Saturday, September 21, 2019
World War I Essay Example for Free
World War I Essay Introduction            The war began in the mid of May, year 1914. A Bosnian Serb student, Gavrilo Princip, fired shots from his revolver under an oak tree, aiming to murder Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the sole heir to the Habsburg throne, the Austria-Hungary supremacy. This happened as he and his wife visited Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital. The plot to murder the archduke is a part of Princip’s training and it was directed by Colonel Dragutin Dimitrijevic, otherwise known as the â€Å"Apis†, or â€Å"The Bull†. Colonel Dragutin Dimitrijevic is the head of the Serbian military intelligence during the time of assasination. Bosnia-Hercegovina, then, was under the rule of Austria-Hungary, that which Archduke Franz Ferdinand is scheduled to succeed. Princip did not only successfully accomplish the murder of the archduke. He did fire a shot that killed his wife, Sofie, as well. She passed away in few minutes with his husband (Strachan 1998).            This single instance of this assassination triggered the First World War, which is further referred to as â€Å"The War to End All Wars†. It was in July 28 of the same year that Austria-Hungary declared war against Serbia. At first, this was supposed to be the third Balkan war, but it did eventually become the World War I. Initially, the Austrian government would like to Serbia to take responsibility of what had happened and to fully allow Austrian investigators to take part in the case investigation and proceedings. At this point, Austria-Hungary was already assured of an exclusive, unconditional support by the Germans, should the war break out. The Serbian government, on the other hand, has been able to solicit the support of Russia, which is already considered as a big powerful nation then. Serbia agreed to all terms subjected to them, except to the one that allows the involvement of the Austrian agents in the case. Serbia believed that this is another issue of violation of their already marred sovereignty by the same nation (Strachan 1998).            Both Russia and Austria-Hungary mobilized their armies during the long stand-off. Germany, however, set an ultimatum to Russia to stop their army mobilization in no less than 12 hours. After the ultimatum has expired and Russia did not respond, Germany then declared war on Russia. Germany started with the occupation of Luxembourg, aiming to get Belgium as well. The German wanted a free passage from Belgium into France, but the former disagreed to it. During this point in time, Belgium, France, and Britain are all on neutral position with regards to the war. But by August 3, Germany declared war on France and invaded Belgium because their free passage was not granted (Strachan 1998). This then triggered Britain to declare war against Germany. Thus, the formation of the Allied Powers, led by Britain, France, and Russia came about. Later on, they are joined in by Italy and the United States army. They all unite in full force against the Central Powers, which, on the other hand, were composed of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire, which can also be regarded as the Turkish Empire, joined the First World War as a result of a secret Ottoman-German Alliance that is signed in August 1914. Russia was a long-time enemy of the Ottoman Empire, and this is the main reason why they chose to be on the Central Power’s side, even if there have been several parties in their side who are in favor of alliance with the Allied powers instead (Strachan 1998). America’s Position in World War I            Prior to 1917, the American position on the First World War was neutral and impartial, just like that of Britain’s before the declaration of war with France. The then president, President Woodrow Wilson, reflects the public mood of remaining that way and instructed the Congress to do and maintain so. The Washingtonians and the whole nation in general, fully supported this stance. America upheld its position of insisting on unbiased rights. They are also aiming to successfully negotiate peace in all other places that has acquired stress due to the tensions brought about the war boiling in Europe. But America has one stand which is based from its own stateliness and pride. And that is not to tolerate unrestricted submarine warfare. The American nation believes that viola infringement of this would result in the violation of their respective national dignity (Goldstein and Maihafer 2004).            At first, Germany agreed to this sole provision. They stopped unrestricted submarine warfare, but only for the time being. It is by January that they publicly announced that they would continue to do so. It was in this year that Britain dominated the seas, and they have done so for many centuries preceding the war. This caused the State of America to entirely eradicate its neutrality and join the forces of the Allied Powers, as an associate. To counter America’s response, Germany even commissioned Mexico to join the war beside them and be their ally against the United States. This instance fueled and further angered the American population and opinion. By April 16, 1917, the United States declared war against the Germans, as requested by President Wilson. The U.S. House of Representatives accordingly approved the resolution to join the First World War with a high margin of pro-war votes at 373-50. The US Senate followed suit with an 82-6 stand also in favor of the nation’s approval to join the now much celebrated war (Goldstein and Maihafer 2004).            