World War I (Research Paper Sample)

World War I Student Name University Course Professor Name Date World War I World War I occurred from 1914 to 1918, causing a global challenge since it originated in Europe and influenced the world. The war involved approximately 70 million people, leading to the death of 7 million civilians and 9 million soldiers from different participant countries (Keene, 2021). This paper will critically expound on the origin of the First World War and explain its inevitability in 1914. Further, the report shall look at the possibility of the United States remaining neutral in the First World War and analyze whether the United States should have joined the First World War to enhance democracy by making the world safe. Lastly, the paper shall examine the effectiveness and fairness of the Versailles treaty in bringing a lasting solution to world peace and explain whether the Senate of the United States should have approved the treaty for implementation. Inevitability and Origin of World War I The First World War occurred in the early 20th century and can be linked to several interconnected factors leading to its cause. The assassination of an Austrian nationalist, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, by a Serbian citizen was the most significant cause of the First World War. It prompted Austria-Hungary to declare war against Serbia (Keene, 2021). This led to the activation of several alliances, as Germany declared war against Moscow and Russia, assisting Serbia. On the other hand, France sided with Russia in the conflict, and when Germany occupied Belgium, Britain sided with France. The inevitability of the First World War in 1914 was because of the high tension that affected the principal European power states. Several factors were linked to the simmering anxiety, such as imperialism, the alliance system, and nationalism. Imperialism, the nation's powerful influence and extension, was a significant factor as several countries aimed to expand their resources and territories. Moreover, the alliance system involved forming alliances among different countries, which led to suspicion and mistrust, thus causing World War I (Adamthwaite, 2021). Lastly is nationalism, which entails loyalty and patriotic pride in one's country, intensifying warfare as nations fight for their supremacy. According to my assessment, the war could have been avoided had the major European powers acted with diligence before the onset of the war. Nevertheless, this was not the case, and averting the conflict was challenging. The Neutrality of the United States in the World War I However, the possibility of the United States maintaining a neutral stand in the First World War was low. The solid economic relationship the US had with both Germany and Britain made it contemplate joining the world war as it feared breaking the existing bond (Keene, 2021). Moreover, the United States government was challenged to make a clear stand given the citizens' disparities in public opinion on the intervention move. Prominent European immigrants in the United States also caused the government a challenge in taking a position as the immigrants had relatives in Europe. Additionally, the Germans threatened the United States' policy on sea freedom, which had a policy on unguided warfare in a submarine (Holmes, 2022). The United States was ultimately forced into the war following a series of occurrences, including the capsizing of the Zimmerman Telegram and Lusitania, giving them a clear stand that being neutral in the war was a wrong priority. Should America have joined World War I The United States of America should have considered its entry into the First World War to set the world secure for democracy. The United States had the chance to help assure that future generations would not have to deal with the same risks that existed during World War I and to make the world a safer environment for democracy (Adamthwaite, 2021). The autocratic powers that headed the central authorities had no faith in democracy since they had already benefited tremendously in Europe. Had they succeeded in concurring with their allies, there is a high possibility that they could have done away with European democracy. America had the opportunity to impact world peace positively to ensure democracy and overcome the chances of adversities caused by World War I for future generations. Versailles Treaty Legibility On 28th June 1919, the Versailles treaty was signed to terminate the First World War between Germany and its allies. Despite being effective and fair in some instances, the treaty had shortcomings that influenced the onset of the Second World War. The shortcomings included the ridiculous number of consequences Germany had to cope with, the collapse of the League of Nations, and Japan's growth. On the positive side, the treaty stipulated that Germany had to compensate its allies and take responsibility for the war adversities (Steffek & Heinz, 2020). The treaty also mandated that Germany surrender its territories, reduce its military and compensate its allies. The treaty was obliged to create the League of Nations, an international organization to maintain peace and cohesion. It also created international organizations, including the League of Nations, to prevent the onset of another war. However, the treaty failed by allowing Germany to retain its military, which it could use to start another war in the future. Moreover, it did not address the economic and national problems that would perpetuate World War II. The United States Senate Approval of the Versailles Treaty The United States Senate should have approved the Treaty of Versailles because of its prac...