| The Failure of Peace Efforts |
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After the deadliness of World War I, many democratic countries worked hard to keep peace with other countries and tried to prevent another world war. Many establishments were made to resolve all disputes between countries, although most of them failed and did not prevent the second world war.
Democratic Nations
After World War I, the United States kept out of European conflicts and war. Laws that were passed to keep the United States out of World War II were called the Neutrality Acts. Britain and France could buy weapons from the United States, but they had to pay in cash because some countries already owed the United States money. Also, American merchant ships were not allowed to carry cargo to other countrie's ports.
World War I left Great Britain with a weak economy, so it was sympathetic to Germany's recovery and did not interfere. When Germany took over Rhineland (the area of land between France and Germany) and sent troops there, Great Britain did not do anything about it even thought Germany was violating the Treaty of Versailles. In 1937, Germany signed an appeasement with Great Britain saying that if Germany got Sudenteland, than it would not take over the rest of Czechoslovakia, so Great Britain did not think Germany would take over any more countries.
France's economy was also hurt by World War I, so it was not strong enough to go against Germany by itself. France was unlikely to intervene against Germany because it could not rely on Great Britain or the United State's support. France could not stop the German army from coming into France because Belgium would not let them send troops into their country. If the United States and Great Britain had helped France, Germany could have been stopped before 1939.
Peacemaking Establishments
The League of Nations was established after World War I, by Woodrow Wilson to prevent future wars. Most of the great powers joined it, except for the United States. It was made to settle disputes between countries and to try to stop other countries from taking over countries in the League of Nations. The league's powers were limited to persuasion and usually nothing was done to stop conflict between countries.
The Munich Agreement was established in 1937 to prevent war and to stop Germany from taking over other countries. It was signed by Chamberlain from Great Britain and Hitler from Germany. The agreement said that Germany could have Sudenteland if it did not invade the rest of Czechoslovakia or any other countries. In March of 1939, the Munich Agreement failed, and Germany took over the rest of Czechosolvakia, and later on other countries.
After World War I, many countries signed the Paris Peace Pact, which tried to stop conflicts between countries and tried to prevent war. Over sixty countries signed the pact, including all the great powers. The countries who signed had to renounce war (except wars of self-defense) and had to pledge to resolve all disputes between countries. |