The Long Lasting Impacts of World War 1

Woodrow Wilson wrote, “There is a war to end all wars”. Sadly, an estimated twenty million people lost their lives in World War I, but the impacts are as yet being felt a century after its conclusion. It was the deadliest war that included a greater number of nations and was more costly than any other war before it. The war changed women’s roles in that era due to all the pressure they had. Women would have to take care of everything while operating a household full of children and continuing their female roles. Furthermore, Massive deaths, demolition, and hatred after World War I left most nations unfit to recoup to an ordinary existence and harmed the world economy. Also, “The Treaty of Versailles” caused a big rise in the Germans which lead to World War 2. It is amazing that the impacts of World War I was as yet obvious decades later.

Firstly, there were a lot of unhappy individuals after the war due to the number of lives that were lost in the war. Due to the cruel methods used during the war and the losses suffered, World War I caused a lot of bitterness among nations, which also greatly contributed to World War II decades later. Furthermore, social life also changed, women had to run businesses while the men who did come home from the war, were injured physically or struggled mentally as a result of what they had experienced. The family’s main source of income was gone, all the pressure came upon women who had a role to look after the household, children and work. Next, labour laws started to be enforced due to mass production and mechanization, people all wanted better living standards. In addition, ladies still were not permitted to carry out all responsibilities that men did, and there was still disparity as far as wages and the abilities they were permitted to learn. The contribution made during the war by women was seen as a significant reason behind laws changing, and progress being made in terms of better equality and more open doors for them.

Secondly, the war changed the economical balance, leaving countries like Germany in deep debt. Countries have implemented trade, capital flow and immigration restrictions. Citizens become wary of foreigners. This protectionism set the stage for the Great Depression. Canada was a small country that was not focused on violence and was not economically stable back then, the war had come as a surprise as it was the British Empires war, so Canada was automatically at war, due to the country in the British Empire. This lead to Family’s not prepared for the outcomes of the war, they had no saving’s on the side because no one was informed on time. In addition, Exports from the United States to Europe increased, the United States spending expanded as these nations geared up for war. The harsh conditions of the Treaty of Versailles caused a great deal of dispute in Europe, particularly on the side of the Central Powers who had to pay a big sum for financial reparations. Economically, the war seriously disturbed Europe and enabled the United States to become the world's leading creditor and industrial power. Surprisingly this war cost more money than any war in history, $186 billion in direct costs and another $151 billion in indirect costs.

Thirdly, “The Treaty of Versailles” in 1919 imposed harsh terms on Germany forcing them to accept the blame for the war and to pay huge sums of money for the cost of the war, officially ending the war between Germany and the Allied Powers. Not only that but Germany lost a tenth of its land, Germany was stunned by the treaties strictness. It was mortifying and numerous individuals wanted retribution. It is not confirmed to state that World War I was a reason for World War Two, however, it is acknowledged that the disciplines put on Germany a consequence of the Treaty of Versailles after World War I added to the reasons for it. Furthermore, the time had come when Germany was unstable and in deep poverty, it was the ideal atmosphere for Adolf Hitler to gain power by making false promises to Germans and lead them to World War II.

To conclude, this war became known as the Great War because it affected people all over the world and was the biggest war anyone had ever known. It even came to be known as 'the war to end all wars', as no conflict before World War I had caused destruction on this scale before. The war left women responsible for everything changing their role in society, causing economies to break down, last but not least the Germans rising up after the Treaty to begin World War II. Although, people wanted to believe that nobody would ever want to go to war again after it.