For many years imperialism had contributed to a countries wealth and power. The ancient Egptians, Roman Empire, and Chinese empire practiced it and succeeded in being great. This practice can be considered a factor of nationalism because pride for one's country can lead to wanting to spread it's territories, believe, and language. Having excessive confidence in any thing especially a piece of land (whether large or small) idea, language, or just believe is absurd. Furthermore, when nationalism has settled in and that nation is being glared at by other minor nations who are looking for advancement, militarism, the believe that a nation or state needs a large military force ready at all times for attack, means war is underway. In the case of World War 1; the war to end all wars, alliances was a key factor to it being so great in contrast but ghastly still. It all went something like this: when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Germany and the Ottoman Empire jumped into the war siding with Austria-Hungary. Serbia was aided by Russia, France, Britain and 27 nations in total. When Archduke Ferdinand was assinated the batle line was drawn.
The people of America could not stay neutral and allow it's power be ridiculed and underestimated. Citizens were being killed, and telegraphs posing legitimate threat to the Untied States was being used as tools. A British cruiser, the Luisitania, yeilding only 128 Americans, weapons and artillery was drowned. Though the American citizens on the cruiser were but a few they were still Americans. The first offense angered the Americans but the second posed a serious threat. The Zimmerman telegraph on it's way to Mexico beseeching Mexico to enter the war on the side of the Triple Alliance, in return for the southern American states they took made America Join the war before Germany did any further harm.
The first world war ended when Germany could not fight the Allies on land or by sea. In the treaty of Versailles Germany was forced to accept responsibilty for causing the war. Her military was downsized, she had to pay certain nations on the Allies side restoration money (approximately $31.4 billion dollars back then, now worth about $385 billion). President Woodrew Wilson's 'Fourteen Points' focused on peace settlement. It reprimanded secret dealings among European nations and proposed 'open covenants of peace'. Only 6 of the points were edited in the treaty; 7,8,10,11,13, and 14.
- Evacuation of German troops from Belgium.
- Evacuation and restoration by Germany of French territory, with restoration to
- France of Alsace-Lorraine.
- Opportunity of autonomous development for the peoples of Austria-Hungary.
- Evacuation by the Central Powers of Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania; granting of seaports to Serbia; and international guarantees of the political and economic independence and territorial integrity of the Balkan states.
- An independent Poland with access to the sea.
- Establishment of a general association of nations to afford mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to large and small nations alike.
