NationStates Jolt Archive


Most important Wars

New Grunz
20-12-2004, 04:25
What war is the Most important in your opinion?
The Gongites
20-12-2004, 04:27
The War of the Worlds.
Chainik Hocker
20-12-2004, 04:28
The Revolutionary War. It established the first representative democracy this world has ever seen and unleashed the greatest force for good in history.

And it also gave us dudes in tight stockings and wigs. You can't win em all, I guess.
New Genoa
20-12-2004, 04:37
The Quasi War.
Gnostikos
20-12-2004, 04:40
Define "important". It can mean numerous things. And you left out the Bakumatsu. B*tch. ;)
New Grunz
20-12-2004, 04:42
Well theres like 2000 wars, Police actions and conflicts and only 10 options
New Grunz
20-12-2004, 04:44
im·por·tant
adj.
Strongly affecting the course of events or the nature of things; significant
PIcaRDMPCia
20-12-2004, 04:44
Definitely the American Civil War. Everything that occurs in the entire world after it was decided by the outcome. Alter the outcome, and you have a radically different future.
Eutrusca
20-12-2004, 04:45
You need an option for "Other." Of all the wars which come to mind, the one between the Moors/Truks on the one side and the Spanish/Constantinople on the other seems to me to have been the most important for Europe, and by extension, the Americas.
Socalist Peoples
20-12-2004, 05:29
You need an option for "Other." Of all the wars which come to mind, the one between the Moors/Truks on the one side and the Spanish/Constantinople on the other seems to me to have been the most important for Europe, and by extension, the Americas.


distant and it was a result of the long standing fights in that region.

the Ami rev was a new concept(i dont mean the war itself now) and it did lay the foundatin for the important french rev and napolien and the concert of europe and the first WW and the leage of nations and WW2. all that stems from the guys with wigs fighting eachother
Colodia
20-12-2004, 05:43
War on Drugs


*holds back*

..


....

..


*laughs like crazy*
Communist Likon
20-12-2004, 08:44
Definitely the American Civil War. Everything that occurs in the entire world after it was decided by the outcome. Alter the outcome, and you have a radically different future.

christ americans are up themselves and speak such a lot of bullshit. the most important war, thats not even up there, would be the wars started against France in 1792 and then joined with the Napoleonic wars, because these wars helped to define and shape the French revolution, the greatest and m ost influential revolution there ever was.
Tumonia
20-12-2004, 08:52
The cod war


No...it's not a typo.
Dr_Twist
20-12-2004, 08:57
The Revolutionary War. It established the first representative democracy this world has ever seen and unleashed the greatest force for good in history.

And it also gave us dudes in tight stockings and wigs. You can't win em all, I guess.

Where you spoon feed as a Child? Who ever said that Democracy is for good? You have been feed so much propaganda in your life it’s Amazing.

The World Wars were the Defining point in Modern History. It was a war Between Superpowers, World War 1 was to see if Monarchies could withstand massive war's which they didn't (with the exception of Britain) and World War 2 was the end of Imperialism in this world (Apparently /me looks at USA)

It is clear the World Wars were the most important part in world History.
New Jopolis
20-12-2004, 09:00
Where you spoon feed as a Child? Who ever said that Democracy is for good? You have been feed so much propaganda in your life it’s Amazing.

The World Wars were the Defining point in Modern History. It was a war Between Superpowers, World War 1 was to see if Monarchies could withstand massive war's which they didn't (with the exception of Britain) and World War 2 was the end of Imperialism in this world (Apparently /me looks at USA)

It is clear the World Wars were the most important part in world History.

i agree and im going to say WW2, simply because it was the biggest and bloodiest of all the wars listed. also, its outcome directly and indirectly (cold war) eliminated the remaining dangerous radical states of western civilization, such as nazi germany and (later on) the soviet union. essentially, all other conflicts of the west just set the stage for this one.

i disagree with your other implication, that democracy is not good, because it is clearly the only form of gov't in the world that spreads the power of the state to the people, allowing for people with immoral or dangerous ideas to be checked (usually). also, you state that ww2 was the end of imperialism, but it is really more the end of state-sponsored radicalism in Europe, as imperialism can be seen in many similar forms even today.
Matalatataka
20-12-2004, 09:11
Again, it's not listed as an option, but I'm going to have to say the most important war is going to be World War III. Don't know when it will be fought or how or who will win, but that's gonna be the shit!

Third times the charm!
Autocraticama
20-12-2004, 09:33
hmm...i'm surprised that none else voted for the war of the roses....war of the roses was the deciding factor for what has happened up until now. It was a fight for the control of the british empire between the lancaster and tudor families. This has shaped the world based on the winner's outlook on imperialism of braitain. The tudor legacy has spread throughout history becasue it was the heir to the british empire.
PIcaRDMPCia
20-12-2004, 09:44
christ americans are up themselves and speak such a lot of bullshit. the most important war, thats not even up there, would be the wars started against France in 1792 and then joined with the Napoleonic wars, because these wars helped to define and shape the French revolution, the greatest and m ost influential revolution there ever was.
Completely untrue. I said the American Civil War for many reasons. First, before we can truly say what was the most important war, we have to set a beginning time. We could skip up to the 20th century: right there, clearly the World Wars are the most important. Skip back further, and others become more important.
First, I know a lot more about the Napoleonic Wars than you do; they didn't change all that much in Europe other than some leader exchanges; in the end, almost nothing was affected. However, the American Civil War is radically different; all you have to do is look to Harry Turtledove's works. The battle of Antietem was the turning point of the war. Why? Because, the United States only won that battle due to some lost orders that were found by the Union. Had that not happened, the Confederate States would have won that battle. By that point, they would have proven themselves worthy of being a country in the eyes of other countries like England and France, who would then lend their support to the South and enable the South to win the war.
From then on, the entire political landscape of the world is shattered. Call it whatever you wish, it's still true that America has shaped world politics since the early twentieth century. Had America been split in twain permenantly, the US would not shape politics as much. We might have parterned with Germany in World War One and still won that war, with the Confederacy on the other side. Then, Nazi Germany would never have existed. There is so much that would have changed as a result of this; whether you refuse to see it because of what you consider as American arrogance, then that's your fault, not mine.
Mattvia
20-12-2004, 09:59
World war two isn't the most important war, if Napoleon had one the battle of Waterloo, he would of been most likely unstoppable, the French empire would last up to around 1913 depending on how big it was, this would all mean that the build up to the first world war wouldn't of happened and so no second world war.
MessedUpPotamia
20-12-2004, 10:00
The Mongol Invasions,all the way.The Mongol Invasions were such a sudden and powerful force that they eventually became the Largest Empire the has EVER seen,only rivalled by the British Empire.

