John (Jack) O’Connell American C. II P. Galgano 08/15/12 U.S. entry and efforts in WW1 When World War 1 erupted in 1914. Woodrow Wilson announced on August 4th, 1914 that the U.S. would stay out of the controversy and remain a neutral role in World War 1. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of the Austria-Hungary Empire by Serbia ignited the domino affects that lead the U.S. into WW1. The Austria-Hungary Empire had the Triple Alliance with Germany and Italy. Germany at the time was the most powerful single country in Europe, but it’s weak allies required Germany’s support on their various fronts.
Between 1864 and 1865 he promoted an alliance with Austria reasoning that this would allay the fears of the southern German states, which were more naturally inclined towards Vienna than Berlin. This cooperation seemed to reach a climax in 1864 with the joint Austro- Prussian intervention against Denmark and the occupation of Schleswig and Holstein. Bismark hoped that Austria would concede to Prussia the lions share of political influence in Northern Germany. Also
The unification of Germany, to a certain extent, was achieved due to the contribution of Otto von Bismarck. This essay will discuss the impact that Bismarck had and also other factors that had an effect on German unification. These other factors include the rise of nationalism with in German states and economic changes such as the Zollverein. The boost in industrialisation and also the expansion of the railway network which had the domino effect on the sudden population growth also had a role in German unification. Firstly we will look at the role of which Bismarck played towards German unification.
The second fact we will look at is who attacked who first. The final fact is what key fact that France believed about the war. The first thing that we need to consider is the Franco-Russian Alliance. The alliance was animated by the common desire to preserve peace having no other objective than to meet the necessities of a defensive war. If any of the triple alliance attacks either Russia or France, the other will send aid.
By 1531 the Schmalkaldic League was set up as a united defence alliance by protestant princes in response to Charles’s threat of eradicating Lutheranism. Despite the failure of the league itself in 1547, it is considered a success in the way that Lutheranism was now exclusively established and was growing ever more powerful, and could not be eradicated by a brute force. By the end of the Reformation in 1555 Lutheranism was finally recognised as a valid religion by Charles due to the previous treaty the Peace of Augsburg which was primarily a princely movement. The princes were significant in creating an atmosphere in which Lutheranism was successful in that they were able to respond well to Luther’s theological ideas. The German Princes established a national figurehead who they could look to for ideology and bravery to drive the Reformation.
Considering that Realpolitik focused on preventing a war within Europe and Weltpolitik aggressively asserted German dominance, it can be validly argued that this direct change in German foreign policy played a major role in bringing about the First World War. Another reason that German foreign policy was so greatly scrutinized was because of the Anglo-German naval rivalry which was creating tension within Europe. As long as Germany built, Britain would be a German enemy. The German government dramatically increased the development of German Ships. [i] This arms race and change in German foreign policy, believing they needed to control the seas was seen as a definite and direct cause
Great Britain, although officially neutral, had an elite opinion favouring the Confederacy and a public opinion favouring the United States. Concerned largely with Free Trade, diplomacy and the evasion of all-out war against America, Great Britain influenced and contributed to the outcome of the Civil War by utilising its powerful position to cleverly invest themselves in industrial aspects of the war, which proved beneficial to its relations with America as a whole. The reasons for the Civil War were copious and complex, but the motivation and direct cause of the secession revolved around the election of President Abraham Lincoln. With his inauguration came his policy to abolish slavery, which he
IB History Anagnostopoulou - Merkouri Alkistis “To what extent was the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine the main cause of Germany’s difficulties in foreign policy in the years 1871-1890?” During 1871-1890, the Chancellor of Germany, Otto von Bismarck, faced numerous difficult situations, which tested his ability to implement an effective foreign policy. Although he is well known for his success in unifying Germany into a politically and administratively integrated nation, his reign was certainly not without problems. On the18th of January, 1871, he pursued pacific policies in Europe, his main aim being to keep France isolated from Europe, while also targeting the formation of alliances with the other Great Powers. In addition, he sought to generally maintain the existing borders of the European sovereign states, by balancing and consolidating the power between the nations. Bismarck’s desire was to alienate France from European affairs, a France which had become resurgent and powerful after the Franco-Prussian war.
It was the challenge of the previously un-opposed British Navy which would provide the vital foundation for the expansion of Germany’s empire and the Pan-Germanist aspirations. In 1914, Germany thought itself as the
Prussia meekly complied with the status quo, and indeed supported it in the start as the rulers of the states needed nationalism gone to maintain their thrones. Despite this, as time went on, there were signs of growing Prussian power. Prussia became a focal point for nationalist feeling for Germany when she abolished serfdom, improved education, and created a mass army after her humiliating defeats by France in 1806 that pushed her to improve her economy and military. She then used this army to fight France in the “War for Liberation”,