DBQ Essay
Dominic Enriquez
Period 2
AP World History
Four main causes known as Nationalism, Imperialism, Militarism, and Alliance Systems were responsible for the breakout of World War I in Europe and all over the world. The majority of the war was fought in Europe between Russia, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, and Austria Hungary but later engagements were carried out in the Southern and Southwestern fronts near Africa and other colonies. The entire worldwide event took place over a period of four years from the declaration of war in 1914 to the peace agreement of Armistice in 1918. Tension in Europe during the 1900’s and even before so promoted the harsh behavior of the countries towards each other. What set off the calamity was what the countries themselves planned to solve the war with and how poorly those plans were executed. It all originated from a concept called Nationalism. Nationalism caused the war because it changed the way people thought about the world and it increased their patriotism. All the citizens and troops of the governments involved saw was the good and the benefits for their country, but never what that could possibly mean for the future of others. It angered other countries so that there was already tension. Nationalism is the concept of being so aggressively proud of one’s country that the person is willing to put personal affairs and benefits of the country above foreign affairs and the welfare of the world. The unofficial national anthem of Britain, originally a poem written by the Scottish poet James Thomson portrays Britain’s position in the world “dread and envy of them all” (Document 5). In this poem, it expresses how much pride that the British have in their country through how it describes Britain as being great and above all other countries. The Kaiser of Germany, Wilhelm, told his soldiers that they “will be home before the leaves have fallen from the trees” (Document 2). The Kaiser was so confident in his army that they would
Period 2
AP World History
Four main causes known as Nationalism, Imperialism, Militarism, and Alliance Systems were responsible for the breakout of World War I in Europe and all over the world. The majority of the war was fought in Europe between Russia, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, and Austria Hungary but later engagements were carried out in the Southern and Southwestern fronts near Africa and other colonies. The entire worldwide event took place over a period of four years from the declaration of war in 1914 to the peace agreement of Armistice in 1918. Tension in Europe during the 1900’s and even before so promoted the harsh behavior of the countries towards each other. What set off the calamity was what the countries themselves planned to solve the war with and how poorly those plans were executed. It all originated from a concept called Nationalism. Nationalism caused the war because it changed the way people thought about the world and it increased their patriotism. All the citizens and troops of the governments involved saw was the good and the benefits for their country, but never what that could possibly mean for the future of others. It angered other countries so that there was already tension. Nationalism is the concept of being so aggressively proud of one’s country that the person is willing to put personal affairs and benefits of the country above foreign affairs and the welfare of the world. The unofficial national anthem of Britain, originally a poem written by the Scottish poet James Thomson portrays Britain’s position in the world “dread and envy of them all” (Document 5). In this poem, it expresses how much pride that the British have in their country through how it describes Britain as being great and above all other countries. The Kaiser of Germany, Wilhelm, told his soldiers that they “will be home before the leaves have fallen from the trees” (Document 2). The Kaiser was so confident in his army that they would