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Conflict Presentation- Elwin, Will, Jennifer, William
17
The Continuity of Global Conflicts
Elwin Au, Will Chen, Jennifer Ye, William Yu
Seven Years War - Context
What's considered the first world war, this was a global conflict from 1756-1763 spanning over 5 continents with many smaller wars intertwined. This involved many big powers a the time with the British, French, and Spanish battling over colonies in the New World, while the Fredrick the Great of Prussia fought Austria, France, Russia, and Sweden.
Seven Years War
The Seven Year War had two different main theaters of war with one in Europe and one in the Americas. In Europe it picked up where the War of Succession is Austria left off, while in the Americas it was a conflict of repeated expansion from the French between the U.S, Britain, and France.
This war ended with the signing of two treaties in 1763 fundamentally changing the world. (History.com)
Causes and Effects Overview
During the 1750's and the French and Indian War, the French had claimed large amounts of Canada and the Great Lakes while repeatedly defeating the British with their Native American allies. When the French refused to listen to George Washington's warning to stay away from the area of today's Pittsburgh, a series of conflicts began marking and the British declared war on the French in 1756 officially evolving the war into a global one. (History.com)
Causes and Effects
The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ending the War of Austrian Succession left all involved partied dissatisfied, with Silesia being taken from Austria and gave it to Prussia causing Russia to worry about the growing influence of Prussia. The mounting tensions between Prussia and Russia after the War of Succession in 1748 ultimately led to a system of alliances known as the "Diplomatic Revolution."
Alliances
The Diplomatic Revolution that occurred in Europe was one of the most major causes of the war rearranging old alliances. The French ended their with Great Britain, Prussia, and Hanover becoming allies, while France, Austria, and Russia joined together to become the opposing party.
Alliances
Alliances between these major powers and the stakes of this conflict brought upon even more unions with many of the colonial powers like the British using people from their colonies to fight. All the participants from the chain reaction is what grew the scale of the battle to a true world war with fighting on every continent except Antarctica.
The Two Treaties
The Treaty of Paris was signed on February 10, 1763 bringing an end to the French and Indian War. Many power shifts were brought with the British winning Canada, Louisiana, and Florida effectively removing any European rivals that could hinder the Westward Expansion that would later take full shape. The French were still able to gain valuable colonies including ones in the West Indies, but ultimately came out losers as England rose with a reputation as a world power known around the world that they would continue to use.
Treaties and Effects
The Treaty of Hubertusburg was signed five days later in February 15, 1763, officially ending most of the conflict in Europe. This ended the power struggle, with Prussia confirming its status as a super power in Europe keeping possession of Silesia. The opposition ultimately came out losing with Austria gaining nothing.
“Treaty of Paris, 1763.” Https://Www.archives.gov/Milestone-Documents/Treaty-of-Paris-0, 10 Feb. 1763.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Sources
A Soldier's Diary
"The Colonel with five men was making the best of his way down to reli[e]ve them in case any such emergency should happen but he had not marched not exceeding 4 miles from the Lake when he entered where the Enemy ambushed themselves on each side of the path in the form of a half moon the Colonel had no sooner come up, with his men conveniently in the midst of them but he was fired on every quarter very briskly the Colonel with men behaved themselves cowardly for some minutes but [were] overpowered by such a vast company their number suppose to consist of 2500 men compelling Colonel with his 600 to fight & upon a retreat until they came to the Fort at the Lake. The Indians on the Left Wing were so ambitious that they would feign enter into ye Artillery ground two cannon were mounted on that quarter on[e] of which being fired on them swept away sixteen which put the rest in such a terror that they drawed off as quick as possible...
Soldier in French and Indian War
...The Indians on the Left Wing were so ambitious that they would feign enter into ye Artillery ground two cannon were mounted on that quarter on[e] of which being fired on them swept away sixteen which put the rest in such a terror that they drawed off as quick as possible."
