Causes and public reactions to World War I

World War I: "The Great War"

The historical record shows that World War I, the "War to End All Wars," did not end war, but rather set the stage for an even greater global conflagration a generation later. This paper reviews the relevant literature to assess the relative importance of diplomacy, imperialism, and nationalism in causing the Great War (1914-1918), as well as to identify the major players leading Europe to war. An analysis of why this "unwanted war" was greeted with such joy is followed by an assessment of whether this enthusiastic reaction to the outbreak of war was the consequence of domestic tension or simple patriotism and whether the victors' positions after the war reflect their wartime experiences. Finally, a summary of the research and important findings concerning the Great War are presented in the conclusion.

Relative Importance of Diplomacy, Imperialism and Nationalism in Causing the Great War

Major Players in the Great War

Although termed the "First World War," the Great War did not in fact involve all of the world's nations but it did involve a significant number of them, including the major belligerents of the Central Powers comprised of Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire versus the Allied Powers comprised of Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Japan and the United States (The Great War 2). In addition, other less major players that were also drawn into the war included Romania, Serbia, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, and Montenegro (WWI Casualties and Death Tables 3).

Conclusion

The research showed that the "War to End All Wars" did not, but it did serve to set the stage for an even greater world war a generation later when Adolph Hitler used German hatred for the Treaty of Versailles to fuel the beginning of World War II. It is noteworthy that while some of the belligerents in World War I ironed out their differences to become major trading partners and allies, others still remain at odds over differences in ideology and politics, suggesting that not all of the lessons that could have been learned from the Great War have been taken to heart by the 200 or so nations of the world today..