The First World War and Its Impact on American Society

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Main Discussion
Conclusions
Annotated Bibliography
Reference

Introduction

The First World War of 1914-1918 encountered the United States with one of the most horrible crises in human history. The military politics of the greatest states of the world caused disruption and psychological frustration that germinated even more ruinous consequences for later generations. The horrors of the Great War, human tragedy, and games of politicians who resorted to mass violence – all these factors effected American people and distorted their culture and social welfare. In particular, the war contributed to formation of political ideology, which is commonly known as Wilsonian idealism. This policy consisted in democracy proliferation and freedom of speech manifestation both in the United States and in the European countries suppressed by common rivals. However, the concepts were accepted by people differently, as the majority criticized the principles of overt demonstration of capitalism leading to unnecessary military invasions.

Thesis Statement: On the one hand, the Wilson planned to advocate the democratic principles at the international level and to provide a shelter for ethnical minorities. On the other hand, American society experienced great changes that led to a total reevaluation of the meaning of war. The United States did not fully realize their relation to the European conflicts and the reason for sacrificing lives in the ideological war. The Wilsonian policy is also brightly reflected in the ideological strategies of George Bush Jr. whose reasons for invading to Iraq have still been disputable.

Main Discussion

Overview of preconditions and events of the First World War

German invasion to European countries and heavy repressions

German invasion was not only aimed at manifesting the absolute power of the nation. The Nazi troops were also attempting to suppress any displays of political independence and uniqueness. Indeed, the declaration of warfare had very sophisticated undertones spread at the international level. However, the most evident motive of the War was the creation of a powerful Empire with homogenous political strategies and ideologies deprived of any displays of liberal thinking and freedom of choice. Germany took a firm path of destruction and declared itself as the supreme nation.

As the result of these futile repressions, Germany managed to reveal the most vulnerable points of such powerful economies as France, Britain, Italy, and Russia. Michael Howard writes, “The Germans prided themselves on a uniquely superior culture that held the balance between the despotic barbarism of their eastern neighbor and the decadent democracy of the West” (2003, 11). It meant that this nation wanted to prevent the prosperity and modernization of the best European democracy and their technological advancement.

German intervention on all frontiers and the distortion of socialism and liberalism

As the United States were keeping pace with the events taking place in Europe, the government realized that this war could gnaw the entire world and the American nation in particular. They also understood that the military actions were directed against the democratic display as Germany was geared up for the elimination of all geographical and ideological boundaries. Their first raids on France and Belgium made those countries.

The outbreak of the First World War was also a calling to socialist systems and isolated policies of such countries as France and Great Britain. France and Britain expressed their pacifist spirits and were reluctant to accept the war. Liberal tendencies were also disclosed through the creation of liberally oriented trade unions so that middle class intellectual heritage had little impact on the country development (Strachman 2003, 132).

The war was also an outcome of the arm races and the result of concealed debates over these issues. The fight for military supremacy considerably contradicted the policy of pacifism and the international liberalism in the nineteenth century. In fact, those races were aimed at forming the military alliances and enhancing the political and social positions of the countries. Political and military confrontations and rapid growth of European countries could not make American people be indifferent. As a result, the world witnessed the creation of antagonistic and polarized Eastern and Western blocks.

Viewing the War as an effective tool for economic and social reforms

The political economy and American consciousness with the advent of the First World War

Kennedy states that Americans “elaborated vigorous and quite various ideas about the war and its meaning for America” (2004, 45). Their false remoteness from the war and a two-decade position of neutrality still kept Americans attached to the ongoing actions in Europe. This period allowed the United States to ponder on the significance of the war for American society and how the government could benefit from it. Hidden motives of entering the war provoked numerous discussions concerning the veritable stakes of military actions on the American part.

The American government firmly believed that war could become the immediate trigger of economical and social reforms. It sought for the reason to penetrate to the European Arena and established its firm ideological ground. Political leaders managed to make American soldiers to fight for the ideological principles of freedom and democracy.

