Chapter 20
During the year of 1914-1918 WWI was taken place. It was known as an accident waiting to happen. In the early twentieth century, the balance of power was expressed in two rival alliances, the Triple Alliances of Germany, Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Triple Entente of Russia, France and Britain. The system of alliances intended to keep the peace created obligations that drew the Great Powers of Europe into a general war by early August in 1914. The outbreak of that was was an accident, but the system of rigid alliances made Europe vulnerable to that kind of accident. Also being a part of the war was an industrialize militarism. Europe's armed military men joined great social prestige and all of the great powers had substantial standing armies except for Britain, they relied on compulsory military. Another important note was the legacies of the great war. The great war shattered almost eat expectation. The war was to mock the enlightenment values of progress, tolerance, an rationality. The aftermath also brought substantial social and cultural changes to ordinary Europeans and Americans. Nonetheless, the war had loosened the hold of tradition in various ways. The war transformed international political life. And had generated profound changes in the world beyond Europe as well.