The study of cause and effect which requires a strong grasp of historical chronology constitutes one of the basic approaches to the discipline of history. The underlying principle is one adapted from physics: for every action there is an equivalent reaction every cause results in an effect. In historical terms, every event has a cause, and is itself the cause of subsequent events, which may therefore be considered its effect s , or consequences. For various reasons, three of which are listed below, this view of history has become less popular in recent times. However, thinking in terms of cause and effect remains a valuable skill you should master.

Some of the problems with the cause and effect approach to history include:

its risk of reducing complex historical issues to overly simplistic explanations

Part of the way in which physicists and some philosophers, too have applied the cause and effect model to their subject matter is by way of negative logic. Not only did a cause b, but here's the negative logic b would not have happened, had it not been for a. Following the negative logic argument, if franz ferdinand hadn't been assassinated the catalyst for world war i, remember? , the war itself would never have begun. This claim is highly doubtful: most historians agree that the rivalry between the major european empires, the power blocs that had been established among them, and the complex set of alliances that existed within each bloc had made war all but inevitable long before 1914. In fact, if franz ferdinand had not been assassinated, and even if austria had not declared war on serbia, a major military confrontation involving all european powers would most likely still have occurred. Another concept from physics, the unreliability or heisenberg principle, articulated in 1927, severely complicated physicists' earlier faith in simple causal relationships with its discovery that, no matter how clearly a cause seems poised to have a certain effect, unexpected variables may impact upon the outcome in unanticipated ways.

For example, the european power blocs of the pre world war i period and the complex sets of internal non aggression and mutual aid agreements that existed within them made war inevitable, as outlined above. The soviet led warsaw pact, each of which was also internally organized around the principles of mutual aid and non aggression did not lead to a direct confrontation between the two blocs. In fact, contrary to popular wisdom, history does not necessarily repeat itself. Here's a sample topic, one that is in keeping with our events leading up to world war ii theme, and a favorite in twentieth century history classes: explain the treaty of versailles and explore ways in which it contributed to the rise of adolf hitler.

This is classic cause and effect, as even implied in the wording of the question: the treaty of versailles the cause , dictated by britain and france in the aftermath of world war i, contributed to the rise of hitler which, therefore, is the effect . In order to fulfill such an assignment, you will first explain the treaty which called upon defeated germany to cede territories, give up its colonies to the victorious allies, limit its army and navy, and pay war reparations of $33 billion then show ways in which the treaty's effects anger and resentment in germany, accompanied by political and economic turmoil helped set the scene for the rise of hitler over the next fifteen years. As you proceed, you will notice a whole series of causes and effects: being forced to cede territories fuelled germany's desire to reclaim those territories and, in fact, to increase its original territory, a desire articulated in hitler's famous call for lebensraum im osten living space in the east .

Being forced to give up its colonies which went to england and france stoked germany's resentment against those countries, making it easier to support a leader who staked his political future on his ability to exact revenge against those who had wronged the nation. Being forced to limit the size of their armed forces fuelled a desire among germans to restore the army and navy to their former stature. The explicitly militaristic appeal of hitler and his uniformed brownshirts, along with his own military credentials and his association with german world war i hero erich ludendorff thus held significant appeal for the masses.

Finally, the economic sanctions of the treaty of versailles, and the resulting political and economic turmoil, inspired within germans a desire for a strongman leader who could restore order and rebuild the economy, two of hitler's rallying cries. Thus we see that the method of cause and effect can yield useful results and, in so doing, can avoid its three above listed potential pitfalls. By tracing each effect of the treaty in its own right, we are not reducing the complex issue of the rise of hitler to an overly simplistic cause but far from it establishing a broader context within which to understand hitler's career.

Nor are we claiming the negative argument, that, had it not been for the treaty of versailles, hitler would not have come to power avoid such claims also the claim that, had it not been for the treaty, there would have been no world war ii there are too many variables involved to make such claims. Finally, we are acknowledging the unpredictability principle: a treaty that was designed to bring germany to its knees and render it unfit to ever start another war in fact had an entirely different long term effect. A civil war is a war which is fought internally within a nation between differing factions, religious groups, or powers. The definition of a civil war can be slippery one common definition of a a civil war includes several criteria, including when both sides in the dispute have gained control of territory, created their own governments, however marginal, and have some sort of organized military which performs regular operations.the civil war was fought in 10,0 places, from valverde, new mexico, and tullahoma, tennessee, to st. More than 3 million americans fought in it, and over 600,0 men, 2 percent of the population, died in it.

Dissertation Abstracts Index

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