Essay Database

                  The development in weaponry that had the greatest single impact on the war was the invention of the rifled musket. The weapon of choice before the war was muskets that had no spin on them. The new rifles solved old technical problems of other muskets. They had a spiral to spin the bullets faster, straighter, farther, and with more accuracy to 500 yards. In the premodern era, they only shot 50 yards. These rifles made it possible …

…economic and cultural resource of the populations of belligerent states. WWI was first war where the entire populations, industrial capacities and economies of most of the combating powers were utilized in the war effort. WWI was also established the alliance system that would be used in the second World war, and it made a pre-eminent world power of the U.S. So WWI should and must be considered the most significant event of 20th century.