The Paris peace settlement did not please everyone.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] Level 1 One mark for each relevant point; additional mark for supporting detail
2. [1] Self-determination was an idea of President Wilson.
3. [1] Self-determination featured in Wilson's 14 Points.
4. [1] Self-determination meant people could vote on which country they wanted to be part of.
5. [1] National groups were allowed to form their own states.
6. [1] Italy's frontiers were adjusted on account of national groups.
7. [1] Czechs, Poles and Slovaks formed independent nation states.
8. [1] Plebiscites were held.
9. [1] Some national groups were not given the right of self-determination, for instance the Sudeten Germans.
10. [1] The right to self-determination clashed with the imperial interests of Britain and France.
11. [1] It led to the breakdown of large empires.
12. [6] Level 4 Explains TWO reasons
13. [4-5] Level 3 Explains ONE reason
14. [4] The Treaty of Sèvres was severe on the Ottoman Empire which was to lose control of many provinces and huge areas of land. Parts of the former empire including Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco were now independent. Italy gained Rhodes and Smyrna was lost to the Greeks. This was humiliating to the Turks and very unpopular.
15. [2-3] Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes reasons
16. [1] The Treaty of Sèvres was severe on the Ottoman Empire/led to its break up.
17. [1] Turkey lost control of many provinces and huge areas of land to Greece, Italy and Bulgaria.
18. [1] This was unacceptable to the Turkish nationalists.
19. [1] Smyrna was lost to the Greeks.
20. [1] Britain and France controlled Turkey's finances.
21. [1] Palestine and Iraq became British mandates.
22. [1] Syria and Lebanon became French mandates.
23. [1] There were military restrictions.
24. [1] Turkey lost control of the Dardanelles.
25. [1] The treaty was harsher than the Treaty of Versailles.
26. [1] Level 1 General answer lacking specific contextual knowledge
27. [1] The treaty was harsh/unfair.
28. [10] Level 5 Explains with evaluation of 'how far'
29. [7-9] Level 4 Explanation of both sides
30. [4-6] Level 3 One-sided explanation OR one explanation of both sides 5 to 6 marks
31. [4] The Germans were bitter about the reparations bill. They thought £6.6 billion was too high and that their economy would not recover. Germany had also lost land in the treaty which contained coal mines, such as in the Saar Basin, and the profits from these would have helped to pay the reparations. They felt as though they were being punished twice over.
32. [4] However, there were other terms which also caused bitterness. The terms which meant a reduction in the army to 100 000 with no conscription and no air force brought a loss of pride and resentment. This also contributed to a feeling of insecurity as the proposed size of the army was thought to be too small to defend against a possible French attack.
33. [2-3] Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes
34. [1] They thought the reparation payments were far too high.
35. [1] The German economy was already crippled as a result of war.
36. [1] They were unhappy because they had been deprived of industrial areas such as the Saar.
37. [1] Reparation payments led to hyperinflation in 1923.
38. [1] They were horrified at the harshness and injustice of the Treaty.
39. [1] They did not think they should be treated like a defeated nation.
40. [1] They were forced to sign the War Guilt Clause.
41. [1] They objected to the Diktat.
42. [1] They were not happy that many Germans were now in foreign countries such as Poland.
43. [1] They were not happy at losing their colonies.
44. [1] They were unhappy that Germany was now in two parts.
45. [1] They were unhappy with the reduction in armaments.
46. [1] Level 1 General answer lacking specific contextual knowledge
47. [1] There were many reasons why the Germans were unhappy after the Versailles settlement.