Wilsonian Idealism and American relation to war in Europe

In the beginning of the Great War, Americans were trying to hold the positions of neutrality and, therefore, the government believed that, according to the international law, they had the right to conduct free trade with both sides. In this respect, Woodrow Wilson thought that the countries involved in the War completely ignored the possibility of peaceful negotiations. Instead, the President was confident that their neutral position would serve as an outright example for other nations to terminate the war (Keene, 2006, 5). The Great War has brought such elements as technological advancement and social marginalization into one course. The global industrialization and the arm races made all world nations face the modernity generating ethnic and international conflicts.

Neutral Policy of the United States based on of Wilson strategy

America’s intricate policy of neutrality revealed the ideological ground of Wilson’s political philosophy. Wilsonian idealism originated from a particular culture and social class. The supporters of these concepts discouraged mass politics and firmly believed that political groups had been formed to protect their own interest but not the common good (Steigerwald, 1994, 9). As a result, their politics was more oriented the international liberalism and democracy proliferation. This is why the economic needs of the European countries contradicted the American international policy. This, probably, influenced the Wilson’s decision to enter the First World War.

Wilson’s ideology also involved cultural and ethnical issues; “Wilsonians drew from America’s common-sense tradition and defined the common good as the result of enlightened self-interest tempered by human reason” (Steigerwald, 1994, 11). In this respect, the policy of self-interest revealed by German government was another solid ground for the United States to start a military invasion. Germany was the country that neglected the interests of American economic partners thus striving to restore the imperialistic dictatorship.

International Dimension

For Wilsonians, the internationalism was the best instrument for upholding liberal idealisms. Internationalism contributed to reconciliation of technological outbreak, as the world interdependence and cooperation lessened people’s necessity for creating technology of mass destruction.

In respect to the World Wars, America resorted to belligerence owing to Wilson’s assumption that “a saving mission was a part of the providential plan for the world” (Streib 1948, 272) The idealism presented in this War could be compared with Utopian concept about an ideal political and social system peacefully cooperating. Hence, the main slogan of the Great War sounded as follows: “They are fighting to uphold the principles and ideals of civilization and human process” (Streib 1948, 277). The American state took the role of the national hero that would save the world from the totalitarian invasion. The above-cited slogans showed that most of American people did not perceive the veritable scope of their sacrifices in the War. This reveals the ambiguous motives of America’s participation both in First World War and in the Second World War and the idealistic accent made it even more absurd.

The post war period and current situation

Wilsonianism its application in the policy of George Bush

Wilsonianism policy of global policy and international democracy sounded like a utopia, especially for times of the Great War. This was a calling to the age of technological modernization and revolution and the fight for the international liberalism. Therefore, the controversy of this political ideology continues to be the main topic for discussion nowadays, as most Wilson’s provisions have become the main principles of ‘American democracy’ (Clements 2004, p. 63). Wilson’s policy has not gained a unanimous approval as on the other hand the declaration of war was no the most reasonable decisions for satisfying the political and ideological purposes. On the other hand, German politics did not have any reasonable justification at all.

Historical heritage predicted the future of America’s international cooperation. Wilson’s strategies have been also perpetuated in the policies of George Bush Jr. in Iraq. His military action against the East, which had no rational ground, fostered a wave of indignation and disapproval on the part of European and Asian countries. Indeed, the situation was aggravated by the fact that Bush had apparent motives of material enrichment rather than other noble incentives.

The outcomes of the First Word War of contemporary America

The events of the Great War have remained rather disputable and ambiguous due to many nuances and unsolved disputes. Wilsonian idealism, therefore, have greatly contributed to contemporary image of the government and its political culture.

Conclusions

The Great War was a logical outcome of the economical and ideological crises. Therefore, this war has different meaning for each country pursuing different ambitions. American society, hence, perceived the warfare as the ideological struggle generated by Wilsonian idealism.

Annotated Bibliography

Clements, Kendrick. 2004. Wilson and World War I. Presidential Studies Quarterly. 34, no. 1: 62-82.

