What Was The Social Impact Of Ww2 Dbq

Social Impact of World War II DBQ

Total war in WWI caused immense pressure on the peoples of many of the countries involved, which gave rise to social unrest, directly leading to the breaking of the stalemate in 1917, and indirectly to the eventual cessation of fighting in 1918. Social unrest caused by total war was most prevalent in Russia during 1917, which gave rise to the Russian Revolution, knocking them out of the war and relieving pressure off of Germany. Social unrest caused by the British blockade forced the Germans to resume unrestricted submarine warfare, which would lead the United States into the war, bringing about the end more quickly. In 1918, the lack of progress and gradual starvation of the German peoples created pressure

When informing the U.S. Secretary of State of its decision to resume unrestricted submarine warfare, German Ambassador Count Johann von Bernstorff said, “The Imperial Government could not justify before its own conscience, before the German people, and before history the neglect of any means destined to bring about the end of the war.” This shows the pressure the Government felt and why the government was forced to do whatever it took to emerge victorious. The German government knew that if they resumed unrestricted submarine warfare, the United States would enter the war, but they didn’t have any other choice. In addition, Germany underestimated the U.S., assuming that its troops would be ineffective and slow to mobilize. They thought that in the amount of time it took for sizable amounts of American troops to reach the Western front, Germany would have had enough time to suffocate Great Britain and end the war. The German submarine blockade was effective for a while; after the U.S. declared war on Germany, however, the combined forces of U.S. and British navies were able to overpower the Germans with the help of new technologies including depth charges and hydrophone detectors. The blockade had failed and supplies, of which the U.S. was now producing enormous amounts, poured into Great Britain. The war was

Total war caused public pressure for a quick end to the war and exhaustion of troops and supplies on all fronts, leading to a stalemate and mutual frustration. As nationalism declined and social unrest heightened in Russia, the Bolsheviks overtook the government and spurred a revolution, abandoning WW1 and causing civil war within Russian borders. This renouncement of the battlefront allowed Germany to unleash its full strength against Great Britain and France, ending the stalemate and pushing back the Allied powers. In addition to social unrest in Russia, public distress was felt in Germany as well. Due to Britain’s successful blockade, Germany was becoming desperate and turned to unrestricted submarine warfare. Although this action achieved temporary success, it also involved the underestimated U.S. forces, which combined with the Allies to defeat Germany. Civil unrest provided pressure for national leaders, leading to rash action both politically and militarily that stemmed from a feeling of public dissent and desperation. In order for a country to maintain strength and power in dealings with other nations as well as within its borders, it needs the support of its people; as Russia and Germany both demonstrated during WW1, conflict and dissent within a nation divides and weakens even the most militarily prestigious