Essay Example on Comparing WWI & WWII: Causes & Effects on Global History

This essay compares the similarities and differences in the causes of World War I and World War II. The entities the article dwells on are First World War and the Second World War. This essay targets history students in colleges. The main points tackled in the article include; nationalism, militarism, Imperialism, the formation of alliances, and isolationism.

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The First World War and the Second World War both resulted in devastating effects globally. Both wars were a significant turning point in History. To date, the effects of the war are visible. These wars have similarities in what caused them, for example, colonization of overseas countries. However, there were also differences, for instance, the underlying circumstances before the wars. A sense of nationalism took over Europe in 1990(Levy & Thompson, 2011). At around this time, Germany assumed it was the ruler over Europe. Germans felt that Britain was threatening its power because Britain was supreme on the sea. Britain's superiority on the seas deterred Germany from gaining more colonies abroad. Germany needed the colonies to source resources required in the maintenance of its army(Kahn, 1980).

On the other hand, Britain was apprehensive of Germany's increase in power through the acquisition of colonies. An intense rivalry brewed between these two nations as a result of this. This rivalry was the long term reason World War happened. A sense of nationalism was also the long term cause of the Second World War. The Italians and the Germans were disgruntled with the terms of the Versailles Treaty. As a result of this treaty, nationalism grew among the Germans and the Italians. Nationalism developed in these two nations as fascism. In Italy, Mussolini's rise to power g fuelled by the idea that Italy was the best country in Europe. Most Italians believed that Mussolini could build a nation as high as the Roman Empire had been. A similar feeling was developing in Germany under their leader Adolf Hitler (Mills & Mills, 1958). Hitler created the Nazi Party in Germany. The Germans believed that they were the most superior race, both mentally and physically. Hence, nationalism developed among the Germans under their fascist leader. As a result of nationalism, Italy and Germany became strong European powers. Both their skills rivaled the power of Britain. Germany's and Italy's Nationalism is the long term cause of World War II (Howard & Howard, 1984).

Another cause for both wars was militarism. Before the start of the war in 1914, Germany had managed to build a robust, successful, and efficient army. Germany's army had won the battles against France (1870) and Austria Hungary (the 1860s). Germany had the muscle to maintain its military as a result of the industrial revolution. The weapons used by Britain's army were inferior to those of the German army. Backed by its powerful army, Germany embarked on expanding its control overseas (Kahn, 1980). Militarism was also the cause of the Second World War. Japan was obsessed with gaining more natural resources and land to expand its war factories. Japan wanted to gain control over all the pacific countries. On December, 7th 1941, Japan's aircrafts attacked the US Naval Headquarters at Pearl Harbor. The attack caused the death of 2500 Americans, and an additional 1,2oo were injured. The United States declared war on Japan a day after the Pearl Harbor attack (Levy & Thompson, 20110).

The last similarity among the causes of the wars was Imperialism. During the onset of World War one, several European countries had colonies. The French-owned most of Indonesia and Northern Africa. Portugal owned East Indies. Belgium had interests in Africa. However, Germany had very few countries to colonize in Africa (Mills & Mills, 1958).

Similarly, in 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria, a Chinese province. China appealed for help from the League of Nations. The League did not respond to China's request. Member countries of the League of Nations were facing economic difficulties, occasioned by the Great Depression. Nothing was done. Thus Japanese Imperialism grew, and Manchuria became a colony of Japan (Howard & Howard, 1984).

One difference in the causes of the wars is alliances. Despite the European Nations occasional disagreements, they realized that division would cost them. At the end of the first decade of the century, there was a shift in the alliances (Kahn, 1980). Fearing the strength Germany was gaining, France, England, and Russia formed a coalition called the Triple Entente. Germany also formed the Triple Alliance with Italy and Austria Hungary in response. The purpose of the alliances was to avoid war. No country would dare attack a member of the coalition, for the other countries would help.

On the other hand, America went back to its policy of isolationism. It did not want to meddle in the affairs of other countries. America believed that signing alliances would drag her into wars. She had nothing to do. Several states adopted this attitude of isolationism, and it became a cause of the Second World War (Kahn, 1980). Another difference is, the appeasement policy got used to gain more power and territory in World War I, unlike the Second World War, where appeasement was left out. Several political figures viewed the Versailles Treaty as too harsh on the Germans. Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, was the loudest advocate for appeasement only to become the greatest victim of Hitler. Chamberlain firmly believed the only to averting another war was giving in to some of Hitler's demands. He realized at the end that Hitler was not a trustworthy man (Mills & Mills, 1958).

The causes of the first and second world wars have similarities as well as differences. The formation of alliances was a significant cause of the war; however, isolationism was also a significant factor that led to World War II. Despite the differences and similarities, both wars occurred, and the effects were devastating.

References

Howard, M., & Howard, M. E. (1984). The causes of wars and other essays. Harvard University Press.

Kahn, D. (1980). Codebreaking in World Wars I and II: The major successes and failures, their causes, and their effects. The Historical Journal, 23(3), 617-639.

Levy, J. S., & Thompson, W. R. (2011). Causes of war. John Wiley & Sons.

Mills, C. W., & Mills, C. W. (1958). The causes of world war three. New York: Simon and Schuster.