America and Great War - Assignment Example

America and Great War Nationalism, Imperialism, and Militarism The events that resulted in the World War I back to the nineteenth century. Primarily, nationalism, imperialism, and militarism played a significant role in causing the Great War. The Pan-Slavic movement in the Eastern Europe created tension between the Serbia and Austria-Hungary that resulted in war. The movement aimed at fomenting the uprising among the Slav population in Austria-Hungary to create the independent Slave state (Lindeman, 2012). Russia supported the movement, and indirectly challenged the Austria-Hungary to control its citizens. The advocacy of the unification of all the Slavic people in the Eastern Europe was intense, and tension became extreme culminating in the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Nicolson, 2014). Similarly, nationalism was a significant trend in Europe that grew intensively in several decades and built tensions that spurred the Great War. Several nations in Europe were agitating for the unification of the people who shared a similar language, as well as, culture. An intensified rise of the nationalism in the German-speaking states in Central and Eastern Europe was evident in the late nineteenth century. The Slavic groups feared that the Germans would absorb them (Keene, 2006). Many nations in Europe tended to respect the Germans’ culture, but expressed political fear. The Germany Chancellor Otto von Bismarck utilized the military in order to unify the German states. The German military took part in the Austria and France wars of the 1866 and 1871 respectively (Lindeman, 2012). The powerful unified Germany created fear in the rest of Europe. Notably, the rest of Europe feared that Germany would dominate the continent. In anticipation of the possible wars, the major European nations expanded their armies in order to protect their territories. Such political fear fueled tension that culminated in the World War I. In essence, the nationalistic fervor led to suspicion, as well as, distrust in the Eastern Europe. The various nations in Europe developed comprehensive war plans in anticipation of the significant battles. The notable German Schlieffen Plan facilitated the Germany to expand a standing army. The international alliance system advanced by leaders such as Bismarck aimed at safeguarding Germany from the possible threatening territories (Nicolson, 2014). Notably, the European nations engaged in making, breaking, as well as, reorganizing alliances from 1871 until the outbreak of the First World War. The alliance system offered a platform for aggressive actions to fight as a unitary military. The nations had a lot of confidence because they believed that the alliance system would assist them in times of war (Lindeman, 2012). Nations tried the strength of their armies by engaging in wars that build tension, which culminated in the World War I. The United States Entrance in World War I The United States had remained neutral in European affairs. Since the George Washington’s farewell address, the Americans adopted a policy of not engaging in the affairs of the European nations (Nicolson, 2014). Hence, the United States was reluctant to join the First World War, when it started in 1914. The ethnic groups supported the Wilson’s approach to keep the Americans out of the issues of Europe. The United States compromised of many immigrants, and it was difficult to support either side in the war. On 4th August 1914, Woodrow Wilson announced the adherence to the neutrality policy in matters regarding the First World War. However, the US offered material support to the Allies. In effect, the US banks provided financial assistance to the both sides engaged in the battle (Keylor, 2013). Ethnicity played a critical role in America’s declaration to remain neutral. Many Americans were in Europe or had European parents, and thus, the US had a duty to extend loyalty towards the Allies (Keene, 2006). Nonetheless, the German submarine to sink the American ships in the Atlantic Ocean prompted Wilson to seek the permission from the Congress to declare war on Germany. The United States joined the First World War on April 6th 1917. The Germans had announced the lifting of all the restriction on submarine warfare early in 1917. The Germans believed that the United States had violated the neutrality policy and assisted the Allies with ammunitions and funds. The announcement implied that the German commanders were at liberty to sink all ships that assisted the Allies. The unrestricted Germany submarines sunk the US cargo and passenger ships, and prompted the president to seek permission to launch a war on Germany (Showalter, 2002). The neutrality policy seemed unfeasible, and the United States had to safeguard its ships in the Atlantic Ocean. The United States contributed large troops of army into war. The supply of the soldiers countered the efforts of the Germany army that had moved many troops from the East to the West. The entry of the American soldiers into the war demoralized and weakened the Germans. The United States government staged enormous campaigns aimed at raising troops and funds (Keene, 2006). Under the authority of the Pershing, the United State’s forces conquered the German troops on the Western front (Showalter, 2002). The intense morale of the US military coupled with the domestic backing facilitated the ending of the war in 1918. The war officially ended after the signing the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Treaty of Versailles The Senate did not support the Treaty of Versailles that sought to establish peace. After the signing of the treaty in 1919 in Paris, the Senate failed to ratify it. In effect, the America’s government did not take responsibility for major portions of the provisions contained in the Treaty of Versailles. Henry Cabot Lodge, the Republican Senate leader, was suspicious of the Wilson involvement in the treaty (Keylor, 2013). Similarly, the ethnic groups in the United States played a role in defeating the treaty. Specifically, the German Americans expressed concern about how the treaty was harsh to Germans. President Woodrow Wilson was instrumental in promoting the League of Nations, which he believed would prevent the recurrence of the future wars. Wilson sought peace through supporting the idea of the League of Nations. The president established secret negotiations with Germany and Britain to get the consent for America to mediate the peace plan (Keene, 2006). Wilson struggled to elicit the Congress support of the League of Nations in vain. Hence, the United States did not join the League of Nations. The failure to support the treaty spelled doom for the success of the League of Nations. The implication was that the United States had become a superpower, and it had to take part in the success of the international affairs. References Keene, J. D. (2006). World War I. Westport: Greenwood Press. Keylor, W. (2013). Realism, Idealism, and Treaty of Versailles. Diplomatic History 38 (1), 215-218. Lindemann, A. S. (2012). A history of modern Europe: From 1815 to the present. Hoboken: Wiley. Nicolson, C. (2014). Longman Companion to the First World War: Europe 1914-1918. London: Routledge. Showalter, D. (2002). The United States in the Great War: A Historiography. Magazine of History 17 (1), 5-15. Read More