>Example: World War 1 was the cataclysmic event which would end the lives of 10 million young european men, therefore destroying an entire generation of Europeans. It would end the empires of Russia, Germany, and AustriaHungary. Russia would resort to communism, which would promptly outlaw religion and impose a totalitarian government. HC: The Congress of Vienna in 1814 created an atmosphere of peace in Europe that would last 100 years. Peace congresses were held regularly from 18431907 and, since the mid 1800s, peace organizations had been attempting to present nonviolent solutions to European tensions. Though there were clashes such as the
FrancoPrussian war of 1871 and the Crimean War of 1853, war began to become a thing of the past. However, in the years leading up to 1914, rising tensions among
European powers would create a “powder keg” that required only the slightest spark to start a world war. Thesis: Although militarism set a belligerent atmosphere in Europe, in the end, a system of alliances, nationalism, and imperialism were what caused the first world war. 1. Militarism (Concession): Though militarism readied nations for war, created tension with detailed military plans, and caused an arms race, in the end it did not play a large role in causing the great war
a. Created an environment ready for modern war
i. Militarism not only called for more weapons, but also more advanced ones. World War one was a colossal step forward in terms of modern war.
1. Tanks were first introduced by the British in 1916 during the
Battle of the Somme against the Germans
2. Germans introduced submarines as warships in 1914
3. Poison gas introduced by Germans
4. Airplane warfare first used ii. (Analysis) With large armies and navies, a country would be more willing to