The Origins Of World War I Assignment Discussion

The Origins Of World War I Assignment Discussion

Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 18, 21, 23
Lesson
Minimum of 3 scholarly sources (in addition to the textbook). The sources associated with each topic selection below can be used as part of the 3 scholarly sources.
Optional Resources to Explore
Feel free to review the library guide for scholarly sources and videos at the following link: The Origins Of World War I Assignment Discussion

Link (website): History Library Guide Links to an external site.
Introduction
The purposes of each case study assignment include the following:

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To hone your abilities to research using scholarly sources
To advance critical thinking and writing skills
To compile a response to the prompts provided
To explore a historical topic and make connections to change over time
Option: World War I
Review the following resources:

Link (video): A War to End All Wars: Part 2 Links to an external site. (6:56)
Link (library article): The Treaty of Versailles and the Rise of Nazism Links to an external site.
Then, address the following:

Trace the origins of World War I, and assess if the world war was inevitable in 1914?
Explain if it was possible for the United States to maintain neutrality in World War I. If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not.
Analyze if the United States should have entered World War I to make the world safe for democracy.
Analyze if the Treaty of Versailles was a fair and effective settlement for lasting world peace.
Explain if the United States Senate should have approved of the Treaty of Versailles.
Writing Requirements (APA format) The Origins Of World War I Assignment Discussion

Length: 3-4 pages (not including title page or references page)
1-inch margins
Double spaced
12-point Times New Roman font
Title page
References page
In-text citations that correspond with your end references

British declaring war on Germany in 1914 was the spark that set off World War 1. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the successor to the Austro-Hungarian crown, marked a turning point in the war. Germany made it possible for Austria to pursue policies it thought were most effective. This led to Serbia being given an option to abandon its national sovereignty or face severe consequences. Serbia was under strict orders to comply fully with the mandate, however, Austria had reservations about certain petty problems that ultimately led to conflicts.

Only by rejecting nationalism, militarism, imperialism, and alliances could Europeans have prevented World War One. There were already two primary alliances in Europe, known as the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente, which were comprised of several strong states that had previously made agreements (OpenStax, 2019)The Origins Of World War I Assignment Discussion. At the same time, nationalist fervor emerged as a major challenge to the Austro-Hungarian hegemony. This is due to the fact that it inspired other nations to pursue their own self-interests by military means. As a result, state leaders and military commanders throughout Europe came to think that peace could be simply achieved via war, with the victorious country imposing its will on the losers by ruling them and ending hostilities.

The War was largely precipitated by Germany’s resource needs and the public’s mistaken belief in the might of the German army. Therefore, if nationalism, militarism, and coalitions had not advanced, World War I may have been prevented in Europe.

If it was possible for the United States to maintain neutrality in World War I

U.S. neutrality in World War I was declared on August 4, 1914. This was the position taken by President Woodrow Wilson when he declared publicly that the United States would not become involved in World War 1 (OpenStax, 2019)The Origins Of World War I Assignment Discussion. The declaration, however, was short-lived. Germany and the United States came into battle with one another as a result of a series of hostilities. This is how these fights eventually drew the United States into the war.

There were several forces working against American impartiality that contributed to the country’s decision to remain on the sidelines of the conflict. It was clear that the United States received and sent ships from Britain since the two countries worked well together commercially. 1915 was the year that saw Germany declare war on all ships belonging to the British. At the same time, this was happening, attacks were made on American ships. In response to Germany’s repeated efforts to attack American ships, President Wilson and the American people got enraged. Additionally, the Lusitania, a passenger ship bound for Britain, was destroyed by the Germans (Fraser, 2018)The Origins Of World War I Assignment Discussion. When 128 men perished in the submarine, there was a massive outcry from the American public.

Such occurrences contributed to a shift in public opinion away from secession and toward neutrality in the conflict. Many people in the United States were of the opinion that their country had to become involved in the war in order to protect themselves and the other countries involved. A call for Mexico to join Germany in the case of a collapse was made in a letter delivered to the German U.S. Envoy in 1917. However, despite the United States’ best efforts, its partnership with European nations ensured that it could not maintain its intended neutrality.

Not only did public opinion turn against isolationism, but the ships were under constant bombardment, and lives were being lost. Clearly, the United States could not manage to maintain its neutrality for the aforementioned reasons. Conflict with Germany and her allied forces was inevitable due to the country’s urge to defend its citizens, navy, and diplomatic ties with European countries.

Whether the United States should have entered World War I to make the world safe for democracy

In order to formally sanction the war against Germany, Woodrow Wilson stood before Congress in 1917. He thought it was necessary to provide a secure environment for democratization since Germany had become too domineering. U.S. officials, however, were never enthusiastic about the prospect of war. German acts of violence on US ships were the primary reason for its involvement in the conflict The Origins Of World War I Assignment Discussion.

The people pressured President Wilson to respond to the killings of American civilians at the hands of Germany, and he eventually gave in. Since most people would not be able to decide whether or not the conflict was right, militarizing society would lead to the creation of a new nation. With no way to launch an Atlantic attack, Germany was not in a position to threaten the US directly. U.S. civil liberties were violated at home, and more Americans were killed abroad, because of the choice to engage in the war.

Whether the Treaty of Versailles was a fair and effective settlement for lasting world peace

For its lopsided focus on Germany, the Treaty of Versailles is often criticized as unfair. Since it placed the blame for the war squarely on Germany’s shoulders, the Germans had nothing but contempt for this Treaty (Fischer, 2020). However, the United States, Great Britain, and France gained from the treaty, which ultimately damaged the German economy. Europe as a whole saw a decline in economic activity, and Germany was not an exception. Considering Germany wanted to strike back, it is clear that the Treaty of Versailles was detrimental to world peace.

Whether the United States Senate should have approved of the Treaty of Versailles

In 1919, the Senate of the U. S. refused to give its agreement to the Treaty of Versailles. After then, approval of the League of Nations was disregarded. Justice and justice were two things that the US represented (Kuź, 2021). Consequently, the Senate did not approve the treaty because of Germany’s claims of unjust treatment. As a result, America did not participate in the President’s ratification request. After seeing the horrors of war firsthand, the US would have made the right choice by signing the Treaty of Versailles. Numerous Americans perished in action during World War One. In order to avert another conflict, the United States administration made the correct decision by teaming up with other countries The Origins Of World War I Assignment Discussion.

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References

Fischer, C. (2020). Germany, Versailles, and the limits of nationhood. Aspects of British Policy and the Treaty of Versailles, 205-227. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003014089-10

Fraser, K. C. (2018). United States Merchant Marine in World War I. Reference Reviews, 32(2), 32-33.

OpenStax. (2019). U.S. history. OpenStax CNX. https://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]:gMXC1GEM@7/Introduction

Kuź, M. (2021). The Treaty of Versailles and the American vision of a nation-based world order. After the Peace Treaty of Versailles (1919):, 39-46. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1h9djnx.7 The Origins Of World War I Assignment Discussion