The article investigates the underpinning of America’s decision to enter World War I. Clements argues that Wilson’s policy against German government as the result of complex interactions of ideological assumptions and historical personalities during 1914-1915. The peaceful politics and neutral position of the United States led Americans to misconceptions concerning the real intentions of German government. By applying the qualitative approach to research, the author tries to discover the evidence of inevitability of America’s entering the war. Hence, he provides numerous arguments in defense of his points of view and relies of legal issues stipulating the freedom and right of American submarines to pass though the war territory freely. In this way, Clements proves that Wilson’s decision was superficial and did imply any in-depth analysis of the situation. The article is of great value for this particular research, as it disclose some aspects of reasons of American’s participation in the Great War.

Howard, Michael. 2003. The First World War. US: Oxford University Press.

The books is a historical narration about the origins and outcomes of the international conflict between Germany and other developed countries of the world seeking for political and social self-determination. According to the author, the war embodies the principles of the governmental policy, military activities, and personal factor. This, perhaps explains some gaps of Wilson’s rational concepts and, therefore, it will be of high importance of the research under consideration.

Keene, Jennifer D. 2006. World War I. US: Greenwood Publishing Group.

The book is based on narrated experiences of American victims of the horrific war. The author also describes the events of trench warfare and brave soldiers coping with devastating military actions. Impressive bibliographies narrating the abhorrent pictures of military actions provide a better idea of strategies of political leaders. The book will greatly contribute to our research as it places an emphasis of the ambiguity of motives established by German government and Wilsonian ideolism.

Strachan, Hew. 2003. The First World War: To Arms. US: Business Media, Inc.

The main aspects of the book are more focused on the impact of the First World War on further events in the twentieth century. The author manages to cover the economic, diplomatic, and social history and combine these angles with military actions held in 1914-1918. Further, the researcher provides an analysis of such events as arms races and issues of national security as the trigger of the war. Therefore, the book will be rather helpful for the research, as it clarifies some ambiguous points.

Streib, Gordon F. 1948. Idealism and War Bonds: Comparative Study of the Two World Wars. Oxford University Press. 12, no.2: 272-279.

Streib provides a comparative analysis of motives and outcomes of two Word Wars that have totally changed the contemporary world and international policies. In particular, the author puts forward the idea that the First World War was more ideologically predetermined, as it encompasses solid strategic and political incentives of the rise of military actions. The researcher also compares cultural and social underpinnings of the wars and their outcomes thus submitting an assumption that in both cases America had an insufficient ground for entering the war. The article closely relates to the thesis of the given research, as it discloses certain motives of participation of the United States in the international conflict.

Streigerwald, David.1994. Wilsonian Idealism in America. US: Cornell University Press.

The book presents the chronicles of the main concepts of Wilsonian Idealism as the introduction of American policy against modernization and technological revolution. The author also pursues the development of the American internationalist movements, and the rise Wilsonian liberalism based on self-interest as an access to political prosperity. The author also describes the post-idealistic views and the way they influenced the free market irrespective of the World Wars and ongoing repression in first half of the twentieth century. The article is of great values for our scientific exploration, as it also investigates the future outcomes of the international liberalism and its contribution to liberal industrialization.

Reference

Clements, Kendrick. 2004. Wilson and World War I. Presidential Studies Quarterly. 34, no. 1: 62-82.

Howard, Michael. 2003. The First World War. US: Oxford University Press.

Keene, Jennifer D. 2006. World War I. US: Greenwood Publishing Group.

Kennedy, David M. 2004. Over Here: The First World War and American Society. US: Oxford University Press.

Strachan, Hew. 2003. The First World War: To Arms. US: Business Media, Inc.

Streib, Gordon F. 1948. Idealism and War Bonds: Comparative Study of the Two World Wars. Oxford University Press. 12, no.2 (Summer): 272-279.

Streigerwald, David.1994. Wilsonian Idealism in America. US: Cornell University Press.

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