Be Mains Ready

Approach

• Provide general information about the world war I briefly.
• Discuss the geopolitical changes brought by the war.
• Give a suitable conclusion.

Introduction

The First World War destroyed empires, created numerous new nation-states, encouraged independence movements in Europe’s colonies, forced the United States to become a world power and led directly to Soviet communism and the rise of Hitler.

Body

Geopolitical Changes in the world:

• Rise of Global Powers: The War destroyed Czarist Russia, leading to a Bolshevik revolution and the creation of communist Soviet Union which impacted global politics for decades. WW-I laid the foundations for the global superpower confrontation decades later.
• Weakening of International Order: The idea of a unified Europe as an antidote to nationalism was discussed in 1919 after the War which became a reality much later after WW-II. World War I left behind a weak international order that later offered opportunities for conquest by Germany and other revisionist powers.
• Rise of new countries: From Sudan to Georgia and from Iraq to Greece, the collapse of the Ottoman empire gave rise to new countries and fueled conflicts that still reverberate in world politics.
• Widespread destruction: The impact of the first World War was hugely destructive as it caused millions of deaths, destruction of a young generation in many countries, epidemics, unemployment, famine, fall of European supremacy and the beginning of the rise of America.
• New technological breakthroughs: The War also produced many new developments in medicine, modern surgery, technology, warfare, politics and social attitudes. In 1914,the world was largely powered by horse, coal and steam. After it, oil production and use transformed the world which still impacts global politics.
• Changed social hierarchies: Decline of upper classes across Europe and changes in class structure, introduction of broad universal suffrage, explosion of trade unionism were some inevitable changes.

Other Consequences of the war:

• Economic consequences: World War I cost the participating countries a lot of money. Countries had to raise taxes and borrow money from their citizens. This led to inflation after the war.
• Political Consequences: World War I brought an end to four monarchies: Czar Nicholas II of Russia, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, Emperor Charles of Austria and the sultan of the Ottoman Empire had to step down.
  
  • New countries were created out of old empires. Austria- Hungary was carved up into a number of independent states.
  • Russia and Germany gave land to Poland. Countries in the Middle East were put under the control of Great Britain and France.
  • What was left of Ottoman Empire became Turkey
• Social Consequences: World war changed society completely. Birth rates declined because millions of young men died (eight million died, millions wounded, maimed, widows and orphans). Civilians lost their land and fled to other countries.
  
  • The role of women also changed. They played a major part in replacing men in factories and offices. Many countries gave women more rights after the war had ended, including the right to vote.
  • The upper classes lost their leading role in society. Young middle and lower class men and women demanded a say in forming their country after the war.
• Treaty of Versailles: On June 28, 1919, World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles was an attempt to prevent the world from going into another war.

Conclusion

Thus, WW-I social and political impact took years and decades of course correction. Many of its consequences are still at play on the world stage.