SEE Social Studies Notes (Unit 6: Our Past: History)

Unit 6: Our Past: History

44. Provision of Delhi Agreement

Ans: Following were the provisions of Delhi Agreement:

a) The democratic constitution will be drafted by the constitutional assembly elected by the people within 2 years.

b) King Tribhuvan will remain the legitimate king of Nepal.

c) All the political prisoners will be set free except those who are accused of criminal cases.

d) A ten member cabinet will be formed where five ministers will be from Ranas and five from Nepali Congress to run the daily administration until new constitution is made.

e) Agitators have to hand over all the weapons to the government and stop the movement.

45. What were the causes of downfall of Ranas rule?

Or

What were the causes of the revolution of 2007 BS?

Ans: The causes of the revolution of 2007 BS were:

a) Political Cause:

The Rana rule was tyrannical. No fundamental rights were given to the people. The king and people were neglected. The people who protest Ranas were severely punished. So people were angry with this rule

b) Economic Cause:

There was no industry and no employment. The farmers were exploited. Everywhere there was poverty. Only Ranas and their favourites enjoyed comfortable life.

c) Social Cause:

The social condition was also bad. There were illiteracy, ignorance, superstition, casteism, untouchability, child marriage, polygamy, etc prevailed in the country. Divide and rule was the policy of Ranas.

d) International Cause:

After Second World War, new awareness came to Asia and Africa. There was anti-British struggle in India. Nepali students studying there also participated in the struggle. India was set free. This feeling also helped to start movement in Nepal.

e) The division of Ranas:

The Ranas were divided into three classes, A, B and C. In 1934 A.D. (1991 B.S.), Prime Minister Juddha Shumsher removed the C-class Ranas from the roll of succession, so they had no chance of ever becoming Prime Minister. Many of them turned against the system and supported the movement to end Rana rule.

46. Causes of World War I

1. The Growth of Nationalism:

People in many European countries became extremely proud of their own nation and looked at rival nations with hatred. This aggressive national pride made them ready to fight.

2. Imperialism & Colonization:

After the industrial revolution, European countries wanted colonies to get cheap raw materials and new markets for their goods. Britain, France and Russia started this race first, and later Germany and Italy joined it. The struggle to grab colonies created jealousy and quarrels among them.

3. Absence of Peace Keeping Organization:

Strong nations followed the idea of "Might is Right" and did whatever they wanted, ignoring international law and justice. At that time there was no international body that could settle disputes and stop the dangerous situation.

4. Militarism:

Europe was divided into two rival groups, and each group feared the other. So countries like England, France, Germany and Italy spent a large part of their income on the army. Military training was made compulsory, factories produced war materials and scientists invented new weapons. Germany and England competed to build the biggest navy: whenever Germany added one warship, England added two. This arms race finally ended in war.

5. Immediate Cause:

On 28 June 1914, Franz Ferdinand, the prince who was next in line to rule Austria-Hungary, was visiting Sarajevo in Bosnia with his wife Sophie Chotek. Gavrilo Princip, a member of a secret group called the Black Hand, shot both of them dead. Austria-Hungary told Serbia to ban and crush the Black Hand. Serbia agreed to act against the group but refused to let Austrian officials investigate inside Serbia. A month later, on 28 July 1914, Austria-Hungary attacked Serbia and the war began.

6. Character of William II:

William II, the German emperor, was proud and believed in power politics. His dream was to make Germany the strongest country in the world. He wanted England to give in to all his demands without a fight, which increased the tension between the two countries and helped start the war.

47. Effects of World War I

1. Loss of Life and Properties:

About 65 million soldiers took part in the war, which lasted 1565 days. Around 8.5 million of them died, 20 million were wounded and 6 million were left disabled. Its direct cost was about 186 billion US dollars. Cities, factories, bridges, ships and beautiful places were ruined, and Europe fell into an economic crisis.

2. Treaty of Versailles:

The war formally ended with the Treaty of Versailles, which the Allies and Germany signed on 28^th June 1919 in the Palace of Versailles near Paris. Germany had to give up 13% of its territory, where about 6 million people lived. Article 231 of the treaty held Germany guilty of causing the war and made it responsible for all the damage. Some German land was handed to Denmark, Poland, Lithuania and other countries, and all its colonies went to the Allies.

The treaty also put strict limits on Germany's armed forces. The Rhineland had to be cleared of German troops and stay under Allied control for 15 years. The German army could have only 100,000 soldiers and the navy no more than six warships, and Germany was not allowed to build warships, tanks or aeroplanes. It also had to pay 6,600 million pounds as war damages. Germans felt deeply insulted. Later, Adolf Hitler came to power, refused to obey the treaty, and his aggressive actions became the main cause of the Second World War.

