Opportunities missed after Civil War, pre-WW1 peace movements, and WW1 Pandemic era.

 

19.  Wisdom ignored after the Civil war:  After all the death and destruction of our nation’s Civil War we haven’t learned much.  There is growing fear among Americans that we may be on the verge of another civil war.  This one could be sparked by any domestic or international group with access to the many increasingly affordable and powerful technologies that can effectively give any individual the WMD capacity of a superpower.  

The Gettysburg Address may have been Abraham Lincoln’s greatest speech.  But his most unknown yet profound words compared our Declaration of Independence to our Constitution.  He said our ‘Declaration’ is our “Apple of Gold” and our Constitution its “Frame of Silver”.   Yet to this day our elected officials still swear an oath to protect the Constitution.  Not our freedoms and security!  According to Thomas Paine’s ‘Common-Sense’ pamphlet protecting human freedom and security are the only legitimate purpose for government.  With government being a necessary evil because humans are not angles.  

Nearly a century before Lincoln’s words Thomas Jefferson argued that argued that any Constitution must be renewed every 19 years if it is not to become “an act of force and not of right”.  He said “the earth belongs to the living and not to the dead” and “no society can make a perpetual constitution, or even a perpetual law”.  “The only ‘umpire’ between the generations was the law of nature.”

 

The founding fathers even engineered into our Constitution four means of amending it.  Persistently however, our polarized two-party system (which the founders warned us about) makes any significant amendment virtually impossible.  

 

What lesson should have been learned after the Civil War (1861 to 1865) which was a pivotal moment in US history.  One key takeaway would have shaped a more equitable and sustainable post-war society.   The abolition of slavery did recognize the inherent value of all individuals and our need to work toward racial equality and justice.  The post-war era of Reconstruction was intended to be a comprehensive plan for rebuilding war-torn societies by spurring greater efforts to address the economic, social, and political needs of formerly enslaved people.  This could have contributed to a more equitable and enlightened transition.   Unfortunately, some of the struggles for civil rights during Reconstruction - and later in the 20th century - still persist today.

Our Civil War left deep scars and divisions within the US. Efforts to promote reconciliation, understanding, and unity between North and South were not smooth and the institutional changes needed were often rejected.

Expanding access to voting rights for all citizens remains a challenge today.   As well as the goal to dismantle systemic racism and promote social justice.  These are essential if we desire a more equitable, peaceful, and sustainable society.

Preserving the history of the U.S. Civil War might help prevent another.  And the greatest lesson may be the importance of promoting justice, reconciliation, and the protection of civil and human rights globally.

 

18.  Pre-World War I peace initiatives:   Few who are alive now are aware of several global peace movements and initiatives in the years leading up to World War I. These movements were responses to the growing militarism, nationalism, and tensions among European powers that ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the war.  

Some notable peace efforts and organizations during this period included:

The Hague Conferences (1899 and 1907):  These aimed to address issues of disarmament, arbitration of disputes, and rules of war and led to the establishment of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. An institution for peaceful resolution of conflicts.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) founded in 1889:  the IPU brought together parliamentarians from different countries to promote dialogue, diplomacy, and arbitration as alternatives to war.

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) was established in 1915.  This organization was formed by women activists from around the world who sought to prevent future conflicts and promote social justice and women's rights.

The International Peace Bureau (IPB) founded in 1891.  The IPB worked to promote disarmament and peaceful conflict resolution. It organized international peace congresses and advocated for arbitration treaties between nations.

And various pacifist movements:  Pacifist and anti-war movements emerged in different countries, with individuals and groups advocating for nonviolent solutions to conflicts and opposing militarism.