In the soldier's account of his encounter with French soldiers, he recounts the combined opposition of the Indian's attack too. This shows the influence of colonial powers using their colonies in war efforts, making it possible to make Britain and their colonial powers face multiple defeats. The French used the natives of the land which were the Indians to gain a number advantage which can be seem in the overwhelming difference in numbers causing the Colonel to instantly flee. This form of an alliance is prevalent in many other world wars having a big influence even in events
Seven Years' War: Battle of Zorndorf
Rohling, Carl. 2007. Seven Years’ War: Battle of Zorndorf. Https://www.britannica.com/Event/Seven-Years-War#/Media/1/536559/241483.
The Continuity of War
As the first world war in history, the Seven Year War shows many traits that persist in future global wars. The heavy use of colonies by colonial powers and massive changes in power dynamics through contracts at the end of the war stand out.
In a Broader Context
The Napoleonic Wars - Context
Napoleonic Wars
During the early 19th century, shortly after the French Revolution of the late 18th century, Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence as a military leader of France.
Napoleon waged military campaigns that allowed for a brief period of French control over the majority of the European continent and conflicts spanned across North America, Europe, and Northern Africa (Britannica 2022).
The Napoleonic Era marked a period of conflict that involved countries from around the world, including the United States, Britain, Prussia, Austria, Russia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the Ottoman Empire.
Causes and Effects - Overview
When Napoleon came to power in 1799, he immediately sought to gain recognition from the surrounding European powers.
Faced by an overwhelming numbers disadvantage, and lacking the ability to systematically approach armed conflict, Napoleon was able to fundamentally change military structure while keeping traditional fighting formations, creating a doctrine that military leaders still take inspiration from (Britannica 2022).
Napoleon's exploits caused multiple alliances to be formed against his formidable military power, and brought such destruction that Europe kept an uneasy peace until 50 years later.
Causes and Effects
Jaques-Louis David, The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries, 1812, Painting, National Gallery of Art, 1812, https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.46114.html.
As an Enduring Issue
In a Broader Context
The Napoleonic Wars represents a period in which conflict affected people on a global scale. The methods of warfare used can be pinpointed as some of the inspirations for tactics and the ever-increasing fatality rate in other large-scale conflicts to follow.
Many of the alliances created usually escalated the conflict further, a continuity seen throughout the ages, where alliances end up dragging other countries into increasingly larger stakes and scale conflicts, not unlike the phenomenon of the "powder-keg" of World War I.
Alliances and Global Escalation
When Napoleon came to power, an alliance between the Russians and Ottomans was already formed and called the Second Coalition against France.
As the Napoleon pursued aggressive and imperialist paths of action a Third and Fourth Coalition was formed, involving many European states that aimed to deter Napoleon from further aggression. The effects of conflict managed to drag the United States into war with the British, (the War of 1812) and Napoleon's continued success prompted Spain to ally with France.
The intercontinental nature of the Napoleonic wars consolidated its position as the major global conflict of the nineteenth century (Britannica 2022).
Alliances and Escalation
Methods of War over Time
Effects on Warfare
Napoleon's methods of warfare helped institute the army corps structure and supplementary general staff now seen in armed forces across the world (Britannica 2022) (Bruce, Schneid and Pavkovic 2008, 17). In fact, his emphasis on blinding speed to overwhelm opponents can be seen in the German Blitzkrieg in World War II.
Napoleon created self-contained units that aimed to maximize the lethality and independence of his troops, allowing for greater tactical flexibility (Britannica 2022). The Napoleonic Wars also helped mark the beginning of emphasis on individual lethality, with Napoleon greatly favoring heavy cavalry for their unmatched results (Bruce, Schneid and Pavkovic 2008, 98), and prioritizing artillery support at smaller scales for units by making units more self-contained (Britannica 2022).
Additionally, throughout Napoleon's campaigns, he increasingly relied on conscripts to sustain the ranks of his armies, a trend that is reflected throughout world history, where conscription helped sustain large-scale conflicts (Britannica 2022).
Robert B Bruce, Frederick S Schneid, and Michael Pavkovic, Fighting Techniques of the Napoleonic Age, 1792-1815 : Equipment, Combat Skills, and Tactics (New York: Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin’s Press, 2008), https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Q39O0kpNg24C&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=napoleonic+wars+combat+tactics&ots=p_q3V3iNP0&sig=x9BWUVJDNgvlUAKoYID8BT_WoIc#v=onepage&q&f=false.
