The main reason of the beginning of the World War I was to pinpoint the differences between the leading countries such as: Britain, France, Russia, on the one hand and Germany, Austria-Hungary on the other. The UK could not forgive Germany the support of Boers in the Anglo-Boer War of 1898-1902. In addition, already at that time between the two rivals waged undeclared economic and trade war. Both countries have built up their military and had an interconnected arms race. France also wanted revenge for the defeat of Germany in the war of 1870-1871's., She wanted to return Alsace and Lorraine, as well as keep their colonies, especially in North Africa. Russia claimed the free passage of its fleet in the Mediterranean. In fact, Russia resisted the Austrian and German penetration of the Balkans, as it wanted to establish a protectorate over all Slavic nations. Germany as a new European empire desired to become a leader on the continent, she wanted to get new colonies and new markets. Austria and Hungary was intended to retain annexed in 1908 Bosnia and Herzegovina and to increase its influence in the Balkans and to counter Russian influence.
XX century has changed the role of the US in world politics. Referring to the book at the beginning the US had a question:” Shall our country enter the European War?” (Thomas, 2008). This is particularly surprising to many researchers that the speed with which she managed to transform itself from a relatively isolated country in the Western Hemisphere into a state of universal scope. One can only guess the fate of Europe, if America did not erupt in World War I. Despite its high industrial potential, the United States until the beginning of the war remained in the position of the debtor of Europe. For example, in 1914 US the debt to foreign countries was estimated at 3,236 ml. In 1919 other countries owed United States about 12,253 ml.
In addition to economic growth, War gave America the chance to move away from the traditional policy of isolationism in relation to Europe and take part in deciding cases in world politics. One can name a lot of the reasons why the United States entered the First World War. The main one among them, perhaps, was associated with the decreasing depletion of material, financial and human resources in Europe, on the other hand - the accumulation of gold. Business based district military orders became risky in terms of monopolies, as the war could suddenly end, and orders could remain unpaid. In addition, the end of the war would have caused a crisis of overproduction. American businessman frightened and approaching the collapse of the European economy. Finally, as soon as possible end of the war meant the struggle for a new division of the world, the US had to join the fighting on the side of the Entente.
If one extrapolates all these statement in today's time, one can see that the US is still true to themselves - the same persistent struggle for the market, for the sphere of influence (both economic and political). World War I demonstrated the critical state of civilization. Referring to one of the books :”Making war is a great act of emotions and will.” (Fleming, 2004). Indeed, in all the countries democracy narrowed the scope of a market economy, giving way to the hard state regulation of production and distribution in its extreme statist form. These trends contradict the economic foundations of the Western civilization.
The consequences of the war were disastrous for the economy of most countries. They resulted in widespread prolonged economic crisis, on which lay a giant economic imbalance that emerged during the war years. US immediately expanded the scope of economic and started preparing an expeditionary corps to join the fighting on the Western Front. According to the law that was accepted on May 18, 1917 on limited military service, the army was called 1 million, with men aged 21 to 31 years. General John Pershing was appointed as a commander of the army and energetically took upon the organization of the armed forces.
Since the beginning of March 1918 the Allies held back the powerful German offenses. By the summer, with the support of the American reinforcements they managed to expand the offenses. The US Army has played a significant role in the defeat of Germany, by successfully taking part in the general approach of the Allied forces.
For powerful organization of logistics Wilson applied unprecedented measures of state control over the economy. Military-industrial management has been endowed with extended powers of control over the companies which main reason was to stimulate production and to prevent unnecessary duplication. When the law on the control of food and fuel took place (August 1917), Herbert Hoover, head of the federal agency for food control, has lowered the prices that were high and increased the supply of food that was heading to the army .Harry Garfield, head of department for the control of fuel, too, has taken a big part in measures against the production and distribution of fuel resources. In order to solve the existing military tasks, these measures have brought benefits to low-income social strata, in particular farmers and industrial workers.
References
Fleming, T. (2004). The illusion of victory. New York: Basic Books University of Wisconsin
Press.
Thomas, W. (2008). Unsafe for Democracy: World War I and the U.S. Justice Department's
Covert Campaign to Suppress Dissent (Studies in American thought and culture). University of Wisconsin Press.