Despite these efforts, the growing rivalries, and tensions among major European powers, along with a complex web of alliances, ultimately led to the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

 

17. World War I and the 1918 Pandemic and:   The global connections between this lethal duo are not always understood.  After the devastation of World War I and the 1918 influenza pandemic several key lessons could have been applied that may have contributed to a healthier and less violent world to follow.   The war's global impact led to renewed interest in international organizations and diplomacy, culminating in the establishment of the League of Nations.  Its creation was intended to prevent future conflicts.  Unfortunately, because an absence of major nations like the US and the Soviet Union it lacked a global reach or any effective means of enforcing its decisions.   So instead, the League relied heavily on moral persuasion, economic sanctions, or collective military action by member states that were slow to respond or reluctant to use force.   The great recession caused economic struggles which also strained the League’s resources which also spurred a rise in nationalist sentiments which further undermined international cooperation.

The League’s failure to prevent acts of aggression by Italy and Japan further eroded its credibility.  And along with the rise of militarism and aggression by authoritarian regimes these all posed a direct threat to international cooperation and peace that failed to prevent World War II.

Overall, more American soldiers died from the flu than the war. The 1918 pandemic highlighted the importance of robust healthcare systems. Greater investment in healthcare infrastructure, research, and disease prevention might have better prepared us for future pandemics that could have accelerated advancements in medicine, the eradication of Smallpox, and polio as well as disease prevention. Together the aftermath of War I and the pandemic revealed the need for better social safety nets and social welfare programs might have also reduced inequality and political instability.  The pandemic highlighted the importance of scientific research and boosted commitments to evidence-based policymaking.  Unfortunately this didn’t lead to more effective responses to other various challenges like environmental protection.  The war and the pandemic didn’t really result in more value for human life or empathy for those affected by war and disease.  And both nationalism and protectionism in the aftermath of World War I contributed more to global tensions.   Huge opportunities missed!!!

The most influential factor in leading up to the second World War however may have been the Treaty of Versailles ending World War I in 1919.   It imposed harsh economic, territorial, and military terms on Germany, including substantial territorial losses, disarmament, and heavy reparations payments. These terms led to economic hardship and a sense of national humiliation among Germans as their nation struggled with economic instability and hyperinflation during the 1920s.  Reparation payments required by the treaty didn’t help.  This turmoil created discontent and social unrest, which Hitler exploited to gain support and fuel nationalist foster a deep sense of resentment among many Germans who viewed the treaty as unjust and humiliating.  Hitler tapped into this anger and his Nazi Party used anti-Versailles rhetoric effectively in propaganda campaigns portrayed themselves as the saviors of Germany, promising to restore its honor and territorial integrity.  Fundamentally, the treaty created a power vacuum that Hitler exploited to gained support from various segments of society, including disaffected veterans, the unemployed, and conservative elites who saw him as a means to restore order and national pride.  Sound familiar? 

In summary, the Treaty of Versailles created the conditions in which Adolf Hitler could rise to power by exploiting economic hardships, nationalism, and resentment.  And effectively used propaganda and political maneuvering to gain widespread support and eventually become Germany's dictator.

FYI:  The 1918 flu was highly virulent.  Its mortality rate was especially high among young, healthy adults, a demographic typically less vulnerable to influenza.  And it occurred during the final year of World War I, from January 1918 to December 1920, which coincided with the ongoing conflict involving large-scale troop movements, with soldiers from various countries traveling between their home countries and the front lines facilitating the virus’s rapid spread globally.  Many soldiers on both sides became ill with their close quarters in military camps and trenches allowing the virus to spread rapidly. In some cases, the virus decimated entire units and strained healthcare systems in combatant and non-combatant countries alike.  Hospitals were overwhelmed with influenza cases, leaving fewer resources available to care for wounded soldiers.

The pandemic's devastating effects on both sides was a factor in the decision to seek a cessation of hostilities, thus contributing to the eventual signing of the armistice agreements in November 1918.

 

In conclusion, the 1918 influenza pandemic was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, with an estimated 50 million deaths worldwide. Its impact on World War I highlighted the interconnectedness of global events and demonstrated how a health crisis could intersect with a major conflict, shaping the course of history.   History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.  Now a century old, this earlier turn of the century era underscores the importance of learning from history and the need to apply clear lessons to build a more peaceful, equitable, and sustainable world today.  While we cannot change the past.  Insights can help us shape a better future.