World War I remains among the prominent military actions that caused the deaths of millions and provided the political, social and economic directions that the world could take to avoid a similar conflict. Notably, attempts to determine the causes of WWI presents many reasons that concern various nation’s relations, political ideologies, and security issues among others.
Causes of World War I
Specifically, the occurrence of WWI is attributed to mutual defense alliances that various countries established to safeguard their borders. According to Maddox (2018), the mutual defense agreements state that the allied countries were obliged to collaborate in defending each other in case their partner was attacked by another nation. Among the Allied forces that existed at the onset of the conflict include Russia and Serbia, France and Russia, Japan and Britain and Germany and Austria Hungary among others. Additionally, the conflict was caused by imperialism practiced by nations who invaded each other territories to enlarge their borders and access raw materials. In particular, the beginning of WWI was characterized by imperialism that involved invasion of Africa and parts of Asia by world superpowers such as Germany and Britain hence causing conflicts according to their interest in economic resources and control of the regions. Furthermore, WWI was also influenced by the arms race that began at the onset of the 20th century as nations sought to secure their borders. Maddox elaborate that the Arms race was characterized by the development of superior weapons such as Warship, missiles, machine guns and military planes which nations such as Germany and Great Britain developed to suppress their enemies (2018). Additionally, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was also a major event the prompted the occurrence of WWI significantly.
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According to Maddox (2018), the murder of the leader of Austria-Hungary by the Serbian Black Hand terrorists in Sarajevo Bosnia caused the war when Austria resorted to attacking Serbia hence leading to more confrontations among their allies. Similarly, the rise of nationalism was also a major cause of the war following the people’s convictions to gain their independence and join their preferred allies. For instance, the Slavic people expressed the rise of nationalism by demanding to break from Austria-Hungary and join Serbia leading to the origin of ethnic wars that caused confrontation among the nations as well as their allies to protect each other’s sovereignty.
Why the United States Remained Neutral in World War I
The United States of America resorted to assuming a neutral position at the beginning of WWI due to various reasons that were relevant to the country’s interests. Among the reasons that promoted in the U.S to remain neutral in WWI include their foreign policies that prohibited the nation from engaging herself in the war caused by the Allies. According to Le Bon, Woodrow Wilson emphasized that America’s neutrality in the conflict was beneficial to her internal and international cohesion following centuries of conflicts among her citizens and the neighboring countries (2018).
The U.S remained neutral in World War I to secure her economic and political relations with other countries that were significant for her peace and sustenance. In particular, Maddox (2018) elaborates that 1914 was preceded by economic challenges that threatened not only citizens but sovereignty of various nations. To secure their nation's livelihood, President Woodrow Wilson recognized the need for establishing economic ties with various nations that were significant in her agricultural and manufacturing activities such as Great Britain and Japan. Instead of endangering her citizen’s lives, the U.S resorted to remain neutral by conducting her business with allies rather the engaging in the war to protect her sovereignty.
Why the United States Joined World War I
Despite their neutral position, the U.S was finally promoted to join World War I due to various reasons that ignited their interests. Among the prominent reasons that influenced U.S entry into the War according to Le Bon (2018) include the invasion of Belgium which was a neutral player in the conflict by the Germans. In particular, the U.S was saddened by atrocities that the Germans were meting against the Belgians who have resorted to maintaining peace by being neutral in the conflict. For instance, the U.S media houses were characterized by news about the murder of innocent people and the destruction of small towns in Belgium by the Germans. The situation led the U.S congress to vote for their entry in the war to save innocent people.
Additionally, the sinking of the Lusitania Ship also emerge as a major event that influenced the U.S to venture in World War I. Notably, the Lusitania Ship was a British passenger ship that was sailing to the coast of Ireland carrying about 1000 passenger including American citizens who were traveling to other parts of the world. Le Bon illustrates that Americans were agitated to join the war to revenge the death of their citizens and other innocent people who did not deserve the evil treatment from the Germans (2018). In addition to the ship, the U.S joined the conflict due to unrestricted submarine warfare that the Germans declared on all ships without warning. The decision prompted the U.S to engage in the War to prevent the Germans from killing more innocent people in the waters.
World War I was a defining moment for the world following its consequences. Among the reasons that caused the War to include imperialism, nationalism, the murder of the leader of Austria-Hungary and mutual defense agreements. Despite the conflict, the U.S remained neutral in the War to protect their foreign policies, maintain business relations and avoid more deaths. However, the invasion of Belgium, the Sinking of the Lusitania and the declaration of unrestricted submarine warfare by the Germans caused Americans to join World War I.
References
Le Bon, G. (2018). Psychology of the Great War: The First World War and Its Origins . Routledge.
Maddox, R. J. (2018). The United States and World War II. Routledge.
