The United States in the World War - Essay Example

In my opinion it was the First World War that caused greater impact than Second World War. I am presenting below my reasons and also the impact of the First World War on the world. Overview of the First World War First World War is considered one of the most gruesome military conflicts in modern history that resulted in the death of millions of innocent people and caused heavy losses to both sides of the War. The conflict that had started as a local war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia in 1914 grew exponentially to include 32 key nations of the world. One the one side was the Allies including Britain, France, Russia, Italy and the United States. On the other side of the conflict were the Central Powers that included important military forces such as Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria. The war formally started when Archduke Ferdinand, of Austria-Hungary was killed by Serbians on June 28, 1914. With this assassination, Austria declared war on Serbia and within days, Germany joined in, declaring war on first Russia then France. With the passage of time, other countries started entering the conflict with United States initially declaring that it would remain neutral. This neutrality policy however didn't work when United States noticed that its people were being killed by Germany and that the latter was resorting to unfair means. On April 6, 1917, United States finally joined the Allies against German forces. With United States and Britain launching massive military attacks against the Central Powers, Germany soon lost its powerful place in the war and by July of 1918, it was clear that Allies would win the war. The war came to an end when Allies defeated Germany at Argonne Forest Battle and the Treaty of Versailles was signed. United States' entry into WWI United States did not want to join the conflict that had been rocking the world since 1914. Most Americans also supported government's policy and decided they wanted to stay out of war until 1917 when after a series of unfair German war tactics, President Woodrow Wilson decided to join the Allies and United States formally entered the war. The most important event that many believed triggered United States' entry was the 1915 sinking of British ocean liner Lusitania which resulted in the death of 128 Americans. This ship had been deliberately sunk by German soldiers to restrict and block the supply of food to British soldiers on the front. While the President had previously been remained staunchly against the war, he used some outrages like the sinking of the ship as an excuse to enter the war and secure victory for the Allies. It was for some a war by the kings against the kings. On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson called an extraordinary session of Congress. The word had already leaked out the President was considering joining the war and pacifist staunchly opposed this action. They blocked the roads that were to take President to the Capitol from the White House. But the Sixty-fifth session did finally take place without much trouble at the appointed day and time. The President addressed Congress and explained his reasons for entering the war. He said: "I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and made immediately, which it was neither right nor constitutionally permissible that I should assume the responsibility of making. On the third of February last I officially laid before you the extraordinary announcement of the Imperial German Government that on and after the first day of February it was its purpose to put aside all restraints of law or of humanity and use its submarines to sink every vessel that sought to approach either the ports of Great Britain and Ireland or the western coasts of Europe or any of the ports controlled by the enemies of Germany within the Mediterranean..The new policy has swept every restriction aside. Vessels of every kind, whatever their flag, their character, their cargo, their destination, their errand, have been ruthlessly sent to the bottom without warning and without thought of help or mercy for those on board, the vessels of friendly neutrals along with those of belligerents. With a profound sense of the solemn and even tragical character of the step I am taking and of the grave responsibilities which it involves, but in unhesitating obedience to what I deem my constitutional duty, I advise that the Congress declare the recent course of the Imperial German Government to be in fact nothing less than war against the Government and people of the United States.America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no other." (Woodrow Wilson's war message) United States' entry bolstered the Allied forces and gave them extraordinary power over the German Imperial army. With America's entry into the war, things suddenly changed as we were was no longer spectators. The response from the public was however not overwhelming since it had been made to believe that America wouldn't need to send its civilians to fight the war. Only 73,000 men out of a total of 10 million able-bodied men enlisted in the army. The submarine war continued even after German realized that it was mainly this error that had triggered America's entry