Political Climate of the Early 1910s leading up to WWI
When looking at what event led to Great Britain entering WWI, it’s important to understand the political climate of the early 1910s. Inaccess to ascertain which nations were at risk, this climate served as the foundation of WWI. Several factors served to increase international tension in Europe throughout this period. Britain was engaged in colonial rivalry with other European powers, several of which had a vested interest in the Balkans and Ottoman Empire. Britain expected to find an enemy in Germany, as the two countries had a long-standing rivalry between them.
It was an era of nationalism, with Germans and French feeling bitterly towards each other, largely due to their past wars. With the emergence of new technologies, such as planes and tanks, countries were now better equipped to fight each other. Meanwhile, an Enlightenment-era liberal and humanitarian sentiment that had been spreading through Europe for the last two centuries was becoming acutely focused in many circles, raising questions about a state’s assumed right to wage war. Nations were increasingly interventionist, especially Britain and its allies.
Additionally, at this time period there was a growing interest in military expansion, with countries such as Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey taking active steps to expand their forces. This was in part due to the rapid industrialization of the early-20th-century, providing nations with the resources they needed to fund and use new technologies for warfare. This redrawing of the balance of power in Europe also led to the increasing militarization of the continent.
This all culminated to create a charged political state in Europe throughout the early 1910s. Of course, the situation was exacerbated by several other factors such as the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war on Serbia, and Germany’s refusal to restrict militarization. With tensions running high and no diplomatic solution in sight on August 4th, 1914, Great Britain declared war on Germany.
It is often said that at the start of the 20th century, the British navy was the most powerful out of any nation. Britain had the largest number of battleships and cruisers and thus her allies – primarily France and Russia – relied on this great navy for protection. As a result, the British had a vested interest in keeping the German navy in check. This was a point of contention between the British and German governments as they vying for dominance the seas.
Furthermore, before WWI had started, the British had supported various foreign policies that showed their inclination towards entering the war. This included a commitment to Belgium’s neutrality, which had been disregarded by the Germans and the British had immediately declared war as a consequence. In addition, the British public had expressed a large amount of sympathy for their Russian counterparts who were fighting aginst the Ottomans. On top of this, the British government had recently expressed its opposition to several of Germany’s foreign policies.
As such, when Germany declared war on Russia and Britain, it was largely considered an inevitability that the British would follow suit. Thus, these naval strength and political policies acted as a key factor in prompting the British to enter WWI.
Effect of the British Media
Alongside the naval strength and political policies, another important factor that had an effect on the British’s decision to enter WWI was the role of the media. At the time, the British public had an appetite media and news that was increasingly focused on overseas events, in part due to the greater availability of foreign correspondents. This meant that the stories of the atrocities occurring in the Balkans and Eastern Europe were quickly spread around Britain.
Furthermore, British newspapers widely reported on the provocative actions of Germany and its allies in Europe. This fueled a sense of moral outrage and injustice among the British public and led to an increased support for the allied cause. This growing public sentiment meant that when Britain did eventually enter the war, it was with the public’s support.
Political Factors and Its Impact on Britain’s Entrance
At the outset of WWI, the British government knew they would have to declare war on Germany for numerous political reasons. On one hand, they had publicly derided German imperialistic actions and on the other, they had a duty to protect and support their allies. With plenty of evidence to suggest that the German’s were the chief aggressor, and the public increasingly hostile, the British government had no choice but to declare war.
The political factors, as stated previously, had also made the decision to enter WWI easier. The British had declared support for countries like Belgium, France, and Russia. On top of that, the British had publically denounced German expansionary policy. These stances made it increasingly difficult for Britain to turn a blind eye to German actions and thus provided a strong impetus to enter WWI, something that the British government acted upon in August 1914.
Public Events Impact on Britain’s Decision to Enter the War
Besides the aforementioned factors, it is also important to remember that the public had a significant impact on Britain’s decision to enter the war. This was largely fuelled by media stories and the use of propaganda that created a sense of moral outrage and anger towards the actions of Germany. Furthermore, public opinion was heavily swaying towards the allied cause due to the number of sympathetic reports being disseminated around the UK.
Public events, such as the speeches given by then Foreign Secretary Edward Grey had a massive influence on the public’s opinion. He publicly denounced German aggression and spoke of British neutrality, with this kind of rhetoric helping to sway public opinion in favour of the British entering WWI.
Conclusion of Hostilities
In conclusion, when we consider why Britain ultimately entered WWI, it is clear to see how numerous factors played a part in this decision. The political climate of the early 1910s was one of the most prominent factors, while naval strength and violence policies were key to the decisions made. Additionally, the role of the British media was incredibly important as it provided the public with a moral cause to fight for. Finally, the public had a huge impact on the government’s decision ultimately to enter WWI.
Economic Consequences
When Great Britain entered WWI, it caused a number of economic consequences for the nation. As the war continued, the costs of the conflict soared. By the end of the war, Great Britain’s debt had risen from initially £648 million in 1914 to some £7,425 million in 1919. This meant a huge burden for taxes, with troops needing to be paid and equipment purchased.
The war also had a dramatic impact on people’s standard of living, especially for those living in rural communities. Food prices increased, leaving many unable to afford basic needs such as bread. On top of this, the war years saw increasing levels of unemployment due to a decrease in exports and orders of machinery.
The war also saw dramatic changes in wages. In 1914, the average weekly wage was 14 shillings 6 pence, however, by 1918 this had severely fallen to 8-9 shillings. The fact that wages had not kept up with the cost of living meant that even more Britains were living in poverty. All in all, as a result of Great Britain’s entrance into WWI, the country faced a number of significant economic challenges.
Political Impact
WWI also had a profound impact on the British political landscape. Before the war, there was a strong anti-war sentiment amongst the British public. This was reflected in the General Elections of 1910 with the Liberal Party eventually forming a military coalition government. However, by the end of the war in 1918, this had changed drastically with public opinion now largely in favor of the war effort.
The war also had an impact on the system of government in Britain, with the introduction of a range of wartime measures, such as the War Loans Act. This saw the government gain vastly increased powers over the nation’s resources and industry. The role of the government was also expanded with increased government control over industries such as coal, steel, and manufacturing.
As a result of this, the government was able to intervene in the economic life of the nation, something that would have been unheard of prior to the war.
International Effects
The effects of WWI can also be seen at an international level. The conclusion of the war saw Germany abandon its imperialist ambitions, as outlined in the Treaty of Versailles. This move also saw German colonies formally ceded to Britain and other victorious allies. Britain also emerged as the dominant European power, with its navy virtually unchallenged.
The war saw a shift in diplomatic relations between Europe, with the US now a superpower with considerable influence over international politics. In addition, tensions between Russia and the other powers increased, with the formation of the Soviet Union in the wake of the war. These international effects had an immense impact on the global political landscape.
Legacy of WWI
Finally, when looking back on WWI, it is important to note the legacy that the conflict has left behind. The contemporary battlefield tactics and technologies used in WWI changed the nature of war forever, while the losses of life and land were immense. While it was inevitable that there were many tragedies, they should be remembered so that such a conflict never happens again.
Moreover, WWI saw an emergence of cultures, with many nations now fighting not just for land but for a sense of identity. This led
