World War I : The Aging Political, Economic, And Governmental Systems Of The World

Decisions for War, 1914-1917 by Richard Hamilton and Holger Herwig investigates the origins of the First World War detailing individual country’s reasons for entering the war. Historians at War by Anthony Adamthwaite explores how scholars have understood the origins of the Second World War throughout varying times and differing national view points. Both works share a common theme of determinism; a retrospective notion placed on historical events by historians that Europe was inescapably predestined to go to war and that nothing nor anyone could inhibit that. Both remark that this popular approach does a disservice into the explanation of war as it does not accurately depict the economic and social agency present in Europe at the time. In

Whitney, Craig R. “World War I Why It Still Matters.” New York Times Upfront 4 May 2009: 24-27. Print.

The Progressive Era began in 1890 and came to a close around the end of World War I in 1919. As the name suggests, it was an era of modernization and change for Americans. “America was growing, expanding, booming, and providing opportunities to join forces with industrialism and commerce and to grow along with the country” (Anderson, David 6). However, the rapid speed of population growth in cities magnified problems of poverty, disease, violence, and corruption. With an increase in jobs, competition also arose amongst citizens who believed that “both wealth and happiness [would] inevitably come to the moral and industrious” (White 1). Despite being characterized by reform, urbanization, and industrialism, the Progressive Era saw the loss of individualism; workers struggled for autonomy, skilled craftsmen were replaced, and mass culture eclipsed small, intimate towns, showing that in order to move forward, there needed to be a step back.

World War I the first of its kind would mark an entire generation; could what today is known as the lost generation have been avoidable or was President Woodrow Wilson just prolonging the inevitable by his neutrality. The following will guide you through a brief outline of the WWI and how one man 's justifications sent an entire nation to war.

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.

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.

From 1890 to World War I, U.S experienced an era of social unrest, racial concerns, and questioning of true democracy. Many of these problems arise from the economic problems faced by growing American middle class. Because economy and politics are close linked, political parties and party platforms were inevitability affected by these changes in social patterns. A new political party, populists’ party, gained widespread acknowledgement from Americans while democrats and republicans set out to remake their platforms to fit the ideals of the common man. Faced with growing economic and expansion problems in American society, these three major influential parties of the era had their own distinct economic visions as well as similar interests as time progressed on.

Wars have immensely contributed to human history for thousands of years, becoming highly destructive usually for the means of gain. The First World War, also known as ‘the Great War’ was a truly global war centred in Europe. The causes of one of the most destructive wars in human history are still debated to this day. Some historians have come up with a list of multiple causes of the war. However, experts have identified some of the primary causes of the war, including the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, militarism, alliances, imperialism and nationalism. The causes of the truly deadly war, sending ripples of shock throughout Europe and the world, can be summarised into four points, and the start of the war pinpointed to one bullet from a young Serbians gun.

The United States tried to stay neutral when war broke out in Europe in 1914, but the Germans violated their pledge with the United States; therefore, the United States was forced to enter the war against Germany. World War I brought a drastic change in America’s social and economic life. World War I is the first war to request mobilization of an entire population and economy. World War I brought a great demand in food, production of weaponries, money, and soldiers. The cooperation of businesses leaders, citizens, and agencies, composed of government officials, helped the government provide assistance and capability. For instance, businesses would offer their services at a low price. The War Industries Board and the National War Labor Board

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.

World War I had many negative effects that fell like dominos. Students who have taken a history class has learned about the Great Depression and its impact on the United States. America and many other countries across the ocean, like Europe, became fractured during this time period. The balance of power in Europe was changed, and many countries were badly affected by World War I. At this time, an outsider looking into this situation described the Eastern Hemisphere as it “had damaged beyond repair.” After the war, Europe built itself back up in the industrial area. The twentieth century is considered a “new phase of world history” due to the pre and post actions of World War I. World War I at first started as a civil war in Europe but then

“The Guns of August” by Barbara W. Tuchman is a military history non-fictional account of the beginning of World War I and was published in 1962. The book is based from firsthand accounts, official communications, and statements made by government officials and military leaders following the war. The author details the political atmosphere which lead to “the great war” and follows through the first steps of the campaigns up until the point where the stagnation of trench warfare took hold. An analysis is presented throughout the pages which outlines the hubris and nationalistic pride that caused the first truly global conflict and carnage on a scale never before seen. We start with the political atmosphere of Europe at the turn of the century

The world of the early 20th century was a brewing cesspit of nationalism and militarism coupled with isolationism and web of alliances. One might have noted if they lived at such a t time that war was inevitable, but no one was quite sure how such a conflict could arise after many of the world powers had consolidated in military alliances with each other. The ultimate irony of this mindset is that the alliances that were meant to bring about endless peace, would lead to the greatest war ever seen on the face of the earth. The forging of these alliances divided the prewar world powers in half, which only heightened any instances of conflict between each side. The ability for anything that normally wouldn’t be an international incident before

World War I and World War II are the largest military conflicts in history. In 1919, Europe attempted to reconstruct the damage left by WWI. After WWI, with the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was left destroyed and destabilized, which eventually laid out the foundation for WWII. The harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles led to the aggression of Germany. The Treaty of Versailles was supposed to bring about peace, but Marshall Foch, generalissimo of the Allied Armies in France believed that instead, it was an armistice for twenty years. The causes of WWII can easily be traced back to the unresolved issues of WWI, thus bringing about the idea of the “Thirty Years War.” WWII is the second half of a longer “Thirty Years War because the first half, or WWI, caused economic instability, disintegration of the European order, political and social unrest and psychological damage. The causes of WWII were aggression of Germany and the appeasement that attempted to deal with the aggression, failure of the League of Nations, collapse of three major Empires, Germany’s repudiation of the Treaty of Versailles, and the Great Depression. Ultimately, these causes can be traced back to the unresolved issues of WWI.

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.