What is a key legacy of World War I for borders and national self-determination?

• A. The postwar borders largely followed ethnic lines, preventing future conflicts
• B. The League of Nations established borders based on ethnic self-determination in every case
• C. Redrawn borders, often ignoring ethnic composition, contributed to later conflicts
• D. The postwar settlement returned all territories to their original rulers

Answer: (C)

After World War I, leaders aimed to honor national self-determination, but the borders that were drawn were negotiated among victorious powers and often cut across where people actually lived. This produced new states that were multi-ethnic or that included sizable minority communities, leaving groups outside the lines of their national territory or within awkward, contentious boundaries. The result was a patchwork that sowed minority grievances and future instability, fueling tensions and conflicts in the interwar period and beyond. So the lasting impact on borders and self-determination was that redrawn borders, often ignoring ethnic composition, contributed to later conflicts.