The American initial position on the war, in reality, seems to make its decision to enter it relatively less likely. America is on a neutral stand, and would likely to remain neutral had the Germans did not took the first step to severe that otherwise peaceful position (Goldstein and Maihafer 2004). Even prior to America’s involvement in this war, the whole governing body, including all its people, continually follows the judicious guidance of its previous president, President George Washington in his farewell address, as delivered on September 17, 1796. And that is to steer clear of any permanent alliance in any portion of the foreign world. The people and the government of America remained true to this statement, until after its own dignity was trampled upon and was forced to join the First World War. And that single instance made it easy for the entire nation to take part in a coalition against the very people who attempted to take pride out of the whole country (Klose and Lader 2001). But following the events of the First World War, the German people did seem to intentionally go against the United States’ declaration of no unrestricted submarine warfare. That is the only stance that the American nation requested with the conflicting forces, but that simple request was not granted. Germany, in their own defensive and offensive tactics, found it fitting to continue their attack, for reasons they alone know (Klose and Lader 2001). Given this scenario, it seems as if that that whole circumstances was planned and mitigated, with the aim to drag the Americans into the war. The Germans, at that point, believe that they could walk over America and their whole army. But they were painfully wrong. They had underestimated the military offense of the American force and they actually seem to have requested for their defeat even more, after they had decided to involve the Americans (Klose and Lader 2001). The American artillery joined forces with the British and the French, and the American troops are not scattered or broken up to reinforce the British or the French army. They fought as one group, one nation, against one cause. The Effects of American Involvement on the Home Front            America’s participation and victory in the First World War has its share of advantageous and disadvantageous points. First and foremost, right after the war, the United States, as well as her other allies, namely Britain and Italy, experienced an increase in their respective Gross Domestic Product or GDP. While statistics tell that that is seen to have decreased in allies France and Russia, the American nations have surely gained from the boost. However, on the Central Power’s side, there was an astounding shrinkage of as much as 30% to 40% in their respective GDP’s (Hibbard 1919). It is also believed that the greatest and the most important thing that the war ever contributed to the American nation is in the form of loans and supplies that are given and are sent to the Allies. As a proof, a lot of money was raised by bond sales, which is much as compared to those raised by taxes. The cost of the war was estimated to be US $35 billion, and about $10 billion of that went to the Allies in the form of loans. The whole American Nation gained from this, as the British and the rest of the forces began to repay their loans back to the United States (Hibbard 1919). The First World War also resulted in the expansion of the military powers of the then underestimated American nation. America was not even remotely compared to the British Empire or the other powerful countries before. But because of their support and victory of the First World War, the American people and government became aware of what they can do with their military powers. This is the birth of America being a super power, in terms of weaponry attack and tactical offense. Indeed, America was reborn to that of a giant, a giant in terms of its national stability, force and power (Hibbard 1919). The First World War also brought about American apparent domination of the world. As a country that never affiliated itself with other foreign entities, it is perceived to be just a stand-alone race, ready to respond to its internal needs and requirements. But because of the World War I, the American nation has become a domineering force in the economical, political and the social aspects (Bagby 1999). As a negative effect the First World War actually resulted in the shortage of laborers and farm workers. Military men and soldiers were sent over to the war. And common men were even drafted to join in, to add to the number of military soldiers and privates. America, even though it is engaged in the war, inevitably, still has to produce for the rest of the nation. The need to be economically stable amidst the war is very much important (Bagby 1999). Because it was the women who are left on the American soil, they stood up and participated accordingly. These women, who then, do not have any social powers and abilities to call their own, came out and worked in the absence of their male counterparts. If before, they were merely persons of the house, the war drastically changed that. They worked and did their husbands, their son’s, or the brother’s job (Bagby 1999). And in line with this, it is also the First World War that sparked women’s right to suffrage. This originally started in the British soil, but actually found its way towards America. American women suddenly found their voices and demanded to be heard in the society, as well as in politics through the electoral process. And the woman