Villa & Zapata: Civil War summary

Villa & Zapata: Civil War summary January 1915 – Villa v. Carranza, Zapata fades out, Obregón fade in. O only picked C because he had no alternative. C and O plotted against each other. V left Mexico, O moved in. Mexico City not happy with O. O was suck in Veracruz … why didn’t V go to Veracruz?! Z is only interested in his own pueblo – no support for V The civil war was completely undefined → one culture and locality in conflict with another locality and culture. Only 3 issues clearly divided Villa and Carranza 1. the role of central government 2. the land reform 3. attitudes towards the USA (C was anti-American, V was pro American.) V was only partly committed to land reform. V wanted to give land to troops C wanted to give land to original owners C lacked V’s personal appeal and magnetism; O’s primary loyalty was to himself. V was losing it, both personally and in the propaganda war. He failed to capitalize on C’s anticlericalism. Benefits from being pro-American did not materialize party because of the outbreak of war in Europe. Villa was being screwed by his people and, he felt, by the US – he lost faith in Wilson. The prices of oil and hemp (which C was in charge of) went up, while the prices of cattle and cotton went down (which V was in charge of). Ángeles started off well in the north-east, but the fog on Jan 8, 1915 made the battle chaos. Fierro and Contreras lost in an engagement in Guadalajara. Fierro was piiiiiiissed. V won the battle of Sayula – last victory on the battlefield. Villa was seriously defective in two areas: 1. Dispersed his superior strength in too many places at the same time 2. He has thus broken the principle of the concentration of force Ángeles kept giving Villa good advice, Villa kept rejecting it. (April 5 – 7: Celaya, April 13 – 15: Celaya again, April 29 – June 5: Trinidad) A shell tore off Obregón’s right arm, he tried to shoot himself, but his gun was empty. He was taken to a hospital and survived. Villa fell to Carranza & Obregón. O was the most important man in Mexico. Villa began to expropriate funds from previously friendly landowners, foreign capitalists and Americans. Villa and men ran away into the mountains. “In three years he had gone from guerrilla fighter to the pinnacle of power and back again. Nobody could have guessed that he was about to launch an endeavor that would make him front-page news across the world.” Oooh ominous…

Origins WWII OPVLs

3.1 Clemenceau outlines the French position towards Germany at the Paris Peace Conference This report stems from the discussions between the French and the Americans about the punishments to be put on the Germans at the “Council of Four” meeting. The purpose of this document is to report the French position towards Germany at this conference. The larger purpose of this document is to persuade readers that the Council was doing their best to be fair to Germany, even though they were worried that the Germans would not agree to any reparations. This documents is valuable because it was written by Clemenceau, the French representative present at the Council of Four. This document is limited because there is no historical perspective, and Clemenceau is representing and reporting on behalf of his own country, so there may be bias so that he will look good. 3.4 Reparations against Germany: an American view This document is the opinion of an American delegate that attended the Paris Peace Conference. The purpose of this document is to provide an American view of the Treaty and the reparations. The larger purpose of this document is to provide a specific example of the general position that the Paris Peace Conference contributed worldwide turmoil after the war. This document is valuable because it was written by a man who attended the Paris Peace Conference. It is even more valuable because this man was able to provide historical perspective on this event. This document is limited, though, because is the opinion of one man, from one specific country and he make assumptions about German psychology.

Origins WWII summary (page 54-64)

The League of Nations and the limits of international co-operation,1919-33: The League of Nations was created to create new international relations. 32 allies and 12 neutral countries were the 1st to be admitted. Described as a "victors club" by those who were not invited to join. No US entry, mixed success. The World Disarmament Conference: The League failed to achieve a reduction in armaments on land. 1933 Germany left League. No progress made in regards to disarmament. THE 'GERMAN PROBLEM' DURING THE 1920s The political climate of the Weimar Republic: The Weimar Republic formed out of unstable condition after German defeat. The Republic was deeply flawed, unstable, fights nightly. The 'great inflation' and reparations: Financial crisis in Germany was blamed on Allies, but it has been shown by some historians that the financial problem was the result of heavy German borrowing with the preconceived notion that Germany would be victorious. The German mark value dived: scam? The Germans then had a convincing reason not to pay reparations. The Dawes plan & Treaty of Locarno: German took a conciliatory approach that produced quick results. The Treaty of Locarno stated that Germany would accept the term placed on the Western frontiers and would win the immediate of the Allied occupation of the Rhineland city of Cologne. Germany joined the League of Nations. Privately Stressamann had expansionist motives. The threat to German democracy: Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party: 1924-1929 was called the Golden Age of the Weimar Republic, but there was still much budding trouble. Hitler (lurk lurk lurk) joined the Germany Army in World War I and found his two loves: army and war. When Germany lost he entered politics. Feb 1920 Nazi party formed. Jailed for 5 years for high treason. Wrote Mein Kampf and described his 4 goals: 1. Destruction of the Treaty of Versailles 2. Gain territory in Eastern Europe 3. Include all German speakers in to Third Reich 4. Create a 'racially pure' German state to be more powerful in Europe THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES The Wall Street Crash: The world economy was dependent on the US economy, when it crashed in 1929, so did European economy. The Manchurian Crisis: Sept 1931: Japanese army occupied Manchuria, a providence of China. Culmination of long standing dispute between China and Japan. Hitler's Rise to power: After stock market crash, Germany collapsed. Brüning lost support, called for popular election (total failure). Germans were afraid of Nazi or Communist dictatorship. When Hitler challenged von Hindenburg in the election, Hitler was a close second. 30 January 1933 - von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as chancellor. This ended illusions that the German problem had been solved.

