The Economic Consequences of the Peace · Character

America

The distant New World power whose food supplies and financial strength Europe depends on, yet whose emissaries often misread the continent's fragility.

supporting

Also known as herself

First appearance: the economic consequences of the peace

As a supporting figure in The Economic Consequences of the Peace, America is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

America is mentioned as also being somewhat unconscious of Europe's plight, though less so than England.

In the storyI: IntroductoryOpen this moment free

America appears in Keynes's argument as both Europe's lifeline and its blind spot, the source of food on which a shattered continent depends and a nation that, like England, could remain unconscious of the rumblings abroad. Her representatives at Paris were naturally a little ignorant of the true point at issue, and where American interests were not seriously involved their criticism grew slack. That combination of indispensable resources and imperfect understanding makes America central to why the Peace's economic provisions went through as they did.

See America in I: Introductory Book page

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Character Web

9 connections

A slice of how America sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Economic Experts & Officials
Key Peace Negotiators
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Closing

In this chapter, the emotional/psychological peak occurs as Keynes directly confronts the reader's potential d…

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In the story

America appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

I: Introductory
America is mentioned as also being somewhat unconscious of Europe's plight, though less so than England.
Europe Before the War
Key supplier of cheap food to Europe, but its domestic demand was approaching production, threatening Europe's food security.
IV: The Relation of the Old World to the New
Represented as the New World providing cheap food and resources; its domestic consumption is approaching production, threatening Europe's supply.
The Conference and the Terms of the Treaty
Expected to show magnanimity; criticized for having no constructive proposals for Europe's economic recovery.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for America unlock in the free preview.

See America in the economic consequences of the peace

See America in I: Introductory