Events leading to the World War I

Indirect Causes

* Ethnic and political rivalries

- Increasing nationalist sentiment cause anxiety in imperial countries such as England, France, Ottoman Empire, and Austria-Hungary that faces nationalism movement.

- The rise of ethnic nationalism coincided with the growth of Serbia, where anti-Austrian sentiment was perhaps most fervent. A Balkan war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia was considered inevitable, as Austria-Hungary’s influence waned and the Pan-Slavic movement grew.

- Increasing nationalist sentiment also coincided with the decline of the Ottoman Empire. Russia supported the Pan-Slavic movement, motivated by ethnic and religious loyalties and a rivalry with Austria dating back to the Crimean War.

*Economic and political competition

- The unlimited competition of searching raw materials for industry and expanding market lead to rivalries between countries both in economic and politic.

*Balance of Power and Militarism

- One of the goals of the foreign policies of the Great Powers in the pre-war years was to maintain the ‘Balance of Power’ in Europe.

- The rising needs of military alliances between countries, Germany had a treaty with both Italy and Austria – Hungary or known as Triple Alliances. France, looking for an ally to balance the threat created by Germany, found it in Russia and Britain or known as Triple Entente.

Direct Cause

- The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the Archduke of Austria – Hungary.

The Austro-Hungarian government used the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand as a pretext to deal with the Serbian, supported by Germany. On 23 July, an ultimatum was sent to Serbia with demands so extreme that it was rejected. The Serbians, relying on support from Russia, instead ordered mobilization. In response to this, Austria-Hungary issued a declaration of war on 28 July.

Reasons for U.S. involvement in war

• Inability to remain neutral

• German submarine warfare — the sinking of Lusitania

• U.S. economic and political ties to Great Britain

The Effects of World War I

* Politic

- The rise of new nations in Eastern Europe and Middle East.

- German and its allies lost their conquered territories to the winning countries (The Allies).

- The failure of Liberalism leads to the establishment of Totalitarianism government.

* Economic

- World’s economy in crisis, many countries suffered bankruptcy after the war ended (great depression).

- The failure of capitalism leads to the establishment of Economic dictatorship or Etatism, where government controls the nation’s economic system.

* Social

- Large casualties, prisoners of wars, and the chaos led to a collective trauma among participating countries.

- The rising supports toward peace led to the establishment of League of Nations.

- Women and labor played significance roles during the war.

U.S. leadership as the war ended

• At the end of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson prepared a peace plan that called for the formation of the League of Nations, a peace-keeping organization.

• The United States decided not to join the League of Nations.

Resources:

- Matroji, 2004, Sejarah SMP Jilid 2, Erlangga, Jakarta

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I

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The World War II

Essential Knowledge

Causes of World War II

• Political instability and economic devastation in Europe resulting from World War I

– Worldwide depression

– High war debt owed by Germany

– High inflation

– Massive unemployment

• Rise of Fascism

– Fascism is a political philosophy in which total power is given to a dictator and individual freedoms are denied.

– Fascist dictators included Adolf Hitler (Germany), Benito Mussolini (Italy), and Hideki Tojo (Japan).

– These dictators led the countries that became known as the Axis Powers.

The Allies

• Democratic nations (the United States, Great Britain, and Canada) were known as the Allies. The Soviet Union joined the Allies after being invaded by Germany.

Allied leaders included Franklin D. Roosevelt and later Harry S. Truman (United States), Winston Churchill (Great Britain), Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union)

Gradual change in American policy from neutrality to involvement

• Isolationism (Great Depression, legacy of World War I)

• Economic aid to Allies

• Direct involvement in the war

War in the Pacific

• Rising tension developed between the United States and Japan because of Japanese aggression in East Asia.

• On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor without warning.

• The United States declared war on Japan.

• Germany declared war on the United States.

Major events and turning points of World War II

• Germany invaded Poland, setting off war in Europe. The Soviet Union also invaded Poland and the Baltic nations.

• Germany invaded France, capturing Paris.

• Germany bombed London and the Battle of Britain began.

• The United States gave Britain war supplies and old naval warships in return for military bases in Bermuda and the Caribbean.

• Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.

• After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Germany declared war on the United States.

• The United States declared war on Japan and Germany.

• The United States was victorious over Japan in the Battle of Midway. This victory was the turning point of the war in the Pacific.

• Germany invaded the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union defeated Germany at Stalingrad, marking the turning point of the war in Eastern Europe.

•American and Allied troops landed in Normandy, France, on D-Day to begin the liberation of Western Europe.

• The United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) in 1945, forcing Japan to surrender and ending World War II.

Discussion Topic:

· How did post-World War I Europe set the stage for World War II?

· How did the rise of fascism affect world events following World War I?

· How did American policy toward events in Europe and Asia change over time?

· What drives the Japanese to occupy Indonesia during the World War II?

Resources:

- Matroji, 2004, Sejarah SMP Jilid 2, Erlangga, Jakarta

- Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial Terpadu SMP / MTs Jilid 3, Bumi Aksara, Jakarta

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_War

A good laugh is healthy…

Last July, I visited Thailand with a friend and there we learn a little bit of its history. One of attractions that we visited is Ayuthaya, the former capital of Thailand just outside the Bangkok city limits, a beautiful tranquil city of spectacular ruins.

Ayuthaya attracts many visitors who wish to explore the many historic Buddhist wats (temples) that are scattered throughout the city. The condition of the ruins varies and some are more picturesque than others.

Well, Try to compare them with the Borobudur in Indonesia, what do you think?

Welcome to my blog!

Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon… must inevitably come to pass!

(Paul J. Meyer)