Think of an event in history that you find interesting. Develop a question that you would like answered about that event, then write a paragraph. Your paragraph should explain your topic as well as include at least one primary and one secondary source that you would use to help answer your question.

Answer 1

One historical event that I find particularly intriguing is the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, which officially ended World War I. My question regarding this event is: How did the harsh reparations imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles contribute to the economic turmoil that led to World War II? To explore this question, I would utilize the primary source of the actual text of the Treaty of Versailles, which outlines the specific reparations and territorial losses imposed on Germany. Analyzing this document will provide insight into the intentions of the Allied powers and the immediate consequences for Germany. Additionally, I would consult the secondary source "The Economic Consequences of the Peace" by John Maynard Keynes, who critiques the treaty's terms and warns about the potential for economic instability in Germany. Keynes's analysis offers a contemporaneous perspective on how the reparations might have planted the seeds for future conflict, allowing me to better understand the broader ramifications of the treaty.