ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Aftermath of World War I

After World War I ended in 1918, many countries were left devastated. People had lost their homes, their money, and their families. The war had also caused a lot of damage to buildings, bridges and roads. Many countries were left with huge debts because they had borrowed a lot of money to fund the war.

The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, which was meant to bring peace to Europe. The treaty declared Germany responsible for starting the war and made them pay huge reparations to compensate for the damage caused during the war. The treaty also forced Germany to disarm their army and give up some of their land to other countries.

However, the Treaty of Versailles was very unpopular in Germany, as they felt they were being unfairly blamed for the war. This led to a rise in extreme nationalist groups, such as the Nazi party, who blamed the government for their problems and promised to make Germany great again.

The aftermath of World War I also saw the rise of new political systems such as communism, fascism, and democracy. Countries like Russia, which became the Soviet Union, adopted communism as their political ideology, while Italy and Germany became fascist states. Many other countries, such as the United States, United Kingdom and France remained democratic.

The war had a huge impact on society, especially on women. With many men at war, women were forced to take up jobs that were traditionally done by men. This paved the way for women's suffrage and led to greater gender equality.

In conclusion, the aftermath of World War I was a time of great change and instability. Countries were left in debt, new political ideologies emerged, and women's roles in society were transformed. The treaty that was meant to bring peace ultimately led to the rise of extremist groups, which would later lead to World War II.