World War I: Difference from Previous Wars - Term Paper Example

Introduction World War one began in 1914. It is also stated as the Great War. It began as a result of heightened tension resulting from the brutal murder of the archduke of Austria, known by name as Francis Fernando. It was fought between two super powers of the Entente and Central allied nations. However, various events occurred before this assassination that fostered the war. The main contributor of the great battle was the inclining trend of militarism in Europe. There was a horrible speed for armaments after 1870, throughout Europe. Though these armaments were intended for state defence, they created universal suspicion, fear and hatred among nations. Further, in every country there were influential military officers who believed that war was inevitable." They persuaded their governments towards mobilization of the armed forces. This pressurized military and naval rivalries among countries. Hence, by 1914, all European countries were fully equipped and ready to encounter each other in battle. (World War 1 Collection, 1917) Before the difference of the Great War from the other battles can be known, its probable causes must first to be mentioned as follows below; Aggressive nationalism was partly responsible for World War I as patriotism of citizens of the involved states expressed great love for their individual nations. National rivalries such as Germany versus Britain, Japan versus America and additionally, Germany and Russia. There was great colonial imperialism due to the need for raw materials, overseas markets for more production and for colonies investing extra more capital. There was a corruption of public views fostered the press in all the nations. News publishing agencies would create exaggerated issues out of minor happenings. The trend in the formation of secret mergers also exacerbated the start of World War one. The affiliates of each side felt obliged to support each other. International anarchy: According to "Every country could do whatever it wished, because there was no international monitoring authority to create rules of engagement for all the nations and to ascertain that all nations to followed such rules." No country was ready to retrench its dispute with another peaceful resolution. (Muier, 1930) The assassination of Francis Ferdinand of Austria was the ultimate contributor of the war. This happened in 1914, which saw the commencement of the great battle. World War one was different from other wars due to its long continuous cycle of effects of Industrialization in Europe. This came with a reconfiguration in the political playing field in addition to the social environment. The nineteenth centaury was a time that was marred by industrial developments. The population of Europe increased very fast due to increased output of food through improved agriculture. This was attributed to the sophistication in farming practices due to better machining that saw bumper harvests coming in. The increased use of steel saw new tools that made work easier to perform and speedily. Scientific inventions lead to the use of steel in rail and train building that improved transportation within the European continent. The steam engine trains saw the movement of soldiers over long distances instead of many days on route to their destinations. (Hewiston, 2004) The difference in the world war and the previous wars is seen in the way that the whole of the European centre was envisaged in creating friendship with its neighbouring countries that alliances began to be formed. Mutual relations emerged between Germany with Italy and the Austrian Empire. This was tending to make this region a world super power that was called the Central Power in the rise of the Great War. This would later see the unprecedented merger between France, Britain and Russia that came to be known as the Entente powers. (Mueller, 2004) Even after the established conclusion of World War I, its un-endless effects caused a continuous cycle in the world for ages in the forms of changing politics, economics and hash societal criticism. Many nations started to adopt democratic types of governance, and a hostile Germany was dictated upon to pay for a huge deal of war misdoings, which at the end led to the eruption of World War two. As Europe encountered debt from war expenses, inflation pounced on the continent. Moreover, the optimism of earlier ages was thwarted and unclear, non-positive perceptions on life were assumed after people had witnessed the cruelty of warfare. Governmental Changes as a consequence of World War one led to a sudden growth in socialistic ideologies as it escalated not only in Germany and the Austrian empire but further into Britain and France in 1923 and 1924 respectively. However, the most welcomed type of government to gain fellowship after World War one was the republic. Previous to the war, Europe had about nineteen monarchies and three republics, yet years later, had formed thirteen autocratic monarchies, fourteen democracies and two regencies. As could be seen, revolution was in the lime light and people started to vigorously show their interests for a better path of life. The World War one is again seen to be different from the other previous wars due to the outcomes of a tampered Peace. This secondary political doing of World War I centres particularly on the treatment of Germany in the Treaty of Versailles that was established a few years after 1914. The Germans were pushed to signing an embarrassing treaty that forced them to agree to the blame of catalyzing the