Powerpoint Year 11

1. Key Question: How successful were attempts to improve international relations from 1924–29? Focus Point: Understand the aims and explain impacts of international treaties and conferences: Dawes Plan (1924); Locarno Treaties (1925); Kellogg-Briand (1928); Young Plan (1929).

2. Key Terms • Dawe’s Plan: Financial aid package provided by the USA to Germany in 1924. • International conferences: meetings, often lasting a few days, which is organized on a particular subject between different countries. • International treaties: formal agreements, contracts, or other written instruments that establishes obligations between two or countries.

3. Dawes Plan • The Dawes Plan was signed in 1924 and contains a set of recommendations to tackle Germany’s post-1918 economic problems. • The conference was Chaired by the American banker, Charles Dawesand was attended by representatives from the USA, Britain, France, Italy and Belgium.

4. Four main elements of Dawe’s plan 1. It was agreed that French and Belgian troops should withdraw from the Ruhr as quickly as possible and that the region should be returned to full German control. 2. Germany’s reparation payments were restructured; although no reduction was made to the total amount Germany would have to pay in reparations, it was agreed that its annual payments would be restricted to what ‘she could reasonably afford’.

5. 3.It was agreed that Germany’s national bank, the Reichsbank, should be restructured and supervised by representatives of the other countries attending the conference. 4.Germany received a sizeable foreign loan, mainly from the USA; this was intended to stabilise the German economy so that Germany would be in a better position to meet its reparations requirements in the future.

6. Why were these agreements made? 1.French and Belgian troops were occupying German territory, effectively an act of war which posed a clear threat to peace in Europe. 2.Germany claimed that it was unable to make the reparation payments as required under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. 3.USA continued to insist on full repayment of the loans it had made to its allies during the First World War; Britain and France argued that they could only afford to repay these debts if they received reparation payments from Germany.

7. Did the Dawe’s plan bring peace? The Dawes Plan marked a significant change in French policy towards Germany. Previously, France had adopted a hard-lineattitude, insisting that Germany paid reparations on time and in full. This plan made French willing to compromise and opened the way for further negotiations, designed recommendations to reduce tensions between France and Germany, thereby enhancing stability within Europe.

8. Activity 1. Why do you think France was willing to compromise in 1924 when it had steadfastly refused to do so in 1922? 2.The USA was following an isolationist policy during the 1920s. Why, then, did US representatives play such a major role in devising the Dawes Plan? 3. Class discussion- Individual students are to present their answers.

9. Home Work: Research Task • Research one of these(Locarno Treaties (1925); Kellogg-Briand (1928); Young Plan (1929). international treaties and conferences and take note of the following key points: • • key countries involved • • the reason for the agreement • • key terms • • whether this agreement was likely to bring about peace • • any weaknesses which are apparent in these agreements.