History 102 with WhatifAltHist's Rudyard Lynch and Austin Padgett cover image

WW1

History 102 with WhatifAltHist's Rudyard Lynch and Austin Padgett

NOTE

Industrial Roots of Conflict

World War I can be perceived as intimidating due to its complex origins and the intricate network of alliances. Many Americans struggle to understand its context, often fixating on the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand without grasping broader implications. Instead of focusing solely on the chain of events, it's crucial to understand that the fundamental cause of World War I is the industrial revolution, which set the stage for nations to engage in conflicts driven by prosperity. This contrasts wars of desperation, where nations fight to unify a fracturing society. In essence, wars arise either from the need for cohesion in struggling societies or from the ambitions of prosperous ones seeking expansion.

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