Synopsis of Strachan’s The First World War The Great War. World War I. The First World War. Whichever way one chooses to label the conflict between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire and the British Empire, France, Russia, the United States (alongside numerous other allied countries) from 1914-1918, the questions of the war’s origins, methods, and outcomes are brought are asked. How can this seemingly unnecessary, feudal war also be considered the turning point for change in the 20th century? Strachan discusses this paradox in the introduction of his book, The First World War, writing, “On the one hand it was an unnecessary war fought in a manner that defied common sense, but on the other it was the war that shaped the world in which we still live.” Strachan is not quick to label a particular country or group as the primary cause for triggering the war. All countries engaged in military action believed they were fighting for distinct ideals important to their people, each nation having their own idea of why the war was being fought. The Germans believed they were defending their borders, and subsequently their freedoms, by fighting. Not unlike the rest of Europe, Germany viewed Russia--the “anti-Europe”--as the main enemy. Prior to the war, Great Britain was satisfied with the current state of the world as they strived to maintain the status-quo. Once in the war, the British fought to uphold international law and the rights of smaller nations for which they
This paper focuses on the underlying causes of world war I instead of just immediate causes. In this article, I will answer the question what were the underlying causes of world war I. ("DBQ: What Were the Underlying ...", 2010, p. Doc 1) Some of these causes consist of militarism, nationalism, and imperialism. The immediate causes of the war were the ones that set it off but the underlying causes are the ones that had been building up over time. ("DBQ: What Were the Underlying ...", 2010, p. Doc 1)
World War I, or “The Great War”, began in 1914 and ended in 1918. The devastation witnessed in those four years alone, caused nearly 9 million people to die and millions more crippled, grief stricken, maimed, or psychologically scarred. Considered by some to be the first man-made catastrophe of the twentieth century, many scholars still debate over the main underlying causes of World War I. Many things contributed to the war, changing the lives of many people, many of them still evident today. Beginning only as a European conflict, gradually it developed into a world war.
Great War, also known as The First World War, lasted for four year (1914 to 1918). It brought a huge development of war technics and weapons. More number of countries had been involved in the Great War than any previous war. It involved the mobilization of the whole nations, not just an enormous army that turned the war into a “total war”. (Clare 6) However, historians are still arguing about the major cause of the World War I. The major cause will be one of the four long-term causes of WWI, which are Militarism, Alliance, Imperialism, and Nationalism. In my opinion, the two major causes would be Alliance and Nationalism. Alliance is an association between two or more countries for mutual benefits that formed with different treaties, while
The First World War of 1914-1918, also known as the Great War, was the first total war in history. What began as a European struggle over the balance of power between the triple alliance of France, Britain and Russia on one side and the central powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary on the other, soon became a global conflict that involved the imperial powers of Europe, their colonies and lands such as the Ottoman Empire, Japan and the United States. Although the sheer number of countries involved in the conflict is enough to describe the First World War as a mass war, what makes it total is the fact that it was waged not only against the enemy’s armies, but also against the civilian
World War I, also known as the “Great War” was a global affair that started in Europe. This tragedy began August 1st, 1914 with Germany declaring war on Russia for multiple reasons. The acronym M.A.I.N is used to analyze the war and the four causes for why it happened. M-militarism, which was building a stronger military that was always prepared for war. A-alliances, were agreements between countries to keep peace among the Great Powers. I-imperialism, when nations seek to take over other countries politically, economically, and socially. Last N-nationalism, which is believing people should be loyal to their own country or nation. The top two underlying causes of World War I are alliances and nationalism because of how they effectively impacted
In 1914, European countries went to war with themselves. When the war broke out, it was expected to be done with quickly. However, much to Europe’s dismay, the war lasted for over four long years, with the lives of millions of soldiers and civilians being lost in the battle. After the war, Europeans questioned how this war came to be. There were many speculations and opinions on what caused the event known as World War One. However, only three of the most important reasons will be discussed.
After a prolonged 43 years of peace in Europe between the major powers, things went sour. Tensions between the major countries arose, and the peace was destroyed by one of the most brutal conflicts in the world’s history: “The Great War”. The main countries entered The First World War because they were motivated by four things: militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism. Each of the major power countries will enter the war for one of these reasons.