into the conflict. If Germans were ruthless, Allies were equally brutal. Causes of German Defeat: Germany's defeat was grounded in delayed execution of war plans and scarcity of food and supplies. An important leg of Germany's assault included attacks against Russia and France. In accordance with the Schlieffen plan, the invaded Belgium on August 14, 1914 on their way to France and felt that France would be conquered in less than two months which would give them ample time to launch an offensive against Russia. Russians meanwhile invaded East Prussia while German forces were moving towards France. The fear of defeat by Russia prompted Germany to shift its forces from France to Russia which resulted in severe exhaustion and shortage of supplies. Germany still managed to hold till 1917 when it looked as if Allies might incur heavy losses because Germany was planning to starve Britain into submission. Germany's ill-planned strategies, wrong war policies and lack of common sense turned things around as United States entered the war and became Britain's primary supplier of goods. Germany had to do something drastic to win the war and there was a sudden and unprecedented increase in attacks. Within two weeks, Germany had captured 1250 square miles of land but in doing so, it exhausted its supplies and manpower. The fresh American soldiers who were better equipped and had just entered the war made all the difference to the situation of war. Germany began looking feeble and domestic situation also did not help much. German people were suffering from lack of food as the army had used up most of country's resources. The industry was no longer in a position to meet rising war demands and Germany was forced to withdraw its army and sign the Treaty of Versailles. WWI and Middle East: The First World War had a profound impact on Middle Eastern region. The Ottoman Empire had entered the war in November 1914 as a form of Jihad against the Allies. The losses incurred by the Empire in Libya and the Balkans states had served as a deciding factor and Ottoman Empire, impressed by German military prowess decides to side with the Central Powers in what essentially appeared a European war. But Ottoman suffered the same fate as other German allies when General Sir Edmund Allenby managed to conquer Jerusalem in on 11 December 1917 and became the first Christian conqueror after the Crusaders. Interestingly the Arabs were supporting the British forces to weaken the Turkish Empire. On 19 September 1918 at the battle of Megiddo, Allenby launched the final blow against Turkish Empire with assistance from Arab allies. The war ended when British conquered the territory that comprises present-day Iraq, Palestine, Trans-Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. While the Arabs had been allies of Britain in the war, the settlement did not really please them and this resulted in acrimony the two sides. Arabs felt they had been cheated by British government when division of territory was announced. While Arabs received their share of territory, they felt Britain had 'robbed' them when it began creating nations and carving boundaries with no regard for Arab sentiment. The burning issue was Palestine whose fate was ruthlessly determined by British forces. Arab anger resulted in major instability in the area which has continued to this day. (Woodward, 2002) WWI and Russian Revolution: The causes of Russian Revolution of 1917 are grounded in the repressive and autocratic regimes. The oppressive governments in Russia had made social and economic life of people difficult as the result of which, several uprisings had taken place. Students, workers, peasants and even the elite had often participated in these movements to overthrow the oppressive czarist regimes. Two prominent though unsuccessful attempts included the 1825 revolt against Nicholas I and the revolution of 1905. These aimed at establish constitutional rule in the country. The First World War finally gave the opponents a fair opportunity to replace czars with constitutionally elected leaders. The ill-organized war strategies and Russia's heavy losses bred contempt against the rulers and in 1917, Russian Revolution was staged. World War I thus served as the catalyst since Russians could see that their government was badly organized and did not have enough resources or capacity to launch sustained war effort against bigger powers such as Germany. The 15 million people who had been sent to war did not receive proper supplies because industries lacked the capacity to meet war demands even though Russia's manpower was inexhaustible. The czar regime collapsed under extreme pressure and Russian Revolution resulted in the establishment of the Bolshevik Party as the ruling power. REFERENCES 1) John Bach McMaster. The United States in the World War: D. Appleton & Company. New York. 1918 2) Keith Robbins: The First World War. Oxford University Press. Oxford. 1993 3) "President Woodrow Wilson's War message" accessed online Dec 10th 2008: http://bss.sfsu.edu/tygiel/Hist427/texts/wilswarmessage.html 4) Professor David R Woodward, The Middle East during World War One. Published on BBCi History: 31-03-2002, Accessed online Dec 10th 2008: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwone/middle_east_01.shtml Read More