The WW1 erupted in the year 1914 and continued for about four years. The main participating countries were from Europe, N. America, Middle East, as well as other nations. The war was fought between two alliances, that is, the Central Powers versus the Allies. The Central Powers majorly comprised Germany, Turkey, as well as Austria-Hungary while the Allies was made up of France, Russia, Japan, Great Britain, Italy, as well as the U.S, which joined later in 1917 towards the end of the war. The WW1 was unique in its nature, marked with mass human killings, property destruction, as well as the collapse of powerful dynasties. The war came to a stop when their antagonist, Allies in 1918, defeated the Central Powers (alliance).
The key cause of WW1 was the Sarajevo brutal killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in late June 1914. However, historians reveal that there were other factors involved before the assassination of Ferdinand, which paved the way for the occurrence of the war. Tension among the countries started with the assignment of treaties by the great six European powers. Russia, Britain, as well as France came together to form an alliance known as Triple Entente while on the other hand, Italy, Germany, as well as Austria-Hungary joined to form the Triple Alliance. The move to form these unions was majorly driven by the countries' need to increase their military power. The nations agreed that all of them would join any war involving a member of their alliance. In early 1914, Italy entered into a secret agreement with France promising to remain neutral in the event France is attacked by Germany. Therefore, the assignment of the treaty reduced Italy to a mere quasi member in the Triple Alliance making Germany depends on Austria-Hungary as the only supporter1.
Rivalry existed between different nations on both sides of the powers. The antagonism was majorly witnessed between Germany and France as each competed to claim dominance over Alsace. Tension built between Russia and Austria as they struggled over Balkans. Germany, as well as Great Britain, became enemies due to competition over their military and economic strengths. The animosity and suspicion that existed between different countries necessitated the formation of the two powers that later encroached into WW1, which was sparked by the killing of Ferdinand at Sarajevo.
Prior to the Sarajevo assassination, which became the main cause of WW1, other factors came into play that heightened the enemy between the powers. The constant rivalry that would later lead to WW1 can majorly be attributed to the two Moroccan Crises, Bosnia-Herzegovina Annexation, the great powers militarism, nationalism, and the war plans. The two Moroccan crises and Bosnia annexation fueled hostility between the powers right from 1900 up to 1914 and became the pillars upon which other causes were anchored
The initial Moroccan dilemma started in 1905 when Kaiser Wilhelm II arrived at the port of Morocco and announced French dominance over Morocco. This claim over Morocco was meant to test how powerful the recently formed Anglo-French. The French influence denunciation in Morocco caused the international crisis that was later settled for France at the Conference of Algeciras in 1906. The settlement of the looming conflict reinforced friendship between Britain and France.
Another crisis over Morocco is believed to cause WW1. It started the time gunboat was sent to Agadir port by Germans to give protection to their citizens. Germany blamed France for ignoring Algeciras Conference terms. The act of Germany caused tension within Britain, which made French control Morocco, courtesy of Germany. This annoyed most German citizens.
Another cause of the First World War is militarism. Military expenditure increased significantly among the great powers in moments preceding the Great War or conflict. The great powers had conscription with the exception of Britain. The mistrust existing among the great powers resulted in an establishment of armories as well as increased rivalry. Colonial enmity had culminated in a naval arms competition between Germany as well as Britain. Such a competition jeopardized the cordial operations between these nations. The dispute between Germany and Britain resulted in a significant naval support between the France as well as Britain1.
The First World War was also because of nationalism. The aspiration of Germany to become the globe's superpower was trendy. In Britain, empire's support, as well as imperialism, was clear. The desire of revenging over Lorraine as well as Alsace by French was high. Nationalism implied that little resistance against war was evident among these nations. Countries made war plans due to characteristics of the alliances. Such plans were to ensure an immediate transfer of soldiers whenever conflict broke. It made it impossible to halt marshal soldiers provided the process started, which gave troops in these nations a significant task in all process of decision-making2.
One of the war plans was the Schlieffen. The plan dependent on an immediate transfer of soldier as well as the belief that provided war between Germany and Russia started; France will join in support of Russia. The Schlieffen plan entailed concentrating German troops to control Paris and as a result, outdo France. After achieving that, soldiers were to be relocated to invade Russia. This implied that provided Germany opened confrontation against Russia, France was also to be attacked by Germany. Nonetheless, opening war with France meant that neutrality of Belgium was breached, which made Britain join the war or conflict. France, Russia, and Austria-Hungary had plans referred as Plan XVII; plan G, as well as plans R and B respectively. These plans ensured collaboration of allies3. Provided the initial steps or initiatives towards marshaling troops were pursued, each member assumed it was dangerous to be alone when their rivals attack.
Consequences of the First World War
The WWI shook the globe. The Great War tested technology to the end. This was the first conflict that took a global scope. Even though WWI came to a halt, its effects or consequences are experienced to-date. The Great War led to the birth of novel countries as well as termination of many empires. Besides, the national boundaries or borders were re-drawn due to WWI1. The war caused an economic recession, transformed culture, as well as influenced literature. Apart from negative consequences, WWI also brought some positive impacts. The discussion on effects of WWI is biased on economic, political, as well as social aspects.
Political Consequences
Germany was compelled by Treaty of Versailles to make territorial compromises. Such concessions were mainly on the western and eastern boundaries. Leaving Alsace-Lorraine by Germany to France was the most significant compromise. This took place the same time WWI concluded, and a socialist rebellion started in Germany. The 1918 to 1919 rebellion in Germany led to the establishment of Weimar Republic that existed until Adolf’s Nazi Party ascended to authority in 1930s1. The defeat of Germany in WWI, as well as unfriendly conditions of Treaty of Versailles, caused the emergence of Nazi Party as well as Adolf.
Dissatisfaction with the Great War brought the 1917 Russian rebellion. The empire of Russia in that rebellion was overthrown by a socialist administration under the leadership of Lenin Vladimir. Novel countries rose in the northeastern Europe, which were initially within Russian Empire. Some of these new states included Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, as well as Latvia. Additionally, America rose from WWI as the globe’s superpower2. America became the rescuer of Europe due to its intervention as well as the diplomatic leadership of President Wilson.
Economic Consequences
WWI never influenced America adversely, although some countries were badly hit economically by the war3. The countryside, as well as factories in America, was not negatively affected. The products from America were sold to countries fighting; this resulted in an economic boom to the nation. Germany suffered severely due to WWI, and it took her many years to recover. For example, Germany was compelled to pay allies money, termed reparations. These huge fines, coupled with weak economic conditions and political instability, economic depression, was inevitable in Germany1.
Social Impact
The social consequences of WWI included the death of thousands of civilians and soldiers. It is approximated that seventeen million persons lost their lives. The war led to traumatized or psychological disturbed generation. The war also led to displacement and migration of people, which led to the transformation of culture as some groups were assimilated to superior communities.
Bibliography
Collins, Ross F. 2008. World War I: primary documents on events from 1914 to 1919. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press.
Hamilton, Richard F and Holger H Herwig. 2003. The Origins of World War I. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Ross, Stewart. 2003. Causes and consequences of the First World War. London: Evans.
