourages viewers to review for Unit 7 and use video note guides for a comprehensive understanding of the course content.

Q & A

What was the main consequence of World War I that led to global tension, especially among colonial peoples?

The main consequence of World War I that led to global tension was the failure of the victorious powers to reward colonial peoples with independence and self-rule, despite their sacrifices during the war. Instead, European powers and Japan maintained their colonial holdings, and in some cases, even expanded them.

What was the mandate system introduced at the Paris Peace Conference?

The mandate system was introduced at the Paris Peace Conference as a compromise to administer the territories of the dismantled Ottoman and German Empires. It created a three-tiered structure to classify these territories based on their population size and level of development, with Class A mandates being the most developed and supposedly ready for independence.

How did the mandate system contradict the principle of self-determination as advocated by US President Woodrow Wilson?

The mandate system contradicted the principle of self-determination because, despite Wilson's insistence on the right of states to govern themselves, the victorious powers, including the British and French, treated the Class A mandates as colonies, not granting them the independence they were deemed ready for.

What was the impact of the mandate system on the colonial territories in the Middle East?

The mandate system led to the British occupying Israel and Iraq, and the French occupying Syria and Lebanon, treating these territories as colonies rather than granting them independence and self-rule as the system suggested they were ready for.

How did Japan's actions in the interwar period reflect its status as a non-western power with imperial ambitions?

Japan's actions in the interwar period, such as the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and the creation of the puppet state Manchukuo, reflected its status as a non-western power with imperial ambitions, seeking to expand its empire and gain access to valuable natural resources, despite violating the rules of the League of Nations.

What was the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, and how did it relate to Japan's expansion in the Pacific?

The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere was the term used by Japan to describe its area of influence in the Pacific, which it sought to expand throughout the interwar period. This expansion was driven by Japan's desire to establish itself as a powerful industrial nation with an empire, similar to Western powers.

What was the Indian National Congress, and how did it contribute to the anti-imperial resistance movement in India?

The Indian National Congress was an organization formed in India before World War I to formally petition the British government for greater degrees of self-rule. It became a significant part of the anti-imperial resistance movement in the 1920s, especially under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, who led various acts of potent but peaceful protest against British policies.

How did the African National Congress contribute to the anti-imperial resistance movement in South Africa?

The African National Congress, founded in South Africa by Western-educated lawyers and journalists, was dedicated to obtaining equal rights for colonial subjects in South Africa. Influenced by the ideas of pan-Africanism, it opposed imperial racial policies and worked towards the equality and unity of all black people across the world.

What were the long-term effects of the anti-imperial resistance movements on the colonial powers and the colonized territories?

The long-term effects of the anti-imperial resistance movements included the eventual independence of colonized territories such as India and the dismantling of colonial empires. These movements also contributed to the spread of ideas about self-determination and equality, influencing global politics and the formation of new nations.

What role did Mahatma Gandhi play in the Indian independence movement, and what was the nature of his protests?

Mahatma Gandhi played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement as a leader of the Indian National Congress. He led the Indian people in various acts of potent but peaceful protest against British policies, advocating for nonviolent civil disobedience as a means to achieve independence.