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The First World War (WWI)

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World War I The following paper gives insights on various issues; Firstly, why the First World War started, its effects and lastly how and why America got involved in the First World War Causes of the First World War The First World War started in 1914 and ended in 1918. The causes of World War I were militarism, alliances between European countries, imperialism, nationalism and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Keegan, 2014). Primarily, it may be cited, that its cause was a struggle between the Central Powers (Austria-Hungary, Germany and Italy) and the Allied Powers (France, Great Britain and Russia) over the expansion of Serbia into the Balkans. Nature of the First World War The war was fought on the Eastern, …show more content…

Firstly, it was due to German carnage in Belgium. American civic attitude was against the German occupation of neutral Belgium. Secondly, the Americans had economic interests tied to the world war. American businessmen had a good standing with allied forces, and they believed that if the allied forces lost, they would not be able to reimburse the Americans. Thirdly, the sinking of the Lusitania in May 1915 off the Ireland coast by Germans enraged the Americans. It caused the death of 1000 passengers, 128 being civilians. Anti-German opinion, therefore, increased in America. Another reason was the unrestricted submarine warfare by the Germans (Keegan, 2014). The Germans were sinking civilian ships even after the Sussex pledge where they swore to stop this …show more content…

This was done through National Selective Service that set up the Random Lottery Program that registered men within 21-30 years to the military. Secondly, the War Industries Board overlooked the production of raw materials and the Food Administration agency coordinated the conservation of food. Also, the Railroad Administration rationed oil and coal use while the Committee on Public Information fueled propaganda that worked in support of the American troops (Tindall, 2016). Finally, the National Labor Board thwarted any strikes that would interfere with the war. Events after U.S Entry into the War Firstly, the entry of the Americans demoralized the Central Powers since they provided resources regarding manpower, food and ammunition to the British, French and Allied Forces. They also aided the allied forces defeat the Germans at the Second Battle of Mame. The Ludendorff Offensive was thus thwarted (Tindall, 2016). Finally, their entry also snatched victory from the Germans and led them to sign the armistice, making them concede defeat in November 1918. Woodrow’s Fourteen

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