During World War One, why the people had such an enthusiastic attitude towards the war?

Question

Why they wanted to join the army of their country enthusiasticly?
Why the people had such an attitude towards the war?

Here is some information(based on this information and own knowledge on WWI to answer the quesetion):

This is a dairy written by a British solder, George Coppard during the WWI.

Although I seldom read a newspaper, I knew about the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand at Sarajevo. News placards screamed out at every street corner, and military bands blared out their martial music in the main streets of Croydon. This was too much for me to resist, and I knew I had to enlist straight away.

I presented myself to the recruiting segeant at Mitcham Road Barracks, Croydon. There was a steady stream of men, mostly working types, queuing to enlist. The segeant asked me my age, and when told, replied, 'Clear off son. Come back tomorrow and see if you're nineteen, eh?' So I turned up again the next day and gave my age as nineteen. I attested in a batch of a dozen others
and, holding up my right hand, swore to fight for King and Country.

Answer 1

I think that in WWI, people were very patriotic. They wanted to fight for their country. They didn't question if their leaders were right or wrong to enter the war. They just fought. Also, war was kind of glorified. People had forgotten how bad war can be.

Answer 2

Government propagandists on the Allied side called WWI "A war to end all wars". And most people believed it.

Everybody wanted the glory of being the people who won a final and complete victory over the bad guys and thus ended all wars forever and ever. And of course, everybody expected to come back home by Christmas.

People believed that this war was an event of such huge historical significance that those who participated in it on the Allied side would forever be remembered as noble heroes who did something that no other people have ever done before, or after.

People believed that they would achieve eternal glory through their participation in this war.

Perhaps their motivation was a little bit similar to that of modern suicide bombers who now believe that they will achieve enternal glory and happiness in heaven through their heroic self-sacrifice in a Jihad against the infidels.

People need to have this kind of heroic beliefs in order to sacrifice their lives willingly and in massive numbers, if that's what it takes.

Of course, there is a big difference between modern suicide bombers who deliberately attack defenceless civilians, and soldiers who fought against opposing armies. Their desire for glory may be similar, but their methods of achieving it are not.

Answer 3

It all depends on just which 'people' you are talking about.

The Europeans were much more in favor of WW! because of the threat that Germany presented to them... the fact that Germany, a very populated country with an advanced industrial base, was sitting right in the middle of Europe and need room to expand. Americans didn't really understand the causes of WW1... and still don't... because Americans don't know history... their own... or anyone elses.

WW2 was a popular war in the U.S because the economy was in the toilet and a good old shooting war meant that Americans would soon have jobs and prosperity. The problem was that the President got America into that war on false pretenses... just like the war in Viet Nam and the current Gulf War... once again, the American Presidents can easily be seen to have gotten this country into countless wars based on lies, rumors and an arrogant attitude and were able to do it because Americans don't know history.. their own, or anyone elses.

Answer 4

i'm doing this at school, we've appeared at some reasons. the folk who joined the conflict have been all adult men, am I properly suited? properly a great sort of adult men in basic terms enjoyed their usa. Felt like they owed their will and kindness to their Royal kin- the only thank you to pay off them is to be an stunning soldier and combat like they have in no way fought before. a great sort of adult men had girlfriends. They needed to coach off- be a guy! to coach they have been solid they pronounced they had bypass to conflict and are available lower back 10X fit. I doubt lots of them did although. whether some went, some refused. they did not prefer to renowned on a daily basis must be their final- and in maximum cases it always became!! some have been given compelled to bypass or maybe then they'd not combat- they had prefer to die than kill people (bypass THEM). some people would not even bypass away for conflict so as that they've been immediately positioned into penal complex. whilst the adult men weren't gassing the trenches out (with mustard gasoline in maximum cases.), they have been given unfastened cigerettes and in maximum cases the adult men have been all large friends. If important injuries have been made they sent the adult men homestead at say 2 o'clock in the morning- they could not permit their usa see they have been loosing. This became the 1st ever conflict, or maybe right this moment it remains widely used as 'the fashionable conflict'. we've international conflict One to thank for all this killing in Iraq, Israil, Lebanam, Afganastan and a majority of those places there are wars- if it became nonetheless the seventeenth Century we might nonetheless be on horses with swords and then it would not injury people who've finished not something incorrect. there's a black go in Coventry Cathedral in England. whilst there has been 2 days of peace they are going to paint that go white. how some years do you think of that's going to take before they paint it?

Answer 5

This was before organized sports were such a big thing.

Nowdays people have more enthusiasm for "their" team than they do for their country.

Answer 6

Only at the start. It was ignorance of what was to come.