Introduction
From 1914 through 1918, World War I was fought. A worldwide conflict started in Europe and expanded to other regions. Almost 70 million individuals took part in the warfare, and more than 9 million military and 7 million civilian populations lost their lives (Corbett et al., 2022).
This essay aims to examine the causes of World War I critically, determine whether it was unavoidable in 1914, explain whether the US could have remained neutral in the conflict, determine whether the US should have participated in the conflict to ensure the safety of democracy worldwide, determine whether the Versailles Treaty was a just and effective peace agreement, and determine whether the US Senate ought to have accepted the Treaty.
World War I’s Causes
World War I’s foundations may be seen at the beginning of the 20th century. Several interrelated circumstances led to the war, and all of them were significant. The killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian rebel was the direct reason that prompted Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia. This resulted in the activation of several alliances, with Germany proclaiming war on Russia and Moscow going with the help of Serbia.
After that, France sided with Russia in the conflict, and when Germany occupied Belgium, Britain sided with France. Many historians think the brewing tensions between the leading European countries in 1914 made war unavoidable (“World War,” 2023). Many elements involving nationalism, colonialism, and alliances contributed to the tensions. The conflict was influenced by nationalism, or patriotic pride and commitment to one’s country, as nations fought to establish dominance. Imperialism, or expanding a country’s power and impact, was also a consideration as nations attempted to extend their resources and territorial reach.
Last but not least, the alliance structure, in which nations joined forces to protect one another, contributed to the outbreak of conflict by creating a climate of distrust among the parties involved. According to some historians, the major powers’ actions in the months before the war may have prevented the conflict (Augustyn et al., 2023). Nevertheless, this could not be considered the case, and averting the conflict was impossible.
US Neutrality During World War I
Even though it was challenging, the US could remain neutral in World War I. The country hesitated to join a war that might jeopardize its strong economic links with Germany and Britain. Moreover, American citizens’ conflicting views on involvement made it hard for the administration to choose a stance.
A significant portion of the immigrants to the US were from Europe, and many of them had links to one or the other side of the conflict. Furthermore, the German strategy of unrestrained submarine warfare endangered the US’s concept of maritime liberty. Finally, losing the Lusitania, which revealed that ambivalence was no longer a viable choice, pushed the US into the conflict.
Possible Entrance to the US
To create a secure environment for democracy, the US ought to have joined World War I. The country had the chance to assist and ensure that future nations would not have to deal with the same risks that existed during the War and to make the globe a safer environment for democracy. The despotic governments that ruled the Central Powers did not value democratic foundations, and they were quickly gaining ground in Europe. Democracy in Europe could have likely been wiped out if they had been fortunate enough to conquer the Allies. The US had the chance to have a good impact on the globe and guarantee that other generations wouldn’t have to go through the horrors of World War I.
The Versailles Treaty
The Treaty of Versailles should be perceived as an agreement between the Allied forces and Germany that ended World War I. The pact was fair and efficient in some aspects, but it also brought forth new issues that would trigger the upcoming war. The pact was fair because it made Germany accept guilt for the war’s launch and provide compensation to the Allies. It also founded new international institutions to prevent future conflicts, particularly the League of Nations (“The Treaty of Versailles,” 1919).
The accord was, however, mostly ineffectual; Germany could maintain its troops and its borders, making it simple for it to initiate a new conflict. The pact also failed to address the issues of nationalism and financial turmoil, which contributed to World War II’s outbreak. Germany was forced by the pact to provide compensation to the Allies, cede land, and scale down its military. The mentioned organization was to be established under the Treaty as a new worldwide institution to uphold peace.
The Treaty of Versailles and the US Senate
The Treaty of Versailles, a fair and reasonable arrangement between the Allied forces and Germany, should have received Senate approval. The conditions of the peace between the parties were outlined in the Treaty of Versailles, which also heralded the end of World War I. While the US Senate declined to ratify the Treaty, the country never formally joined it.
The pact was adopted by the leaders of the Allies in 1919. The other parties concerned would have seen it as a show of good faith if the US had accepted the deal. Then, by establishing a framework of international collaboration, the pact would have contributed to preventing future violence (Farmer, 2018). Consequently, despite its flaws, the Treaty represented a workable compromise that may have helped avert another global conflict.
Conclusion
A turning point in global history occurred during the First World War. It was a destructive war that lasted for more than four years. The direct cause of World War I was the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Nevertheless, the murder was only the beginning of a chain of occurrences that had been developing for a long time. The underlying antagonism between the great European nations, which was made worse by a succession of alliances and treaties, was the fundamental cause of the conflict. Several troops and people died during the conflict, while many more suffered injuries or other effects.
The war also significantly influenced Europe’s social, cultural, and economic environment. It is regarded as one of the most significant historical moments because its repercussions would affect the globe for many years. The Central Powers were defeated, and the Treaty declared the conflict over.
References
Farmer, B. (2018). The Treaty of Versailles and the rise of Nazism. New American, 34(21), 33–38.
The Treaty of Versailles. (1919). Census. Web.
Corbett, S., Janssen, V., Lund, J. M., Pfannestiel, T., Waskiewicz, S., & Vickery, P. (2022). U.S. history. OpenStax. Web.
World War I. (2023). History. Web.
Augustyn, A., Curley, R., Dixon, L., Gaur, A., Higgins, J., Liesangthem, G., Lotha, G., Luebering, J. E., Pallardy, R., Ray, M., Rodriguez, E., Sampaolo, M., Sheetz, K., Singh, S., Sinha, S., Tesch, N., Tikkanen, A. (2023). World War I. Britannica. Web.