IA Topics

I have two ideas for my IA, but I don't have a specific question or focus for either idea yet. 1. The Falklands/Malvinas Conflict 2. Perón and Argentina. (I'm not sure if I can do this one, because my EE topic is on Eva Perón and Juan Perón is in there too)

The Convergence of the Twain summary

Zapatistas were out of place in Mexico City. Zapata was not "anarchist" in the typical sense, he just wanted a very simple life. He was more rural anarchist with "free villages" mentality. He kept intellectuals in their place, in contrast to Villa. He was NOT COMMUNIST. Zapata had 4 problems: 1. Couldn't expand his revolution to Southern Mexico 2. Banditry ruled through the lower ranks 3. On a different page with the other revolutionaries 4. Couldn't see an alliance with Villa Banditry: call for social reform or just outright stealing? Some bandits copied Zapata to look legit. Mexican revolution: collectivism vs. capitalism Extremely hard to define the classes of the revolution. Zapata wasn't against capitalism, but wanted to keep old ways alive and not just live for profits. Zapata didn't want to ally himself with Villa because he had no clear cut goals & was too contradictory and easy to corrupt (or change his goals) Zapata only wanted land reform in Morelas (social) Villa wanted political change and to benefit financially in some way (political) Zapata & Villa met very very few times. Both men made different political statements with their outfits and army garb. Both men agreed they didn't want to be president. Zapata hated politicians, Villa wasn't educated. They wanted a "puppet president" they could control. Villa's position on land reform was vague, whereas land reform is all Zapata was fighting for. Pictures of Villa in the presidential chair convinced the world that Villa was ruler. Zapata left Mexico City ASAP. They agreed to fight Carranza but stay in their own regions. Both Villa & Zapata refusing power led to their downfall. Villa had a strong army without goals, Zapata had goals without enough army. No alliance. Villa's men began to come undone and pillage Mexico City. The people didn't like him anymore. Villa didn't respect the president. People were disillusioned with Villistas. Villa put a hit on Gutierrez because he was plotting with Obregón and Carranza. Tobles tipped him off and he escaped. Gutierrez's "3rd Way" was destroyed. Villa and Zapata couldn't cooperate. Villa was extremely self destructive in 1914.

Origins WWII summary (page 43 - 53)

Europe in Ruins

Europe was devastated by World War 1.

-Collapse of world trade, unstable currencies, inflation, unemployment, agricultural depression and mounting debts

-Anti-German sentiments & feelings of revenge on the part of German soldiers prevented any peaceful negotiations and further divided Europe.

The Aims of the Allies

All of the major decision makers (the “Council of Four”) had different aims after the war.

-The US wanted idealistic reform (such as a new order of international relations), while France wanted to severely punish German with demilitarization and high reparation costs.

-The British wanted to ensure limited involvement in future wars and to be in the middle of the balance of power, while the Italians were looking for more territory and power, as well as compensation for their high losses.

The Treaty of Versailles

Germans had high prices to pay for the costs of war.

-The German army was reduced to roughly the size of Greece’s’ army, while their navy was the size of Argentina’s. They lost 13% or their territory, plus they had to pay £6,600 million in reparations.

-Many Germans felt these conditions were extremely unfair and this began the revival of German nationalism.

Eastern European & Turkish Settlements

The idea of national self-determination created more instability in Europe than before WWI.

-Because of the fall of the Habsburg Empire, a political vacuum existed. The former states were now weak, divided, in poor economic condition, had little industry, had weak currencies, produced inefficient agriculture, and had high debts & low investments.

-Foreign relations were even more tense:

Hungary didn’t like the “Little Entente” (Czechoslovakia, Romania and Yugoslavia)

The Polish and Czechs didn’t like each other

Yugoslavia and Romania didn’t like each other

The Non-European Settlement

Imperial rule was expanded and created more conflicts.

-Turkish & German colonies were “mandated territories” and placed under the victors’ supervision. National groups in the Middle East, Africa and India were told that national self-determination did not apply to them.

-Japan took control of German colonies in the Asian-Pacific region in 1914 and expected to maintain control of them, while China expected the territories to be given to them because of the aid they provided to the Allies.