At the turn of the twentieth century Europe seemed to enjoy a period of peace and progress. Yet below the surface, several forces were at work that would lead Europe into the “Great War”. Some of the causes of WW1 were Nationalism, Militarism, Imperial Rivalries, Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and Alliance.
Before World War 1, Otto Von Bismarck had to Otto-matically unite the German states. World War 1, known as the “Great War” before 1940 was the world's first global conflict which lasted from 1914-1918. Ten million soldiers had died in the battle fields and another twenty million soldiers had been wounded by the end of the war in November of 1918. The war contented the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire against the Allied forces of Great Britain, United States, France, Russia, and Italy. This raises the question, “What were the underlying causes of World War I?”
World War One was an event that devastated the globe in such a way that was felt by all of the individual nations of the world. Many events prior to the beginnings of the war acted as a precursor to the chaos. The late eighteenth century and all throughout the nineteenth century was an era of revolution. Ordinary citizens and others hoping for liberty and justice in all of their respective nations found their voices. Out of the great “new” societies the people established arose a mutual sense of nationalism and also a state of vulnerability. The vulnerability factor brought about a system of alliances, whereas the snarky nationalism birthed a period of competitive colonization and festered until it became a dangerous weapon known as militarism.
An assassination that threw an entire continent into war, a brutal bloodshed that stretched over four year, and ten million lives lost. The morale of entire countries beaten into a tired submission. This is was what WWI left for Europe at it’s close in 1918. And these are the most popular details of this war. And although WWII is often spoke of more often and televised more than it’s predecessor, it’s importance and relevance does not waver. If it were not for this war, entire empires may still be in place. One could argue that if it were not for this war, Russia may still be under imperial rule. This one war was a spark in a flame that kept burning in Europe long after it ended. And though the assassination
In this essay, I will be analyzing the?cause of World War 1?utilizing President Woodrow Wilson?s Inauguration Address 4 March 1913, and Crown Prince Wilhelm on the Prospect of War, 1913. The key issues, which will be examined, are the visions and plans that each leader proposed to their perspective countrymen. Whereas Wilson?s paper focused on domestic issues and moral responsibilities, and Wilhelm reached out with his ideals of imperialism, nationalism and militarism in that order, which are found by many historians to be the key to creating and maintaining war.
The First World War, also known as the Great War of 1914-1918, is not an event that manifested overnight; it was the result of ever growing tension among European nations. This conflict was brought about by factors such as, nationalism, militarism, and the Alliance system. An upheaval such as the First World War was witness to the emergence of the glorification of war, struggle, despair, destruction and immense loss of life. The First World War brought about a defining moment in the history of the modern consciousness. The modern world was born anew with a self-conscious awareness of plight and modern society. This awareness has been characterized by a profound sense of the differences between past and present.
It can be argued convincingly that the United States emerged from World War I as the world superpower because of U.S intervention and President Woodrow Wilson’s diplomatic leadership. America had now become the ‘saviour of Europe.’ The United States left World War I with a major confidence boost. The war resulted in the death of empires, the birth of nations and in national boundaries being redrawn around the world. It ushered in prosperity for some countries while it brought economic depression to others. It influenced literature, changed culture and politics; social and economic climate was also impacted.
After the First World War (1914-1919), the world was faced with the questions - who was responsible and what was reason for the outbreak of the war. Ultimately it was agreed on the 28 June 1919 that “the Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage” from the First World War. However, there have been many other interpretations on whom and what was responsible for the war. On the one hand, some historians would agree with David Lloyd George’s notion of all “the nations slithered over the brink into the boiling cauldron of war”, however, on the contrary, others would agree with Fischer in arguing that Germany’s aggressive foreign policy was responsible for the First World War. Whether you agree with Lloyd George or Fischer, it is important to understand some of the other possible reasons for the outbreak of the First World War – including the growth of nationalism and imperialism, the alliances within Europe and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Although this essay will argue that Germany’s aggressive foreign policy was responsible for the outbreak of the First World War, it will also illustrate why other historians have argued against that notion.