3. Formation of the League of Nations:

To stop such a war from happening again and to build peace, friendship and cooperation among nations, the League of Nations was set up on 10 January 1920. It was based on the idea of US President Woodrow Wilson and had two main aims:

- Collective security

- Promotion of international co-operation

4. Social Changes:

Most European countries made army training compulsory during the war. While men were away fighting, women took over jobs in factories and offices. This made women aware of their rights, and they won the right to vote. People also became less strict about old religious beliefs, trade unions were formed and new factory laws were made.

5. Fall of Absolute Monarchies:

The war brought an end to the kings and emperors of Germany, Austria, Russia and Turkey. In their place, democratic and republican governments were set up in these countries.

6. Emergence of dictatorship:

After the war, unemployment, economic depression and unrest made it hard for democracy to survive. Clever leaders used this situation to take power, and dictatorships were set up in Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia.

48. Causes of World War II

1. Treaty of Versailles:

The peace settlement of 1919 was very harsh on Germany. Germany lost its colonies and a large part of its land, its army was cut to only 100,000 soldiers, it could not make modern weapons, and it was ordered to pay 6,600 million pounds as war damages. The German people felt humiliated and wanted revenge. Adolf Hitler won their support by promising to undo the treaty, and after coming to power he broke its terms one after another. This led the world towards a second war.

2. Failure of the League of Nations:

Formed on 10 January 1920 on the idea of US President Woodrow Wilson, this world body was meant to keep peace. However, the USA itself never became a member, so the League had little strength. It could not stop powerful countries from attacking weaker ones, and its weakness opened the way for the Second World War.

3. Immediate Cause- Attack on Poland by Germany:

In 1939, Hitler asked Poland to hand over Danzig and the Polish Corridor, areas that Germany had lost to Poland under the Treaty of Versailles. Poland refused, so Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939. Two days later, on 3 September 1939, Britain and France entered the war against Germany, and the Second World War started.

4. Ambition for Expansion:

Britain, France and Russia already ruled large areas outside their borders, and Germany, Italy and Japan also wanted to expand. Germany took Austria and Czechoslovakia, Italy captured Ethiopia, Japan invaded Manchuria and the Soviet Union attacked Finland and took part of its land. This hunger for land divided the powers into two hostile camps, the Allies and the Axis, and made war likely.

5. Economic Crisis and Rise of Dictators:

So many young men died in the First World War that factories and farms did not have enough workers. This led to a worldwide economic crisis, and many people starved. In this situation dictators gained power: the Japanese emperor ruled with unlimited power, and Hitler, Mussolini and Franco took control in their countries. They ignored the Treaty of Versailles and nobody could stop them.

6. Nationalism:

Many Europeans wanted revenge on their old enemies and developed an extreme form of patriotism. They thought people of other nations were inferior and treated them as enemies, and they tried to make their own country great by capturing more land.

49. Effects of World War II

1. Loss of Life and Property:

In the six years of the war, 14.6 million soldiers were killed. About 25 million people died slowly from hunger and disease, and nearly 34 million were wounded, many of them disabled for life. The atom bombs dropped on Japan killed about 160,000 people. The USA alone spent 350 billion dollars on the war, and the damage to public property was beyond measure.

2. America as a First Power:

Britain lost many of its colonies and its empire broke apart. Many British and French colonies in Asia and Africa became free. The United States of America rose as the most powerful country in the world.

3. Division of Germany and Cold War:

After the war, Germany was split into East Germany and West Germany. West Germany was placed under the USA, Britain and France, while East Germany was placed under the Soviet Union. The world itself split into two camps: communist countries followed the Soviet Union and capitalist countries followed the USA. The two sides attacked each other with words and rivalry but never fought a direct war, because their power was balanced. This tense relationship is called the Cold War.

4. Establishment of UNO:

The terrible destruction of the war made world leaders realise that humanity needed a strong organization to keep peace and build trust between nations. So the United Nations Organization (UNO) was set up on 24^th October 1945 A.D. as a stronger replacement for the League of Nations.

5. Start of national movements:

The colonial powers of Europe became so weak after the war that they could no longer hold on to their colonies. Freedom movements grew across Asia and Africa, many British and French colonies won independence, and the age of colonial rule came to an end.

S.N.	World War I	S.N.	World War II
1.	It was fought between the two hostile groups: The Alliance (originally Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy) and Triple Entente (France, UK and Russia).	1.	It was fought between the two hostile groups: Allies (UK, USA and USSR) and Axis (Germany, Italy and Japan).
2.	The rivalry between Serbia and Austria-Hungary was the key cause.	2.	German humiliation caused by the Treaty of Versailles was the key cause.
3.	Sarajevo assassination was the immediate cause.	3.	Germany invasion of Poland was the immediate cause.
4.	It was limited mostly to European battlefronts.	4.	It was more widespread and was fought in eastern Asia, Africa and the Pacific, too.
5.	It ran for four years and cost about $ 186 billion directly.	5.	It was fought for 6 years and in larger scale, and cost about $ 1 trillion directly.
6.	It led to emergence of new some countries and establishment of the League of Nations.	6.	It led to the end of colonial rule and establishment of the United Nations.