Primary Sources
Documentation
The following are primary sources collated and translated by Emanuelle Papot, of Foundation Napoleon.
The Memoirs of Commandant Parquin
On the 25th, we arrived at the Berlin heights, having done several marches and not having met a single enemy sharpshooter. What had happened to that fine Prussian army which had waited for us so proudly on the battlefield of Jena, and whose lowliest officer thought himself a Frederick the Great?
It was in part destroyed, and the rest sought refuge in Prussian fortresses, who were to fall into French hands soon afterwards. […] the only noise you could hear in the street was produced by the artillery and baggage of our army. [...] The infantry of our army lodged there. The emperor, the headquarters, the imperial guard, the cavalry, infantry, and artillery arrived on the 27th; [...] We found forage there in abundance: the harvest had just been gathered in. As for foodstuffs, meat, bread, beer, etc., not to mention barley, we had to get our supplies from the city of Berlin[...] (Coignet et al. 2022)
Parquin of France
In his account of Napoleon's entry to Berlin, Parquin makes direct references to the requisition system instituted by the French army to supplement the eschewing of supply lines in order to support their war doctrine of extreme speed. Additionally, while Parquin references an army, there is a distinct reference to the self-contained artillery corps that were to accompany a division as organized by Napoleon (Bruce, Schneid and Pavkovic 2008, 17).
The arrival of the French troops as recorded by a Prussian
[…] The cloth trousers were dirty and exceedingly torn; his feet were bare in his worn out shoes; a small hairy dog watched his mouth very attentively as he bit off large chunks of bread to throw to him. Just imagine it! A soldier with a dog on a leash and half a loaf stuck on the end of his bayonet; from his musket hung a goose and on his hat, instead of insignia, gleamed a pewter spoon.
George of Prussia
George, a Prussian soldier, describes French infantryman's outfit, corroborating accounts of how French soldiers often moved so quickly in accordance to Napoleon's doctrine that they often wore their shoes ragged or went barefoot. As Napoleon relied heavily on the ability of his armies to be marching ahead, supplies and equipment were to be foraged for or left as they were. (Bruce, Schneid, and Pavkovic 2008, 21).
Robert B Bruce, Frederick S Schneid, and Michael Pavkovic, Fighting Techniques of the Napoleonic Age, 1792-1815 : Equipment, Combat Skills, and Tactics (New York: Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin’s Press, 2008), https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Q39O0kpNg24C&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=napoleonic+wars+combat+tactics&ots=p_q3V3iNP0&sig=x9BWUVJDNgvlUAKoYID8BT_WoIc#v=onepage&q&f=false.
Context- 20th century
World Wars and Proxy Wars
As world powers expanded and industrialized, they went head-to-head over territory and resources. Building upon these tensions, various alliance systems formed between the major powers and eventually culminated into the start of the first World War with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The first World War sent the world into a state of instability which later led to World War 2, and afterward, proxy wars.
World War 1
Royal Engineers No 1 Printing Company, and Getty Images. 2020. “World War I.” History.com. 2020. https://www.history.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTU5NzI1MjQwMDAyMjkxMTY5/1-battle-of-the-somme.jpg.
Causes (History.com Editors 2009)
Causes
All of the causes of World War 1 can be summed up with the acronym, MANIA:
- Militarism
- Germany
- Alliances
- Triple Alliance
- Triple Entente
- Nationalism
- the Balkan peninsula
- Imperialism
- Boer War
- Assassination
- the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Primary Sources
Sources
The following are primary sources collated and abridged by Michael Duffy of firstworldwar.com.
Signed on May 20, 1881 (Michael Duffy 2009)
Triple Alliance Treaty
"The High Contracting Parties mutually promise peace and friendship, and will enter into no alliance or engagement directed against any one of their States.
If one, or two, of the High Contracting Parties, without direct provocation on their part, should chance to be attacked and to be engaged in a war with two or more Great Powers non-signatory to the present Treaty, the casus foederis will arise simultaneously for all the High Contracting Parties.
The High Contracting Parties mutually promise secrecy as to the contents and existence of the present Treaty."
Essentially, this treaty was made to form a secret alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, and was renewed in time for World War 1, but after remaining neutral for a while, Italy ultimately betrayed its alliance and decided to declare war on Austria-Hungary, joining the fight with the Triple Entente.
