Download causes, practices and effects of war

CAUSES, PRACTICES AND EFFECTS OF WAR
ANALYSIS SHEET ___World War 1____________
Dates of Conflict
Countries involved
Causes:
 Long-term

Short-term

“Spark”
Military Battles and
Strategies
Military technological
developments
Austrian declaration of war on Serbia-28 July 1914
German agreement to armistice-11 November 1918
Major Players: Austria-Hungary, Belgium, British Empire, France, Germany,
Russia, Serbia, United States of America, Italy
In reality, though, World War One’s influence was global because so many
colonies and territories of larger countries were brought into the fighting. Many
countries, such as China, Japan, and smaller South American countries, were
introduced to the war in later years.
Long Term: While many causes of the war came shortly before the outbreak of
the physical fighting, there were also many causes that were long term in bringing
about war among the nations. At the forefront of these were militarism, or the
building up of a country’s military in order to assert a stronger global presence;
Imperialism, or the expansion of a country’s power and influence into smaller and
more global territories; Alliances, or the formation of agreements of loyalty to
other countries against a common threat or enemy; and Nationalism, or the strong
sense of patriotism and pride in one’s country in comparison to other countries.
Short Term: There were many causes or war that came about shortly before the
physical outbreak of fighting, but there were also many causes that came about
shortly after the initial declarations of war that brought many other countries into
the fighting. These causes include the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
by Serbian nationalists in 1914, the Austrian ultimatum and eventual declaration
of war on Serbia in 1914, Germany’s declaration of war on Russia and France in
1914, Germany’s invasion of neutral Belgium in 1914, Britain’s declaration of
war on Germany in 1914, and later, America’s declaration of war on Germany in
1917.
Spark: Of all the causes of World War 1, The assassination of Franz Ferdinand is
the one cause that may be viewed as the “spark” that led to war.
Strategies and Tactics: World war 1 brought about many new approaches to war
that the world had never seen before. Famous strategies used by generals at the
time include the Schlieffen Plan, or Germany’s plan to quickly take out France
and then move on to Russia; the French plan 17, or the idea of quickly invading
German cities to overtake all of Germany; and the Hindenburg Line, or
Germany’s decision to fortify the Western front. Other useful tactics include
Trench Warfare, the use of chemicals and gases in battle, heavy artillery and
tanks, snipers, and heavy machine guns. Most of these tactics came about due to
Trench Warfare.
Battles: Some of the more famous battles these tactics were used at include
Tannenburg(1914), the Marne(1914), Ypres(1914), the Gallipoli
Campaign(1915), Verdun(1916), Somme(1916), Passchendaele(1917), and the
German Spring Offensive(1918).
Many new technologies were introduced to the battlefield in World war 1 that
would change the way war was fought forever. These new technologies include
tanks, flamethrowers, poison gas, submarines that could be used in naval warfare,
the introduction of aircraft equipped for dogfights in the sky, pillbox machine
guns that could be used for long durations without reloading, and aircraft carriers
at sea. May of these technologies, such as flamethrowers, tanks, poison gases, and
machine guns, were established to combat trench warfare, a strategy of war that
meant almost immediate death for anyone who left the trench.
Resistance and
revolutionary
movements
Home front: role of
women & minorities
During the First World war, many leaders and revolutionaries saw the chaos of
fighting as a great chance to find an excuse to stir up revolution within their
countries. For example, in Russia, Vladimir Lenin promised the Russian people
that he would save them from war and be able to rebuild the nation as a stronger
power under a socialist economy. Lenin finally gained power within Russia
towards the end of the war in 1917. Also, an Arab Revolt sprung up in 1916. Led
by Sherif Hussein bin Ali, the goal was to break away from Ottoman Empire
control, and create a free Arab state. During, and even after the war, the Armenian
Genocide took place as well. The Ottoman Empire, in a very organized fashion,
attempted to kill off the Armenian minority in what is today known as the
Republic of Turkey.
Women took a major step in the wartime effort by accepting traditional roles as
nurses and spies, but also contributed greatly in production efforts while the men
were off to war. Women worked in war supplies production, roles that were
traditionally occupied by men, but were given to women while the male
population was off fighting. Women also assisted greatly in the care and
rehabilitation of wounded soldiers. The roles of women in the U.S. were not as
important as those of World War II, but in European countries, women were key
to sustaining the economies of the countries while most men were fighting.
Minorities were still mostly segregated during wartime, but their contributions
were still vital. Many males joined segregated regiments and battalions to serve in
fighting, while the women were able to join the workforce, taking jobs that the
white women abandoned in order to fill the roles of the males off at work. Any
work at all, though, was a step up from the little work minorities were given
before the war.
Peace treaty/terms
Results:

