Influences of World War I

Empires broke apart or started to fall after losses in WWI, such as Austria-Hungary, which fractured into two nations: Germany, which experienced economic devastation, and the Ottoman Empire, which dissolved entirely.

Imperialist empires began to think of independence. Fighting in WWI helped them develop a sense of nationalism as a separate entity from their imperialist controllers, as seen with the Irish and Korean Declarations of Independence. Instead of continuing to submit to often-cruel imperial authority, these countries sought self-determination—leading to decolonization.

The Impact of World War II

Although hopes for greater self-government were not entirely fulfilled by World War I, the end of World War II further increased anti-imperialist sentiment.

With respect to the Cold War, WWII hit Western Europe the hardest. Economically and physically devastated by the war, Europe had to build from scratch. Since that region used to be the world superpower, there was a vacuum to fill. The United States and USSR (Russia) filled that gap.

Technological and economic gains experienced by these victorious nations shifted the global balance of power. As the United States was overseas and Russia was bitterly cold, both countries avoided the worst of the fighting in the war. And to engage in combat, these nations bolstered their militaries. Essentially, when the fighting ended, the United States and USSR emerged as the two dominant world powers with strong armed forces and booming economies.

Despite fighting as allies in the war, the relationship between the United States and the USSR quickly deteriorated as the nations disagreed on the future of Europe and order post-war.

WWII Results