The Mandate System
IB 20th Century World History
What were the geopolitical
and economic impact of the
treaties on Europe; the
establishment and impact of
the mandate system?
Impact of the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles: Clemenceau was voted out
of office in the elections of January 1920.
French Field Marshal Ferdinand Foch, declared,
"This is not Peace. It is an Armistice for twenty
years."
• America opposed to the Treaty of Versailles and
the League of Nations.
• US Congress passed the Knox-Porter
Resolution bringing an end to hostilities between
the United States and the Central Powers.
Knox Porter Resolution
• Signed by
President Warren
G. Harding
• July 2, 1921
• It officially ended
US involvement in
WWI
Treaty of Versailles impact on
Germany
• Germans denounced the treaty—particularly
the war guilt clause—as an insult to the
nation's honor.
• Germany's Chancellor, Phillip Schneidmann
refused to sign the treaty and resigned.
• The German economy was weak and only a
small percentage of reparations was paid.
• Germany eventually stopped paying the
reparations. As a result French and Belgian
forces invaded and occupied the Ruhr.
Impact of Treaty of Saint Germain
• (Dealt with Austria remember)
The vast reduction of population,
territory and resources of the new
Austria relative to the old empire
wreaked havoc on the economy
of the new nation.
Impact of the Treaty of Trianon
• (Dealt with Hungary Remember)
• Addressed some nationality issues, but also
sparked new ones.
• After the new borders had been established,
a majority of the 3.3 million Hungarians who
lived in now-foreign lands were situated just
outside the new border lines and were
unhappy.
Mandate System
• A League of Nations mandate refers to
territories transferred from the control of one
country to another following WW I.
• The mandate system was established under
Article 22 of the League of Nations.
• All the mandates were previously controlled by
states defeated in WW I, principally Germany
and the Ottoman Empire.
Class A Mandates
• The mandates were divided into three
groups: Class A, B, & C
• Class A mandates
• Class A mandates were areas formerly
controlled by the Ottoman Empire that were
recognized as independent nations but were
provisionally recognized subject to a lead
country until they are able to stand alone.
Examples of Class A Mandates
• Mesopotamia (United Kingdom), which
became the independent kingdom of Iraq.
• Syria (France) After the termination of the
French Mandate, to independent nations
were formed (Syria and Lebanon)
Class B Mandates
• Class B mandates
• Class B mandates were all former German
territories in the Sub-Saharan regions of
West and Central Africa, which were
deemed to require a greater level of control
by the mandatory power. The mandatory
power was forbidden to construct military or
naval bases within the mandates.
Example of Class B Mandates
• Ruanda-Urundi (Belgium) became two
separate nations of Rwanda and Burundi
after independence
Class C mandates
• Class C mandates
• Class C mandates, including South-West
Africa and the South Pacific Islands, were
considered to be best administered under
the laws of the Mandatory as integral
portions of its territory.
• They essentially became colonies of the
Mandates.
• The Class C mandates were former
German possessions.
Examples of Class C Mandates
• former German New Guinea became the
Territory of New Guinea (Australia/United
Kingdom)
• former German Samoa (New Zealand/UK)
• South-West Africa (South Africa/UK)