Yusuf Yasin Abdurrahman

History Term1 Final Research Paper

September14, 2013

Who was the most responsible country in World War One?

Obviously so many countries involved World War One and fairly could be blamed each one who participated the war. However, one of those countries may take more responsible of causing the war and turning it in to a general war in the entire of European continent. Although most countries in Europe were part of the war, there was some countries who was dominated and fueling the war. I want to clarify that Germany was more responsible of causing the war according to its acts during the war and before the war.

 The role of Imperialism and worldwide empires in World War 1

So many countries included Britain, France, and Russia were responsible of World War 1 to happen[1]. Those countries were aggressively expanding their empires throughout the rest of world. They began to build their own empire since they were strong powers in Europe. The result of this pushed Germany to compete with these countries and also began to have the same right as the other power nations in Europe. Competition started which eventually turned in to more aggressive approaches among European countries[2]. During this time, there was no negotiation among European countries to protect war in the future. Every country had its interest of their countries and their empires instead of the common interest of the continent or the rest of the world. This indicates how irresponsible and how bad European countries encouraged the eruption of the war among them. However, Germany could be blamed that they were the most responsible country of World War One according to their actions before and during the war.

The tension of alliances in Europe before World War 1

Years before the war, forming alliances were a great tension and were a signs of war[3]. Countries were struggling to form their strong alliance against their enemies or whoever they thought competing with them.  The tension increased until most of European countries formed their alliances against one another. For instance, Britain, Russia, and France formed their own alliance, Triple Entente, against Germany and Austria- Hungary[4]. On the other hand, Germany, Austria- Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria formed their alliance, Central Powers. In fact this was a sign of a war between these different alliances. It indicates that war may simply break out among them at any time.

The European countries did not control the deteriorating situation in Europe. Every country’s leaders cared their own interests and did not give the most priority to the common interest of Europe. This was wrong idea that prompted the explosion of a general war in Europe that severely affected the entire continent. However, one of those countries, Germany was fueling the situation. This means that Germany could be blamed the most responsible of causing the war.

Germany and its role in World War One

The Germans were the most responsible country in World War1in many factors[5]. [6]For instance when Kaiser Wilhelm 2 took the power of Germany, he turned German government to be more aggressive then it was before. He ended the peace treaty with Russia and that was not supported peace in the future of the two countries. Wilhelm2 began to treat the rest of the world in an aggressive way that other countries in Europe saw Germany as a threat to them. Germans aggression attracted the rests of European countries, and they began to prepare to stop Germany.  Those countries began to be careful of what is going on Germany. This was the sings of World War One.

The Germans began to create a worldwide empire as Britain and France had. This was the beginning of power competition among European countries[7]. One thing that prompted the war was that European countries began to increase their army forces[8]. However, this came after Germany begun to build their huge navy forces. This attracted the attention of the other European countries. Other countries like France, Britain, and Russia who had worldwide empires in many parts of the world feared attacks from Germany in the future. They saw Germany as a threat to their empires. For this reason, they began to increase their armies and prepare for any war from Germany. In fact, this shows the most powerful nations who are preparing full war against each other, and this prompted the war happen in the continent.

As usual, German leaders start conflicts since they changed their government in to more aggressive nation. One other thing that caused the war was the different alliances that European countries formed before the war. The Germans signed treaty with Austria- Hungary. This caused other European countries to start to form alliances that were anti against German’s acts in Europe. For instance, France, Russia, and Britain formed an anti group against Germany and its alliances. These alliances divided Europe and pledged in to conflict among them. Thus, even though many countries in Europe formed alliances, it shows that Germany always start conflicts and tensions among European countries. In this case, Germany took more responsibility of the starting the war in Europe.