Nydas. 2007. “English: A Simple Map Showing the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria and Italy in 1913. The Alliance Members Are Puce, Other Great Powers Are Grey.” Wikimedia Commons. February 27, 2007. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Triple_Alliance.png.
Sent on January 19, 1917 (Michael Duffy 2009)
Zimmermann Telegram
"We propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.
You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan."
This telegram, intercepted and deciphered by British intelligence, was a secret message from the Germans offering Mexico significant financial aid if they agreed to ally with them if the U.S. were to go against the Germans; this was the note that ultimately drew the US into the was: "no other single cryptanalysis has had such enormous consequences."
“Zimmermann Telegram as Received by the German Ambassador to Mexico.” 1917. Wikimedia Commons. 1917. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zimmermann_Telegram_as_Received_by_the_German_Ambassador_to_Mexico_-_NARA_-_302025.jpg.
As an Enduring Issue
Correlation
World War I was the start of a century rich in global conflicts, and its atrocities and horrors would very quickly be surpassed following its conclusion.
It is often said that World War I could have been avoided were it not for the extensive alliances formed in Europe.
It was also often said that World War I would be over very soon. However, it dragged out into four years of horror. The idea that these conflicts would be over soon would be an unfortunate recurrence in the coming conflicts in the twentieth century.
Continuity and Weapons
Weapons of War
A notable element of World War I was the usage of chemical gas weapons, and the subsequent condemnation of their usage across the world.
Along with many other weapons used and fielded in World War I, such as machine guns and tanks, toxic gas was a development representative of a trend throughout time where warring states developed increasingly deadly and effective weapons, causing higher fatalities than before.
Global conflict has often been a catalyst for deadly and horrific weapons to be developed out of necessity, and World War I is one of the best examples of this phenomenon.
Alliances
World War 1 only became a global affair because of alliances. Many of the alliances made prior or during the war were made in secret, arising suspicion in many neighboring regions, as seen in the two sources selected.
When Austria-Hungary had declared war on Serbia in 1914, everyone's respective allies quickly joined the war with Germany declaring war on Russia and France, Britain declaring war on Germany, and Austria-Hungary declaring war on Russia.
Even now, alliances like the ones formed for this war are utilized in the present-day with organizations like the UN and the WTO playing huge parts in our world today.
World War 2
History.com Editors. 2022. “World War II Battles: Timeline.” History.com. 2022. https://www.history.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_768/MTgwNzg0NjAzODk0NzE5NTc2/wwii-battles-gettyimages-538297253.jpg.
Causes (John Graham Royde-Smith, Thomas A. Hughes 2018)
Causes
- Paris Peace Conference
- the League of Nations
- the Treaty of Versailles
- tensions from World War 1
- Rise of militarism
- Germany
- Japan
- Hitler and Nazism
- Lebensraum
- Hitler's invasion of Poland
- the Great Depression
Primary Sources
Sources
The following are primary sources provided by the American government.
Signed on January 1, 1942 (Office of the Historian)
Declaration by United Nations
"A Joint Declaration by the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, China. Australia, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Poland, South Africa, Yugoslavia
Being convinced that complete victory over their enemies is essential to defend life, liberty, independence and religious freedom, and to preserve human rights and justice in their own lands as well as in other lands, and that they are now engaged in a common struggle against savage and brutal forces seeking to subjugate the world, Declare:
Each Government pledges itself to employ its full resources, military or economic, against those members of the Tripartite Pact and its adherents with which such government is at war."
26 states signed this declaration which aligned with many of the points made in the Atlantic Charter, some of the most major regarding the freedom to self-determination, economic rights, and "a world free of want and fear." Eventually, this document came the United Nations as it declared the importance of an establishment of an international organization.
United Nations. n.d. “When Was the Term United Nations First Used?” United Nations. Accessed June 1, 2022. https://www.un.org/en/yearbook/article/when-was-term-united-nations-first-used.
Signed on June 28, 1919 (Ken Drexler 2019)
Treaty of Versailles
"The High Contracting Parties, in order to promote international co-operation and to achieve international peace and security... agree to this Covenant of the League of Nations.
