Tag Archives: disarmament
The Big Three at the Paris Peace Conference
This revision podcast is aimed at GCSE and IGCSE History students, although AS and IB History students may find it helpful. The episode focuses on the background to the Paris Peace Conference. You may also wish to look through the Paris Peace Conference PowerPoint.
The revision podcast outlines the ‘Big Three’ (David Lloyd George, George Clemenceau and Woodrow Wilson) and the different aims that they each had. Their aims are explained with reference to the attitude of people at home, the effect of the war, and the arguments for and against treating Germany harshly. Specific details are given of the 14 Points, along with disagreements between the three leaders.
The terms and effects of the Treaty of Versailles
This GCSE and IGCSE History revision podcast focuses on the terms and effects of the Treaty of Versailles. You may also wish to look through the Paris Peace Conference PowerPoint. In this IGCSE and GCSE History revision podcast, the mnemonic GARGLE is used to outline the terms of the Treaty of Versailles:
- Guilt
- Arms
- Reparations
- German Territory
- League of Nations
This is followed by an assessment of Germany’s reaction, and presents a number of specific examples that could be used to explain why Germany was unhappy with the terms. The final part of the podcast looks at how to approach an exam question about ‘how fair’ the Treaty of Versailles really was. This is done by presenting evidence for and against the Treaty that could be used in an answer.
‘Make Germany Pay’ – the Treaty of Versailles
An overview of the background to the Paris Peace Conference in 1918, and an explanation of the aims of the ‘Big Three’. It goes on to describe the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and Germany’s reaction to them.
How successful were the League of Nations’ attempts at disarmament in the 1920s?
This short video is designed to help GCSE and IGCSE students write a balanced answer to explain how successful the League of Nations’ attempts at disarmament were in the 1920s. The video shows how a 1-10 scale can be used to give a point ‘score’ to the League’s overall attempts, which can then be translated into words. It concludes with a skeleton essay structure, which helps to structure a balanced answer.
For a more detailed video on how to answer a question about the broader factors affecting the success of the League of Nations in the 1920s, check out this video and this podcast about the League of Nations in the 1920s.
You can access all my videos at www.youtube.com/mrallsop
How successful was the League of Nations in the 1920s?
This video explains the technique to answer a ‘how far’ type question at GCSE/IGCSE.
This particular example focuses on the question ‘how successful was the League of Nations in the 1920s’, but the format can be applied to other questions of this type. You should check out this podcast about the League of Nations in the 1920s prior to watching this video.
Writing a balanced answer, in which you recognise both sides of the argument, is a simple yet important skill to develop. I also explain how you can use the ‘Point, Evidence, Explanation’ paragraph format to structure your answer.
For a video focusing specifically on how to assess the success of the League’s attempts at disarmament in the 1920s, check out this post.
You can access all my videos at www.youtube.com/mrallsop
The League of Nations in the 1930s
This GCSE and IGCSE revision podcast focuses on the period following the Wall Street crash in 1929, when the world was plunged into a huge economic depression which ultimately led to strained relations between countries as they tried to survive at all costs. While the 1920s saw presented a mix of both success and failure for the League of Nations, the 1930s arguably saw its complete collapse.
The first section of the podcast looks at the Manchurian Crisis. Beginning with an explanation of its causes, the episode goes on to describe the League’s response and the effect that this had on the long-term reputation of the League. This is followed by a brief description of the World Disarmament Conference of 1932-33.
The second part of the podcast focuses on the Abyssinia Crisis. Again beginning with the causes of the crisis, the podcast then describes the League’s response. Reference is made to the immensely damaging Hoare-Laval Pact, followed by an explanation of how the League’s failure to deal decisively with Mussolini’s aggression against Abyssinia rendered the League of Nations powerless to deal with Hitler’s subsequent aggression.
The major events of the 1930s for the League of Nations including the Manchuria Crisis, the World Disarmament Conference and the Abyssinia Crisis.
The collapse of the Soviet Union
These two videos detail the events following Gorbachev coming to power in the USSR, and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union.
The first clip opens with an overview of the USSR’s political, economic and social situation in the 1980s. In response, Gorbachev introduced the policies of perestroika and glasnost. The impact of new technology including satellite television and extensive telephone networks is examined in terms of its impact on the Soviet Union. The rest of the video looks at the discussions that took place between the USSR and the USA’s President Reagan with regards the nuclear arms race and, more importantly, the issue of disarmament.
The second video begins with an explanation of why total independence for the Soviet States was unacceptable to the leadership. The power struggle between Yeltsin and Gorbachev is then presented, along with details of the coup that led to Gorbachev’s house arrest and subsequent release thanks to Yeltsin. The clip ends with the Slav states decalaring independence from the USSR, followed by an illuminating interview with President Bush who received Gorbachev’s final phone call as General Secretary of the Soviet Union on Christmas Day, 1991.