In order to protect war and conflicts among countries, countries should respect one other and respect negotiations and treaties among them. Germany did never respect negotiations with the other alliances to protect general war in the continent. For instance while Britain was negotiating with Austria- Hungary to stop war against Serbia, the Germans did not support that peace negotiation to protect war. As the peace talks were going on, Germany declared war on Belgium and France. This indicates how Germans was discouraging the peace talks among European nations and how aggressive they were. This event forced Britain to stop the negotiation and involve in the war that Germany started. In fact, it is Germany’s fault to create general war in Europe. Germany challenged the effort of Britain to create peace between Austria- Hungary and Serbia. As a result war broke out that had a severe impact in the entire of worldwide.

Although many countries were part of the war, Germany was always violating the situation of the war[9]. For instance, in 1916, they had begun to turn the war in to more serious than it was before. They made a lot of battle in the sea[10]. They turned the war a sub-marine war fair. During this time, America was not part of the war. However, German’s military actions in the war forced United State to join the war and declared war against Germany. The Germans began to attack British shipping by their U-bouts. This was the idea to cut off supplies and the isolation of Britain from the rest of the world. The Americans had trade relationship with Britain and there were American trade ships to Britain. United State joined the war after their trade ships were attached by the German sub-marines. This prompted the American involvement in the war, and war turned in to a general war.

Finally, even though many countries involved the war, and could be blamed the responsibly of the war, one country could be more responsible according to its role of the war. By means of this, Germany was deteriorating the situation of the war. They did not support negotiations among Europe countries and they declared war against their neighboring countries. The Germans increase their armies to expand their empire which lead other countries to start preparation against Germans. In addition, the Germans forced other countries like America to be involved in the war. They attacked American trade shipping to Britain, and this eventually pledged America I to the war. Therefore, the Germans were more responsible World War One.

[1] Mulvey, Paul. The British Empire in World War II. Academic.edu

  [2]  Mulvey, Paul. The British Empire in World War II. Academic.edu

  [3] Holger H. Herwig,The origin of world war one, Cambridge university. 2003

[4] Holger H. Herwig,The origin of world war one, Cambridge university. 2003

[5] Yale Law School “The Dual Alliance between Austria-Hungary and Germany - October 7, 1879”, http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/dualalli.asp

[6] Democratic underground.com, World war  1: “Most responsible country” http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x70522

  [7] Alpha History “Militarism as a cause of World War 1” http://alphahistory.com/worldwar1/militarism/

[8] Alpha History “Militarism as a cause of World War 1” http://alphahistory.com/worldwar1/militarism/

[9] Howard, Michael "Europe on the Eve of the First World War" pages 21–34 from The Outbreak of World War I , 1997 page 26

Please review relevant themes, symbols, structure, and characters prior to the Joy Luck Club test. The attached document includes vocabulary that may be on the test.

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The class will be watching the film this week Tues/Wednesday. If you are not in class, it is your responsibility to come and get the film (on a flashdrive in my mailbox starting Tuesday Morning) and watch it. You also need to complete a short essay comparing the book and the film, and turn in this essay along with your 16 journal entries for the book. This is due no later than next MONDAY at 7am.

Joy Luck Club

Vocabulary Review

  Burst

Anchor

Formica

Rickshaw

Bloated

Meager

Stuffing

Consulate

Buffet

Morsel

Splinter

Scuff

Exasperated

Prospect

Fracture

Miniature

Smudge

Accompanist

Banquet

Dowry

Shriek

Concubine

Bloat

Tweezer

Chopsticks

scold

Deplete

Discard

Evict

Feast

Numbness

Brag

Flutter

Envied

Startle

Auspicious

Simmering

Crooked

Incense

Veranda

Warlord

Dumpling

Bracelet

Yelp

Gown

Frowned

Lament

Tunic

Thrash

Groan

Posterity

Billow

Squirm

Scamper

Vignette

Clench

Silhouette

Spatter

Retching

Hunch

Mild

Post prandial

Revelation

Exuberance

Slogan

Contaminate

Delirious

Swoon