The First World War was one of the most devastating wars in history and it was fought in Europe and other parts of the world from 1914 until 1918 The war was between the allied forces including France, Britain, Russia, and the United States against the Central Powers including Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. The war was caused by a variety of factors ranging from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand to military alliances and rivalries between the major nations of Europe. It was also a war of attrition with both sides suffering huge causalities and a huge economic strain on the world. In this essay, I will explain the causes and events of the First World War and then give my five best essay topics on the subject.
The causes of the First World War can be divided into a long-term, short-term and immediate causes. The long-term causes included the military alliances and rivalries such as the Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy and the Triple Entente between Britain, France and Russia. The short-term causes included the naval arms race between Germany and Britain, the Moroccan crises and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The immediate cause was the declaration of war by Austria-Hungary on Serbia after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand.
At the start of the war, both sides expected a short, victorious war but it eventually turned into a long and cost both sides greatly in terms of lives and money. The early stages of the war were fought mainly along the Western Front with the battles of Verdun and the Somme being amongst the bloodiest. The war quickly became a war of attrition with both sides digging into trenches and using new weapons like machine guns and tanks. The entry of the United States into the war in April 1917 soon shifted the balance of power and ultimately lead to the end of the war.
The following five essay topics provide excellent discussion points about the First World War.
1. The role of propaganda in the First World War: How did governments on both sides use propaganda to influence public opinion and inspire patriotism?
2. How did technological advances during the First World War change the nature of warfare and what effect did they have on the outcome of the war?
3. The impact of the First World War on world politics: How did the war lead to the establishment of the League of Nations and the rise of dictatorships in Europe?
4. The First World War and the development of economics: How did the war lead to economic depression and the rise of Keynesian economics?
5. The social effects of the First World War: How did the war affect women, African Americans and other minorities in society?