Political Efforts

Political Efforts

Wars and battles have filled our textbooks with countless chapters of reading material. Numerous events such as the Thirty Years War and World War I begin for different reasons; however, they all share a somewhat similar ending. The most important factor in the determination of major world events comes down to the efforts of politics.

      In 1618, a religious quarrel broke out in the Holy Roman Empire, now present day Germany, between the Catholics and the Protestants. The quarrel escalated into a European war that would involve both French and Habsburg powers. This conflict would last until 1648 hence the name, The Thirty Years War. Throughout the thirty years numerous plagues swept Europe which added twists and turns to the war. The war ended due to two peace treaties that made up the Treaty of Westphalia. The treaty was made successful due to the first ever diplomatic congress which reinstated peace throughout the Holy Roman Empire and Western Europe. The political concept of congress was such a success that the treaty between Spain and France, a conflict that began during the Thirty Years War, used the same political format as the Treaty of Westphalia.

      In 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, of Austria, and his wife were shot in Sarajevo while traveling. This may have helped start group titled the Young Bosnians; however, this was also the start of The Great War, commonly known today as World War I. When Austria struck back against Bosnia, numerous countries joined in that would spark the four year bloodbath that would result in millions of deaths. In 1918, the Treaty of Versailles was passes that ceased conflict between Germany and the Allied Powers. After the Treaty of Versailles, the League of Nations was established that would attempt to eliminate disputes and other quarrels that could possible lead to war.

      A political solution normally involves the signing of a peace treaty as seen in the Thirty Years War, World War... [continues]

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