did succeed in this endeavor. She was given the right to vote in the 19th amendment of the United States Constitution in the year 1920. The rest of the nations, including Canada and Britain, followed (Mead 2004). American radicals proposed a â€Å"live for the day†attitude in response to the World War I. This attitude was introduced so as to inculcate to other people that American nation has to stop in meddling with other nation’s concerns and start living on its own, for its own. But this isolation idea can be referred to be in vain, if data up to the current day is taken into consideration (Mead 2004). Conclusion            The First World War has taken its toll towards other nations as well as America. Any war, big or small would create an impact in all the aspects of a nation. A war is not for the poor, because it would just consume its resources even more. The war maybe for the rich nations, but even them, would feel the impacts of the war, even if the lose or win in it. Either the case, there is no real winner in a war. Every nation, everyone, is left on the losing end.            United States has been wise to join the war. Because through it, it has successfully unleashed its military powers and social dominance that it otherwise would not have discovered. The potential to become powerful, to uphold the whole world’s rights, to protect every nation’s privileges, have become so moving in the part of the Americans. The American has become the stronghold for leadership, equality, power, and justice. This is the image that American has acquired because it has joined the very First World War. And this image is too life-size and too real. The rest of the nations began to be looking up to the American power and pride. American has indeed become a super power.            But America could have been wrong to join the war too, because it has exposed the whole nation into unnecessary grief and hardships. The United States of America has long been self-sufficient. It participated in economic trade and relations, if only to develop itself and its people. It has not affiliated nor allied itself to other foreign entities, no matter how big and strong they may seem, simply because it do not want to subject its people to the implications a certain international treaty would bring; a treaty that, in the face of difficulties and international strain, would definitely place the entire nation in a very inconvenient stature. And this is a stature that the great men in the history of the United States have foreseen.            And because America has proved that it is strong and capable, over time, it has lived up to its own self-acclaimed title of being the world’s alleviator, as the world’s protector against injustice and violations. Since the World War I, the American nation has processed laws and statues that have involved its own self in the Second World War, in the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and more recently, the attack on Iraq.            The then stand alone and sufficient nation has seen itself suddenly amidst turmoil and conflict against other countries, in reasons directly, and even indirectly applicable to them. They are involved in situations they have to decide for themselves and the other nation. They require themselves to help who they perceive as the much weaker country.            The effects of the World War I on the United States of America is indeed, very big. Its once neutral stand against disagreeing countries that was seen prior to World War I was never seen again after it. The nation has assumed a role on its own, and it is not necessarily a productive idea, because it does affect it overall processes as a nation, and as an entity.            America’s international relations have changed since the First World War. Some diplomatic relations have severed. A lot of economical embargo was positioned. But there are also international relations that are nurtured and stabilized. Since the First World War, America’s alliance with Britain was enhanced and has become noticeable stronger, no matter which President or which Prime Minister has replaced their respective predecessors.            The war, in general, brought out in to open the men who are in abnormal need of power and those who are philanthropists of goodwill and equality.  There are times that war is good when it is viewed from a different angle. But in general, and in essence the avoidance of war should still be primary. The effects of war to the people of today and the future generation should not be overlooked just to serve personal and selfish reasons. In times of war, we needed people who are humanitarian advocates, and not those who have an uncharacteristic clamor of authority and control.  Works Cited Mead, Rebecca J. How the Vote Was Won: Woman Suffrage in the Western United States, 1868-1914. New York: New York University Press. 2004. 1-10. Goldstein, Donald M and Maihafer, Harry J. America in World War I: The Story and Photographs. Virginia: Brassey’s Inc. 2-6.            Strachan, Hew, ed. The Oxford Illustrated History of the First World War: A History. New York: Oxford University Press. 1998. 52-59            Klose, Nelson and Lader, Curt. United States History Since 1865. New York: Barrons Educational Series. 2001. 6-12. Bagby, Wesley Marvin. Americas International Relations Since World War I. New York: Oxford University Press. 2001. 5-9 Hibbard ,Benjamin Horace. Effects of the Great War Upon Agriculture in the United States and Great Britain. New York: Oxford University Press.1919. 65-69
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