The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.
The German military forces shall be demobilized and reduced as prescribed hereinafter."
This treaty signed by Germany and all of the Allies formally ended World War 1, blaming Germany for the entire conflict; this treaty also gave birth to the League of Nations which eventually inspired present-day's United Nations. Ultimately, it was this treaty that pushed Germany to the brink of economic depression and forced them to lean on Hitler, eventually leading everyone into a second World War.
Rogers, William Allen. 1918. “And This Is No Scrap of Paper.” Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. 1918. https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3a47283/.
As an Enduring Issue
Enduring Issue: Alliances
World War II once again represents the continuity of global conflict being a product of alliances escalating conflicts.
When Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan formed an alliance, they had sought to counter the Allied powers formed primarily by Britain and France.
When fighting actually broke out, Germany invaded North Africa so as to take the colonized states that allied with the British, involving another continent in the war.
When the United States joined the war, they fought in the European theater first, in order to support their allies, before deploying in the Pacific theater to attack Japan, the real reason why the United States joined the war in the first place.
Warfare
Enduring Issue:
Warfare
As World War II progressed, the states involved realized as their casualties mounted that an effective and devastating weapon was required.
Thus, the atomic bomb was created. Not only did the United States seek such a weapon, but the Germans, the Russians, and the Japanese, all had as well.
This was an indicator of the constant race to build bigger, better, more horrific weapons that is common in global conflict.
Context
Proxy Wars
Shortly after the second World War was fought began the Cold War where tensions were soaring through the roof between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Cold War was very different from the previous World Wars as soldiers from opposing sides did not battle each other directly, but instead, the two superpowers fought each other through proxy wars. The most significant two that will be discussed today are the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Korean War
Rotondi, Jessica Pearce. 2022. “What Caused the Korean War and Why Did the U.S. Get Involved?” History.com. 2022. https://www.history.com/.image/ar_4:3%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1200/MTcyNDgwODUyNjM3MzI4NDY3/korean-war-gettyimages-515296948.jpg.
Causes (History.com Editors 2009)
Causes
- the Cold War
- the spread of communism during then
- the tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, especially in regards to alliances
- the Truman Doctrine
- American containment
- the split between Korea
- both North and South Korea having different allies
- the invasion of South Korea by North Korea
Primary Sources
Sources
The following are primary sources transcribed by their respective sites.
Presented on March 12, 1947 (National Archives 2021)
Truman Doctrine
"The very existence of the Greek state is today threatened by the terrorist activities of several thousand armed men, led by Communists, who defy the government's authority at a number of points, particularly along the northern boundaries.
To ensure the peaceful development of nations, free from coercion, the United States has taken a leading part in establishing the United Nations... this is no more than a frank recognition that totalitarian regimes imposed on free peoples, by direct or indirect aggression, undermine the foundations of international peace and hence the security of the United States.
This is an investment in world freedom and world peace."
With this document, Truman established that the U.S. would provide all sorts of aid and assistance for nations under threat from communism. This also solidified the policy of containment which focused on stopping the spread of communism and keeping it "contained," as many believed it would be like a domino effect where if one country fell under communist influence, its neighboring countries would follow.
Roy, Johnny. 2019. “Truman Doctrine for APUSH.” Apprend.io. 2019. https://apprend.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Truman-Doctrine-to-Publish.jpg.
Released on June 27, 1950 (Wilson Center 2016)
Truman on Korea
"In these circumstances I have ordered United States air and sea forces to give the Korean Government troops cover and support.
The attack upon Korea makes it plain beyond all doubt that communism has passed beyond the use of subversion to conquer independent nations and will now use armed invasion and war. It has defied the orders of the Security Council of the United Nations issued to preserve international peace and security.
I have also directed that United States Forces in the Philippines be strengthened and that military assistance to the Philippine Government be accelerated."
Truman brought America into this war in hopes that it would save a nation from succumbing to communism. The Korean War ended up being one of the many proxy wars the U.S. would indirectly fight against the Soviets, and this was regarded as the first proxy war fought during the Cold War. When Truman ordered for more troops to defend South Korea, it again relates back to the Truman Doctrine and how the U.S. will come into the aid of any democratic allies against communism, containing the spread of communism.
