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Word War l
World War I began in 1914 after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated. The murders led to war across Europe which lasted until 1918. During the conflict, the central powers which consisted of Austria, Germany Bulgaria, Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire waged war against ( the central powers ) which were; France, Great Britain, Russian, and the united states Keegan (2014). Apart from the assassination claims, there was the existence of other factors; raising concerns over the expansion of militaries by other countries which is believed to have led to a race in arms, the existence of long-standing ethnic differences, and the rise of nationalism by the Bulkens, fear of losing diplomatic and economic status, resentment by the French over the loss of their territory in the Franco- Prussian war in 1897 and there were external forces exerted by leaders in the military.
Coulomb et al. ( 2011) discuses that the war brought change on the economic balance in the world, where the European countries were left with a huge debt. The US gained economically because it was made the leading industrial power and a creditor to the rest of the world. Most countries were also affected by high inflation rates and Germany was one of the countries adversely affected where they had to pay for reparation.
Had Archduke not been killed, the situation would have turned out differently. This is because it is believed that he was one of the peacemakers with a voice in Austria and he strongly opposed the war on Serbia until to the point that he was killed. His death meant there was no voice and mediator in the conflicts with Austria. His death meant the existing excuse had been removed. The First World War was not inevitable and it’s possible for war to be avoided, and his death is what ignited the war among nations.
Works cited
Keegan, John. The first world war. Random House, 2014.
Coulomb, Fanny, Liliane Bensahel-Perrin, and Jacques Fontanel. “ECONOMISTS’CONTROVERSIES ABOUT THE CAUSALITY BETWEEN WAR AND ECONOMIC CYCLES.” Frontiers of Peace Economics and Peace Science (2011): 85.