World War I Essay

Submitted By ivas915
Words: 666
Pages: 3
Open Document
World War I
I will discuss the system of alliances between countries and the causes of World War I. What was the position of the United States at the beginning of the war? Why did the United States eventually end the war? How was the United States affected after the war?
The best known cause of World War I was the alliance system that developed in Europe in the half-century before World War I. An alliance is a formal political, military or economic agreement signed by two or more nations. Alliances are binding under international law, though they are frequently annulled or broken. Many alliances require signatory nations to provide support to other signatory nations in the event of war with an enemy power. This support may range from financial or logistic backing, such as the supply of materials or weapons, to military support or even a full declaration of war. Alliances may also contain economic conditions, such as trade agreements or investment. Alliances were hardly new in Europe. The continent had for centuries been a melting pot of old rivalries, political intrigue, competing territorial ambitions, military threats, nationalistic suspicion and paranoia. France and England were antagonists for centuries; several times this rivalry had erupted into open warfare. Bilateral relations between the French and Germans, the French and Russians and the British and Russians had also been strained. European leaders responded to these tensions by negotiating and signing alliances, both as a deterrent to war and to better protect their country should one break out.
As World War I erupts in Europe, President Woodrow Wilson formally proclaims the neutrality of the United States, a position that a vast majority of Americans favored, on August 4, 1914. (Berkin 2013, 617).
Wilson's initial hope that America could be "impartial in thought as well as in action" was soon compromised by Germany's attempted quarantine of the British Isles. Britain was one of America's closest trading partners, and tension arose between the United States and Germany when several U.S. ships traveling to Britain were damaged or sunk by German mines. Disagreements in Europe over territory and boundaries, among other issues, came to a head with the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian zealot on June 28, 1914. Exactly one month later, war broke out. In 1915, would be the sinking of the Lusitania, a British cruise ship, bound for Britain from New York. The German U-boat ring sought to sink all supply ships headed for Britain in order to starve the island. It sank the Lusitania as part of its efforts. 1195 people died, including 128 Americans. The Lusitania's sinking was the biggest influence on the American decision to enter the war.
Show More

Related Documents: World War I Essay

The Music Of War On World War I

The Music of War July 28, 1914 was the start of The Great War, World War I. For the soldiers it was an emotional and terrifying time. Tens of thousands of men were dying every day from machine gun fire, shells, or gas. The soldiers could not get away from the death as it was all around them, everywhere, every minute. One of the ways they could cope with it, however, was by singing. Singing raised their spirits, let them voice their frustration, and pushed their fear from their minds, even if only…

Words 1578 - Pages 7

The Importance Of World War I

Part I World War I was a monumental war that shifted the geopolitical landscape of Europe, and ultimately the world, forever. It was the world’s first completely global conflict that saw the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire square off against the Allied Powers of the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. The outcome of World War I, specifically the measures taken by the victorious nations in their treatment of Germany, laid the foundation for the outbreak…

Words 9785 - Pages 40

World War I Essay

History: World War 1 Knowing (1 point) – List the contents of a soldiers backpack.Socks - Paper & Pen (For letters) - Emergency money Knife - Coil of rope Spare Blanket - Matches Spare Uniform - Canned Food Bar of soap - Bottle Spare Helmet - Compass Understanding (2 points) – Summarise important world events leading up to WWI.Alliances and Politics In the years leading up to the war, the nations…

Words 1042 - Pages 5

World War I and War Essay

its pictures.” (4) atmosphere - description of people very shy and unassuming. - pictures alter as war goes on – people are waving at camera (5) - on the picture of the dazed Robert: “You know it will obtrude again and again until you find its meaning – here.” (6) - Robert “doubts the validity in all this martialling of men but the doubt is inarticulate.” That Robert opposed the war says a lot about the circumstances – Rowena’s death, his mother – that drove him to enlist - Rowena…

Words 2812 - Pages 12

World War I Essay

Nationalist. Austria-Hungary had taken over Bosnia a couple years earlier. Princip was furious so he shot Ferdinand, the heir to the Austria-Hungary empire. The assassination sparked the first world war but the main reasons started well before hand. Imperialism was one of the first conflicts that lead up to World War I. Europe rushed to claim un\colonized land in China and Africa, in the 1800s. It caused tension in Europe and rivalries became stronger between countries. With rivalries between countries…

Words 308 - Pages 2

Essay on World War I

World War I was the first major war involving many countries. One of these countries was Serbia, which wanted their independence from Austria-Hungary. This anger that built up over time in Serbia and it lead to the killing of the Archduke of Austria-Hungary Francis Ferdinand, and his wife by Gavrillo Princip, a Serbian. The killing lead to war between Serbia who was allies with Russia called for help. Russia was also allies with France, Great Britain, and the later turned from neutral United States…

Words 1642 - Pages 7

Essay on World War I

catastrophe – World War I (1914-18) Cause –a revolver that was used by a Serbian nationalist to assassinate the heir apparent to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. Powers divided: The Allies (Russia, France and Britain) against The Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey) The US joined in 1917 “to make the world safe for democracy” according to President Woodrow Wilson Part 1-Explosion/Stalemate: Prior to the war, this part of the world had accomplished…

Words 1072 - Pages 5

Essay on World War I and War

The First World War; The Arms Race Or The Assassination Of Archduke Ferdinand In Sarajevo In 1914? The First World War was the product of years of tension and competition between the Great Powers. There were many separate disputes between the different countries. However these disputes had not led to war. The arms race was a very significant cause to the war, however all this nationalism needed a trigger to ignite the smoldering hostilities and led to the outbreak of the First World War. Two bullets…

Words 1479 - Pages 6

Speech: World War I and War Essay

For The Fallen The First World War, or the Great War, was a war that spread globally. It began the 28th July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. Robert Binyon’s most famous poem is, For The Fallen, was written just after the beginning of the first world war, after England had taken many casualties from the German Army. Binyon himself had been too old to enlist in the war; however he did assist the Red Cross and still felt the blow of death from war with the deaths of his brother-in-law and multiple…

Words 753 - Pages 4

Causes Of World War I

Gun fire everywhere. Yelling, screaming and Wars. This was World War One. WW1 was a conflict between the Allied Powers (France, Russia, Britain, Italy and the United States), and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria Hungary and the Ottoman Empire). The three main causes of the war were the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, militarism and imperialism. The first cause of World War One was on June 28, 1914. A Serbian shot and killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to Austria-Hungary's…

Words 315 - Pages 2