The Starts of War

War in all its infamy, seems to be as regular as the seasons. The main reasons for war are greed, expansion/conquest, religion, and to curb the power of another nation. Because of a newly interconnected world, the outbreak of war seems to ebb and flow with global stability. Instability takes many forms including: political, economic, and in a few cases mental instability.

The first major war of the twentieth century was caused by political commitments and tension leading up to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand on the 28^th of June 1914. A major political upheaval due to the inability of Europe to maintain its power balance, led to countries around the world to be dragged into a bloody inhumane war. Ironically the war to ‘end all wars’ shattered the economies of most nations worldwide, leaving a war torn and poverty-stricken humanity in its wake, which led to the Second World War. Adolf Hitler gained the support of Germany with promises of reform, wealth, and revenge for their humiliating terms of surrender in the previous war. He waged a war against all who opposed his regime and murdered millions of people for the sake of an empty ideal. By the end of the war the United States of America had not only helped its allies win the war but also recovered from its economic depression and was a booming center of economic production. In the 1950’s conflict relocated to the next area of economic and political disunity, Korea, where major world powers were vying for control yet again.

War never really ends. It doesn't even get put on hold. It simply moves around, changing the names but keeping the same story. Wars are for glory, for wealth and land, to keep others from power, or for an ideal perceived as worth fighting for. Wars always happen to the people unsure of the future; to the people who want better for themselves.

Phillip Lusby