Introduction
World War I took place from 1914 to 1918, causing a global challenge since it originated in Europe and influenced the world. The war involved approximately 70 million people, leading to the death of 7 million civilians and 9 million soldiers from different participant countries (Keene, 2021). The paper will analyze in detail the reasons why World War I began and why it was inevitable. It will consider the reasons why the U.S. might have entered into this armed conflict and the likelihood that it might have significantly altered the course of history. Finally, the efficacy and validity of the Treaty of Versailles as part of world security will be examined.
Inevitability and Origin of World War I
Several mutually dependent causes and reasons can be traced to the outbreak of World War I. The most famous in modern history is the assassination of Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian citizen, after which active hostilities began. Based on the analysis of historical sources and data, we can conclude that several important factors predetermined the beginning of this historical event.
Firstly, there was a high level of international tension, which was exacerbated by the high level of accumulated contradictions between the major European states. Moreover, the concepts of imperialism and nationalism began to be opposed in many countries (OpenStax, 2014). Another important factor that predetermined the emergence of this international conflict was the redistribution of economic power around the world. This led to the formation of various alliances, which subsequently formed the world’s bipolarity (Adamthwaite, 2021). The global nature of the accumulated contradictions suggested that aggravation of the situation and the outbreak of war were inevitable.
The Neutrality of the United States in World War I
The possibility of the United States maintaining a neutral stand in the First World War was low. The solid economic relationship the U.S. had with both Germany and Britain made it contemplate joining the war as it feared breaking the existing bond (Keene, 2021). Moreover, the United States government was challenged to make a clear stand given the citizens’ disparities in public opinion on the intervention move (Steffek & Heinze, 2020). Prominent European immigrants in the United States also caused the government a challenge in taking a position, as the immigrants had relatives in Europe.
Should America Have Joined World War I?
The United States of America should have considered its entry into the First World War to set the world security for democracy. The main reason and rationale for why the U.S. should have entered World War I is the following international entity, including the League of Nations. This organization, based on the experience of this event, allowed for sustained, effective, and popular cooperation to preserve peace (Steffek & Heinze, 2020).
The consequences of the U.S. entry into the First World War and its positioning as an important part of geopolitics are the most important reasons for the necessity of American participation in this historical event (Adamthwaite, 2021). Moreover, the autocratic powers that headed the central authorities had no faith in democracy since they had already benefited tremendously in Europe (Scott et al., 2014). Had they succeeded in concurring with their allies, there is a high possibility that they could have done away with European democracy.
The Treaty of Versailles Legibility
On 28th June 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed to terminate the First World War between Germany and its allies. Despite being effective and fair in some instances, the treaty had shortcomings that influenced the onset of the Second World War. The shortcomings included the ridiculous number of consequences Germany had to cope with, the collapse of the League of Nations, and Japan’s growth.
On the positive side, the treaty stipulated that Germany had to compensate its allies and take responsibility for the war adversities (Steffek & Heinz, 2020). The treaty also mandated that Germany surrender its territories, reduce its military, and compensate its allies. The treaty obliged the creation of the League of Nations, an international organization to maintain peace and cohesion.
Moreover, it came up with international organizations, including the League of Nations, to prevent the onset of another war (Holmes, 2022). However, the treaty failed by allowing Germany to retain its military, which it could use to start another war in the future. Moreover, it did not address the economic and national problems that would perpetuate World War II.
The Senate’s Approval of the Versailles Treaty
The U.S. Senate failed to approve the Versailles treaty despite the ratification of the allied powers in 1919, failing to be partisan in the agreement (Steffek & Heinze, 2020). Had the U.S. Senate ratified the treaty, it would have indicated trust in the functions of the Allied power states. Moreover, the treaty would ensure international cooperation among the members by doing away with the possibility of future conflicts (Steffek & Heinze, 2020). The League of Nations, which would act as a global forum and a framework for collective international security, was to be established by the Treaty of Versailles (Openstax, 2014). Though the treaty was not considered perfect, it was a good solution that could have prevented the onset of a subsequent war.
Conclusion
The First World War was one of the worst moments in world history, and the conflict lasted for four years, leading to the death of over 14 million people. Many people, including citizens and soldiers, died during the war, as others suffered injuries and psychological complications. Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination was the leading cause of the devastating war.
The incident triggered the onset of several events that had been slowly piling up for many years. The immediate cause of the First World War was the supremacy battle between the European power states, which was further resolved by forming several treaties and alliances. The Versailles treaty signaled the end of the war following the defeat of the Central Powers.
The World War profoundly impacted Europe’s economic, social, and political landscape and became the world’s most critical event because it influenced human history and developments in future decades. At various points in 20th-century world history, the U.S. has engaged in international conflicts, almost always with no direct need to defend its territory or sovereignty. But their contribution to war has never gone unnoticed, changing the balance of power and often the nature of hostilities.
Despite mixed reviews of the U.S. decision to enter World War I by the press and society, the move provided an effective solution to further international conflicts. Analysis should focus on the activities of those organizations that have provided stability in the world for many decades.
References
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Holmes, M. (2022). From the Treaty of Versailles to the Treaty of Maastricht: conflict, carnage and cooperation in Europe, 1918–1993. Taylor & Francis.
Keene, J. D. (2021). The United States and the First World War (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Scott, C., Janssen, V., Lund, J. M., Pfannestiel, T. J., Vickery, P. S., College, O., & Rice University. (2014). U.S. history. Xanedu.
Steffek, J., & Heinze, T. (2020). Germany’s fight against Versailles and the rise of American realism: Edwin Borchard between New Haven and Berlin. In Prussians, Nazis, and Peaceniks (pp. 100–122). Manchester University Press.
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