Effects of World War I on Europe, China, and India - Essay Example

3 May Effects of World War I on Europe, China, and India The Great War or World War I lasted only for four years, and yetit produced enduring changes on several nations and regions of Allies and Axis powers. These effects intersect social, cultural, political, and economic outcomes, after the international political system transformed, with the United States rising to superpower status, while Great Britain fell to second-power position. Socio-economic and political reforms sprung from the chaos that transpired after the Treaty of Versailles, which Germany and China considered as unjust.

This essay focuses on the effects of World War I on Europe, China and India. Several references showed that the Great War had different, uneven social, political, and economic effects for Asia and Europe, although Europe seemed to be the greatest loser between the two, while Asia gained important social and political changes. The Great War had devastating economic and political effects on Europe, especially Eastern Europe. Germany significantly suffered because of the punishments that the Treaty of Versailles rendered.

Article 231, the War-Guilt Clause, asserted that Germany and Austria were responsible for launching the war, and so Germany must pay reparations to all affected Allied governments (Duiker and Spielvogel 691). Germany also suffered from military and territorial reductions. It was obliged to decrease its army to 100,000 men and make similar large reductions in its navy, while totally eliminating its air force. Germany was forced to return Alsace and Lorraine to France and some parts of Prussia to Poland too (Duiker and Spielvogel 691).

German boundaries with France were demilitarized and stripped of fortifications to prevent future attacks on the latter (Duiker and Spielvogel 691). Germany, furthermore, suffered from severe economic difficulties. The Great Depression spread from America to Europe, affecting Germany, France, and Great Britain. Great Britain lost its industries to more competitive nations, United States and Japan (Duiker and Spielvogel 694). Britain’s core industries, coal, steel, and textiles, all declined, which resulted to two million unemployed by 1921 (Duiker and Spielvogel 694).

The country recovered slightly from 1925 to 1929, although unemployment stayed at 10 percent. Riots and gang membership increased because of economic problems. During this time, Britain lost its superpower status, and yielded it to the U.S., which was much more economically and politically stronger after the Great War. The U.S. took the apex of global power that Britain once held. As for France, it fared politically and economically better than Great Britain (Duiker and Spielvogel 696). It had a more “balanced economy” with diverse sources of income, unlike Great Britain, so the Great Depression did not affect it, not until 1932 (Duiker and Spielvogel 696).

These economic hardships had political repercussions. France experienced political instability with six different cabinets formed from 1932 to 1933 because of the economic woes of the country (Duiker and Spielvogel 696). These problems contributed to the formation of a Popular Front government, a coalition of leftist parties, which promoted and achieved industrial labor policy changes (Duiker and Spielvogel 696). Thus, World War I dented the international power status quo, although it produced gains in labor rights and interests because of post-war economic problems.

In East Asia, World War I shaped economic, political, and social changes in China. The young Chinese republic, which was formed only three years before the Great War began, did not gain much from being an Allied force. The Treaty of Versailles gave all German holdings in East Asia, including those in China, to Japan (“China and the First World War”). Japan was China’s worst enemy, and the transfer in land ownership was considered a large defeat on China’s part. Beijing demonstrations occurred, as the Chinese protested the effects of Versailles on China’s territories through the May Fourth Movement (Hardach 263).

Because of its shabby treatment from Versailles, the Chinese developed nationalist sentiments and organizations, while trade improved and increased national revenues (Eastman 116). Mao Zedong soon emerged as a leader who could unify China, after he built the Chinese Communist Party. The Nationalists defeated communist forces that aimed to oust the government, although the latter eventually won and took control of China, transforming the political, social, and cultural development of China (“China and the First World War”).

India experienced the same surge of nationalism. World War I produced Indian heroes, who inspired Indians to call for racial equality. Mahatma Gandhi supported the racial equality movement in South Africa, and continued his work in India. During this time, he motivated millions of Indians to form and support nationalist organizations that demanded independence from Great Britain (Pati 64). Several internal conflict violent activities happened, despite the non-violent and peaceful approach of Gandhi.

Soon, England submitted to the demands of India and granted it independence. World War I contributed to feelings of patriotism and nationalism that proved to be a bane to England, but a boon to India. The Great War opened political possibilities, which had turbulent economic and social impacts, but eventually resulted to independence and peace. The First World War had differing, but lasting effects on Europe and Asia. European countries, Allies and Axis alike, suffered due to widespread economic and human (the wounded and the dead) expenses of the war.

China did not territorially benefit, and even lost some of its lands. Still, it resulted to greater nationalism and protectionism of their economy and society. the Chinese Communist Party was formed, which had enduring effects on the cultural and political landscape of China. India had economic and human losses too after the war, but it gained nationalism and independence. Thus, although Europe paid the greatest price, Asia earned several lasting advantages. Works Cited “China and the First World War: Strange Meeting.

” Charlemagne. The Economist, 26 Apr. 2010. Web. 2 May 2013. < http://www.economist.com/blogs/ charlemagne/2010/04/china_and_first_world_war>. Duiker, William J., and Jackson J. Spielvogel. World History: Since 1500. Volume II. 6th ed. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, 2010. Print. Eastman, Lloyd E. “Nationalist China during the Nanking Decade 1927-1937.” The Cambridge History of China: Republican China 1912-1949, Part 2. Eds. John King Fairbank, Albert Feuerwerker, and Denis Crispin Twitchett. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1986. 116-163. Print.

Hardach, Gerd. First World War: 1914-1918. Los Angeles, CA: California UP, 1977. Print. Pati, Budheswar. India and The First World War. New Delhi: Atlantic. Print.