The New York Times Archives. 2022. “Truman Orders U.S. Troops to Korea, This Day in 1950.” Twimg.com. 2022. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DDU-vhDXoAAQ9PB.jpg.
As an Enduring Issue
Correlation
The Korean War was initially a dispute between the Northern and Southern regions of Korea, but when United States soldiers deployed in Korea, the conflict immediately became a global conflict, where troops from the United States and Europe deployed in Asia to stop the North Koreans.
The North Koreans' communist policies were closely aligned with the newly formed People's Republic of China, and the Chinese sent troops into Korea to support the North Koreans, further increasing the scale of the conflict.
The Korean War would become an example of long and bloody conflict that ultimately did not create any effective changes for either side, despite the loss of some 5 million lives.
Vietnam War
Greenspan, Jesse. 2022. “Which Countries Were Involved in the Vietnam War?” History.com. 2022. https://www.history.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_768/MTY0Nzc1ODE2NTk5NzA5NjUy/vietnam-war-gettyimages-615208290.jpg.
Causes (History.com Editors 2018)
Causes
- very similar to the Korean War in terms of the big ideas that led up to the event
- the Cold War
- the spread of communism during the Cold War
- the American containment policy
- European imperialism in Vietnam
- the rise of Ho Chi Minh
- Geneva Accords of 1954
- like the split between North and South Korea, there was now a split between North and South Vietnam
- the Gulf of Tonkin incident
Primary Source
Sources
The following is a primary source provided by Vincent Ferraro.
Agreed on on July 20, 1954 (Vincent Ferraro)
Geneva Accords
"A provisional military demarcation line shall be fixed, on either side of which the forces of the two parties shall be regrouped after their withdrawal, the forces of the People's Army of Vietnam to the north of the line and the forces of the French Union to the south."
Seeing Vietnam in a similar situation as Korea from a while ago, those at the Geneva conference decided to divide Vietnam temporarily in hopes that they would reunify under one government after a two-year period. Again the U.S. gets involved in hopes of communism containment like with the Korean War.
Vietnam: The Art of War. 2022. “8 May-21 July 1954: The Geneva Conference.” Vietnamtheartofwar.com. 2022. https://vietnamtheartofwar.com/wp-content/uploads/1954/05/Geneva-Conference-Courtesy-of-George-Esper-The-Eyewitness-History-of-the-Vietnam-War-Associated-Press-1983-dark-700x480.jpg.
Connection to Enduring Issue
Enduring Issue:
Alliances
The Vietnam War was a long complicated conflict that involved a significant number of countries in Europe and Southeastern Asia.
When the French were pushed out of Vietnam, ending their colonial rule, the conflicting forces of the communist aligned North and capitalist aligned South prompted the United States to intervene.
The United States' intervention quickly became extreme, with bombing campaigns and intelligence operations being conducted in the neighboring state of Laos, and even an invasion in Cambodia in order to weaken the communist regime in the north, as they were perceived as allies of the North Vietnamese.
Conflict in Vietnam continued even after the United States' withdrawal, with China attacking Vietnam shortly afterward, and also yielding minimal results.
Warfare
Enduring Issue:
Warfare
The Vietnam War marked a significant development in the war doctrines of states everywhere. Guerrilla warfare was developed and refined against the larger militaries of powers such as the United States, France, and China.
This development was accompanied by chemical weapons such as thermite, napalm, and the controversial Agent Orange, developed and used to better flush out the communist fighters.
Guerrilla warfare dragged out conflicts and made larger powers bleed lives and supplies, making war far more deadly and horrific than it needed to be, while these new weapons rendered parts of Southeastern Asia effectively uninhabitable from the pure destruction they could cause.
As an Enduring Issue
Ultimately
The twentieth century was extremely rich in global conflicts.
Many of the alliances formed during World Wars persisted afterward and still shape global politics and conflicts today, such as the War on Terror.
With the ever rising stakes of warfare, states employed various tactics to increase their effectiveness at causing destruction, as proven by the development and usage of chemical weapons, artillery, weapons of mass destruction, and the large-scale drafting of citizens to fight, even during peacetime.
