WWI and the Russian Revolution

WWI and the Russian Revolution

Why did Europe go to war in 1914? How important were nationalism, imperialism, and militarism in causing the war? What other factors contributed to the war? Which individual or country, in your opinion, was most responsible for the war?

Europe went to war because the assassination of the Archduke in the Balkans created a kind of 'domino effect,' of the many secret alliances then existing between the nations of Europe. The minor conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia became a major global conflagration. Nationalism may have provided the impetus for the assassination, and imperialism tied Russia to Serbia, while all of Europe was in a state of heightened military tension. But secrecy was another key factor leading to the war. No one country was at fault, but if one nation was more responsible, it was Austria-Hungary for declaring war upon Serbia, without trying to reach a more peaceable settlement about finding the group responsible for the Duke's assassination. If Austria Hungary had tried to negotiate with the Balkan leaders and respected their territory, instead of demanding cooperation and that everyone involved be punished according to their own terms, there may been no World War I.

Second, where did the makers of the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I, go wrong? Instead of creating lasting peace, this treaty and its punitive provisions sowed the seeds for a much more devastating second world war. Why did the makers of the Treaty of Versailles include the provisions they did? What were they hoping to achieve?

By selecting Germany as the instigator of the war, instead of acknowledging mutual responsibility by all the Europeans, Germany felt a sense of victimization about its defeat. Germany also had to formally admit responsibility for starting the war (despite the complex evolution of the crisis) and pay war reparations. The makers of the peace settlement hoped to reduce the possibility of future conflict by taking away Germany's army and controlling its political system. This proved impossible, and only provoked more violence in the long run, as Germans grew more sympathetic to fascism as a result.

Third, why did the United States Senate reject the Treaty of Versailles? What objections did they have to the treaty, especially to the League of Nations? Why was the United States not ready for peace through collective security?