OVERVIEW OF THE WORLD IN 1914

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Have you ever thought that during the time of the World War 1 what the world was like? What were its conditions and which countries were the most powerful. To give an exact situation report of the world in 1914 is not nearly possible but even though some of the major points are stated below.

In 1914, European countries still dominated the rest of the world. Many decisions which shaped the fate of our world were taken in the capital cities of Europe. Germany was the leading power at that time both militarily and economically. It had overtaken Britain on production of pig-iron and steel thought was a little behind in the production of coal. France, Belgium, Italy and Austria-Hungary (known as the Habsburg Empire) were well behind. Russian industries were well behind because they could not have a good start.  But it was outside Europe that the most spectacular industrial progress had been made over the previous years. In 1914 U.S.A produced more coal, pig-iron and steel than either Germany or Britain and now it is ranked as a world power.

During that period the political system of the world also varied widely. The U.S.A, Britain and France   had democratic forms of government while some systems were not as much democratic as they said; Germany had an elected lower house of parliament known as Reichstag, but the real power was in the hands of the Chancellor (a sort of a prime minister) and the Kaiser (Emperor). Italy was a monarchy with an elected parliament but the right to vote was with given only to the rich people. In fact Japan to had an elected house, but here to the right to vote was given to the emperor and the Privy Council. The governments in Russia and Austria were very different from the democracies in the west. The tsar (Emperor) of Russia and the emperor of Austria were autocratic rulers; if they felt like the rules could ignore the parliament and do exactly as they want to.

At that time Europe had divide itself into two alliance system.

The Triple Alliance were-

·         Germany

·         Austria-Hungary

·         Italy

The Triple Entente were-

·         Britain

·         France

·         Russia

In 1902 Japan and Britain had also signed an alliance.

In addition to these conditions there were some others things to. Britain and Germany had a naval rivalry. French resentment at the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany at the end of the Franco-Prussian War 1871. The Germans accused the triple entente of trying to encircle them.

There are many things that were present at that time and that are of such wideness that cannot be stated here but this is the basic overview if the conditions of the world at those times.

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