war; together with paying out high amounts of money so as to correct on the expenses incurred from the war. Also, the expansiveness of the German territorial boundaries was minimized; where as that of Italy and France was made wider. The Weimar government instituted in Germany in 1918 was despised by a majority of the citizens and secured little authority in governing the German state. Heightening hostilities toward the rest of Europe increased, and many German army men declined to surrender fighting, even though Germany's military was forcibly required to be trimmed down. Given such rules, a multitude of German ex-military entered the Freikorps, a formation of mercenaries ready to engage in street-fighting. The blatant hostility and ensuing emotions of revenge portrayed by Germany catalyzed the start of World War two. (Remarque, 1975) Economic Change is also characterized as an influential occurrence to the dissimilarity of World war one to the other previous wars. Technology experienced a big advancement after the war, as the manufacture of motor vehicles, aero planes, radios and even some types of chemicals, quickly increased. The merits of massive production and the utilization of machinery to do previous man’s labour activities, along with the subjection of the eight hour labour, seemed to accelerate the economy’s potential, especially the United States. However, much of Europe experienced disastrous misfortunes in terms of physical property and geological terrain together with credit. By 1914, Europe had acquired the respect of the world as a dependable money-lender, when just after four years; it was in enormous debt to her companions following their free financial assistance offered towards the war effort, owing them as high as $10 billion. In an endeavour to repay their mutual friends, the governments of majority European nations started to hastily print more cash, only to inflict unprecedented inflation in their nations. Members of the middle societal status who had been living cosily for a good period on their investments started to feel bumpy financial times. Germany was severely burdened with respect to tackling war reparations, and inflation severely diminished the strength of the German mark. In an expanse of at least three months in 1923, the German mark hopped from 4.6 million to 4.2 trillion marks to the dollar. It openly seemed that inflation did not acknowledge any bounds. (Joll, Martell, 2007) Disillusionment that characterized the post events of World war one portrays the differentials between the later and the pre-world war one wars. World War one carried with it psychologically outcomes typical to those of a coup. An intensifying feeling of distrust of politicians and government officials eroded the minds of many who had undergone the frightening and destructive ordeal that came with the war. Many citizens were furious that peace initiators had not exhibited their required moral standings satisfactorily, and people started to re-think why the war took place. A sense of disillusionment moved far and wide across the globe as people painfully affirmed that their governments in no way understood how to consider the plight of their inhabitants. The loss of cherished ones on the war ground was very disturbing, for in some areas of Western Europe, one per every four young men had died in the war. In total, the battle killed over fifteen million people. Approximately five million civilians also lost their lives in the crossfire. The future certainly did not appear prosperous for the relatives of all those killed in the great battle, and a sad acceptance of reality darkened the ambitious dreams of many. (Joll, Martell, 2007) Conclusion World War I did not entirely subside with the signing of the Versailles agreement, for its political, economic and socio-cultural outcomes determined the lives of people years after the final bullet was fired. Two core political changes emerged in the world after the battle: a larger number of nations started to embody more democratic forms of governance, and a frustrated Germany tried to emerge resilient to the punitions spelt out to them by the winners, as its hostilities grew to the level where it caused the second world war twenty years after. World War I saw to the up rise of Mighty Powers in Europe and Americas. Britain showed to be the frontline power in maritime and colonial aspects of the world. France came to be accorded the stature of a great military power in Europe. The U.S.A. came up from the battle as the supreme world power. However, the outcome of the war also saw the disappearance of big states such as the Austria-Hungarian out of the word map. This was as a result of the implementation of the agreement of St. Germaine. This also contributed to the formation of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia as new countries. (Weisner, Ruff, Wheeler, 1999) Reference (Source: Google books, USA) Joll J. Martel G. The origins of the First World War. Edition: 3, Pearson Longman, (2007). MacIntyre B. The Great War: Causes and Consequences. Blackie Publishing, (1979) Mueller J. E. The remnants of war Edition: Cornell University Press, (2004) Muir R. Political Consequences of the Great War. Published by T. Butterworth, (1930) Remarque M. E. All quiet on the western front New Fawcett Crest. New York. (1975) Wiesner M. E., Ruff R. F., Wheeler W. B. Discovering the Western Past: A Look at the Evidence. Edition: 4, v. 1. Houghton Mifflin, (1999) World War I Collection History teacher's magazine v. 8 University of Michigan, McKinley Publishing Company. (1917) Read More