These tactics are a part of a trend that is seen throughout time, where skirmishing took precedent over rank and file warfare, technology was used to bolster military power, and more and more people were deemed fit for service and forced into the military.
"War on Terror"
War on Terror
The Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) is an ongoing counter-terrorism campaign initiated in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The campaign primarily targets Islamist groups around the world, such as al-Qaeda, and consists of conflicts such as the War in Afghanistan, Iraq War, and Iraqi insurgency. However, the campaign encompasses not only military conflicts between global powers, but diplomatic, financial, and other actions taken to deny financing or safe harbor to terrorists (GWBush Library).
Causes and Effects
Moments before hijackers struck the South Tower during the attacks on September 11
Clark, Robert. TIME. September 8, 2011. Time.com. https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/9-11-moved-them-most-01.jpg?.
Causes
and
Effects
Beginning whilst President George W. Bush was in office, the American-led global counter-terrorism campaign was launched mainly in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks to seek out and stop terrorism globally.
Like most global conflicts and wars, the war on terror has brought on death and disability, psychological torture, refugee crises, and declines in economy (Sidel 2008). However, it should be recognized that the campaign caused significant collateral damage on several overlooked aspects of society ranging from declines on public health, diversion of resources, environmental damage, and increases in racism and discrimination (Jackson 2018).
Relevant Sources
Sources
Including an address from President George W. Bush to the public and an interview with a Afghanistan war veteran
President George W. Bush's Address to the Public
"At the same time, the oppressed people of Afghanistan will know the generosity of America and our allies. As we strike military targets, we'll also drop food, medicine and supplies to the starving and suffering men and women and children of Afghanistan. The United States of America is a friend to the Afghan people, and we are the friends of almost a billion worldwide who practice the Islamic faith. The United States of America is an enemy of those who aid terrorists and of the barbaric criminals who profane a great religion by committing murder in its name."
-- President George W. Bush, October 7, 2001 (GWBush Library)
G.W. Bush's Address
The initial impression of this address would concern the friend-like relationship between America and Afghanistan. From ridding Afghanistan of terrorists threatening it to providing them aid, the USA is described to be a righteous provider to Afghanistan that also aims to maintain a clean image of the nation and the Islamic faith it follows.
Afghanistan War Veterans on the Taliban Takeover
"Explosion, big lumps of hot metal exploding from the mortar shell going up in a cone. So some guys were living in trenches that we'd built but if you were caught in the open and something fell from the sky, you had no way of protecting yourself from it.
Drinking constantly, inability to sleep, recurrent nightmares, feelings of anxiety. Was I depressed? Potentially. I had a bag in the boot of my car which was my grab bag for the people who were following me. I remember psychosis being so vivid as to be looking in the mirror and to be seeing the face of, the reflected face was not mine." (ITV 2021)
Afghan
War Vet
Afghan war veteran Euan Goodman tells of the horrors of the battlefield in Afghanistan which can be compared to past wars and conflicts, especially its trench warfare. He then goes on to discuss the psychological tolls of combat and later mentions how he still hates the sound of bursting balloons and fireworks. Both should be interpreted as continuous and lasting aspects of war that stays present to the contemporary era.
As an Enduring Issue
Prisoners aboard a U.S. transport plane headed to the detention camp in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, 2002. Alamy. Guantánamo Bay Detainees. 2020. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/war-on-terrorism.
Connecting
The global war on terrorism is a more modern, globalized version of war even when compared to historical conflicts like the two major World Wars. However, it still maintains key aspects it shares with wars throughout recorded history. The attack on the Twin Towers sparked the paramount campaign just as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the last straw to start off the first World War. Terrorist groups are driven by Islamic ideologies and utilize violent tactics to try and incite change in how the world is run with parallels to the Nazis in World War 2. Valiant soldiers fighting such battles can recall similar experiences and tough combat conditions from decades ago, and the few that return home often deal with psychological struggles post-combat (ITV 2021). But away from the battlefront, even lesser known struggles like ISIS-WA and Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria leave 2 million without a home and 10 million in need of humanitarian relief (USDOS 2021). At this point, allies like America provide much needed relief and aid in hopes of saving allies and pushing back on the opposition's progress.