political
repercussions,
territorial
changes

social &
cultural effects

post-war
economic
problems
Historiography:
Treaty of Versailles: This treaty was signed on June 28, 1919 between the Allied
Powers and Germany. Essentially, this treaty blamed all of the war on Germany,
and forced them to pay all reparations for damage to the Allied nations. They
were also forced to disarm themselves and concede territory.
Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye: This treaty was signed between Austria and
the Allied powers on September 10, 1919. This treaty prevented Austria from
seeking further territorial or political gains without first seeking approval from the
League of Nations.
Treaty of Trianon: This treaty between Hungary and the Allied Powers took
away a devastating amount of territory from Hungary. It was signed on June 2,
1920.
Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine: This treaty between Bulgaria and the Allied Powers
not only cut Bulgarian territory, but also required Bulgaria to pay a large sum of
money to the Allied Powers.
Short-term
Long-term
Political and Territorial: After the
war, the map of Europe was essentially
redrawn. Many countries, such as
Germany, Russia, and Austria Hungary
lost much of their land, while new
nations, such as Poland and
Czechoslovakia were created.
Social and Cultural: Due to the fact
that minorities and women had to step
up while the male were off at war, the
women and minorities were, for a short
time, deemed necessary and equal in
society. Nationalism spiked in many
countries as well due to the intense
fighting.
Economic: Many European nations
suffered greatly as a result of the
damage the war had done. Rebuilding
would take a long time, and inflation
became a major problem. Because
America itself was not greatly
influenced from the war, the economy
actually began to thrive, especially for
the upper class.
Political and Territorial: European
politics changed forever as a result of
WWI. Imperialistic monarchies were
overthrown by new republics. The
“right to rule” became a throw-away
idea. The new superpowers, especially
the U.S., came to the forefront of
global relations. New organizations,
such as the failed League of Nations,
were established to facilitate world
peace.
Social and Cultural: Soon after the
war, because of women’s involvement
in the economy, they earned the right
to vote. Many strides were made in
equality for all, and war heroes gained
a good name for themselves due to
their sacrifice.
Economic: European inflation led to a
nearly depleted middle class. Germany
perhaps suffered the greatest since they
were damaged from war, and had to
pay reparations. This eventually led to
German revolution and uprising,
bringing about the Second World War.
Author
Interpretation
1. Henry Kissinger
Kissinger, throughout his discussions
regarding World War I, often
references the idea of Realpolitik, or
literally in Germany, actual politics.
This is the concept that diplomacy and
politics should be based on legitimate
power, rather than ethical compromises
and ideological morals. Kissinger
critiques the weaknesses present in the
European nations at the outbreak of
war, and how their own moral and
ideological standings prevented any
real work in being done to prevent or at
least lessen the affects of the war.
Stoessinger, in his work Why Nations
Go to War, critiques human emotion
and reaction to the outbreak of war.
Stoessinger seems to understand that in
the end, the war was brought about by
everyday people and their ignorance to
deal with problems that were staring
them right in the face. Stoessinger
implies that no single man can be
blamed for the war because no single
man was acting out of innate senses of
evil. In fact, the men that we see as
responsible for the war were acting out
of a fear of losing power in such a
power hungry world.
Williamson appears to analyze and
3. David Williamson
critique the diplomacy among nations
leading up to the First World War.
Williamson critiques all of the
individual alliances, treaties, and
relations among nations, and how
many of these seemed to fall apart
leading up to the outbreak of war.
Williamson does not seem to critique
any individual person or specific event,
but rather looks at the influences that
individuals and events had on nations
and how relationships changed among
nations as a result.
Much of the terminology of World War I seems to deal with different systems of
government and diplomacy. For example, nationalism, imperialism, and
militarism are all often brought up when discussing the war.
Nationalism- a strong sense of pride in one’s country
Imperialism- the concept of expanding power through taking over smaller global
territories
Militarism- the building up of a nation’s military to better defend itself against
other nations.
Many systems of alliances, ententes, and treaties are often brought up when
discussing the war and its causes and effects as well.
Alliance- a mutual agreement of loyalty among nations
Entente- a friendly alliance or understanding between two or more nations
Treaty- an agreement made among nations that is put into affect under an
international law
Many new styles of warfare are also often discussed that were introduced in the
First World War.
Trench Warfare- a strategy of war in which soldiers would set up base within
trenches and wells established in open battlefields
Over the Top- the expression for moving out of one’s own trench onto the open
battlefield
Aviation- the use of aircraft to transport an individual using the skies, and, in
terms of war, the use of aircraft as a weapon
Chemical Warfare- the uses of chemicals and gases in order to impair or kill
enemy soldiers in war
2. John Stoessinger
Terminology
Characteristic of the war
(global, total, etc.),
provide definitions.