The Invasion of Russia by the Mongols caused the fearful attitude towards Asians by Caucasian Russians that lasted for decades and centuries to come,creating part of the reason why they would invade Siberia and Central Asia.If those had not happend,many things could have changed,such as the size of the later U.S.S.R.

The Invasion of the Middle East did cause great destruction in many countries,and destroyed the Seljuk Empire and ravaged Mesopotamia,which is still feeling the effects to this day.Although they were later defeated by the Mamluks,the Mongols kept a firm grasp on Persia and India,affecting it's people's culture greatly.Urdu,the nation language of Pakistan,is a good part Mongolian,as is Persian.

The Invasion of China did create a new age for China,as when Kublai Khan took over,he brought China back to it's former glory,revitalising it's people,culture and economy,just because he was such an influential leader.

I could go on,but I'm starting to get bored of this rant;)
Legless Pirates
20-12-2004, 10:02
The War on Errorism
Schultaria Prime
20-12-2004, 10:11
I personally voted for the Seven Years War (which in my opinion should be called The First "Quasi" World War), simply because of the tremendous impact it had in foreign policy and how extensive the fighting actually was.

It was the first major war to be fought overseas in colonial holdings as well as on the home soils of major colonial powers, extending well into present day France, Germany, India, Canada, and the United States (just to name a few of the larger areas at stake). Technically this war was fought between two major allied powers over the span of three continents, making it the most extensive series of conflicts up until that time. As it was such a massive conflict, every nation involved acquired an extreme amount of debt over the course of the war; it is this debt which makes the Seven Years War so important in the modern era.

In an effort to pay for military actions on the North American Continent, the British Parliament attempted to pass a series of excise taxes on the American colonists. Since Canada (once owned by the French as a colonial possession and their main source of defensive worry) was now a British possesion, the American colonists didn't think it necessary to hold such extensive military financial burden. This discontent would eventually lead to the American Revolution.

France, humiliated by the defeat of its armies and equally strapped for cash from the fighting, would eventually rebel against the squandering monarchy. The French military, learning from the mistakes of their past, would adopt innovative reforms which would be used to great success by Napoleon during his conquests in the early 19th century.

Prussia, a major continental ally of Britain during the Seven Years War, would later establish itself as a military power of outstanding caliber. This military tradition, bolstered by the limited odds of their survival during this era, would eventually lead to the increase of Prussia's influence in the Rhineland (and creating the basis for the eventual unification of Germany in the 1870's).

Great Britain, because of their incredible gains from the conclusion of the war, established themselves as the de facto colonial superpower of the world until the end of the Second World War. The armed forces of the British Empire (especially the Navy) would be dominating forces in eventual dominion over Africa and the remainder of India (leading to tensions between England and Germany during the Boer War [Considered by some historians to be the ultimate precursor to World War I]). However, it would be India's cotton exports to Britain in the latter half of the 18th century which would lead to revolutions in global industry; the revolutions, influenced by the economy of textile exports, in mass production of fine cloth could be considered the prototypes to the industrial revolution which would sweep the globe in the early 1800's.

-Of course I could say more, but it's three in the morning here and I think that I should honestly go to bed now.
Khwarezmia
20-12-2004, 10:26
World War 2 saw the destruction of most of Europe. It saw the toppling of five superpowers and put a new one in place. It was the most costly war in the entirety of mankind's history, more money spent on it than any other war (except perhaps the cold war), and it saw the deaths of millions. It was the first war wher civilians were openly and directly attacked, and killed. Sure the horrors that the soldiers experienced were largely not as bad as WW1, however the conditions experienced by both the German and Russian armies on the Eastern Front can certainly considered as bad.
At the beginning of WW2 the monoplanes were coming into existance, with rotary engines. By the end, technology had shifted into jet engines. WW2 was the first time that submarines were used properly to drastic effect in a theatre of war (A man pedalling a giant wooden ball with a screw attached the top does not count.). It was the first time that computers were used for military effect. WW2 was the staging point of the Holocaust, and one of the largest mass slaughter of an ethnic minority, ever.
It also saw some of the most amazing courage and determination. The seamen who risked their lives to get food to Britain. The spies and resistance movements, and the pilots who endlessly threw themselves into the skies to stop the Luftwaffe. The feats achieved by ordinary men were incredible - the soldiers of Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of Bulge, these men faced impossible odds, didn't stop them from fighting though did it.

And you have to remember, these people were not fighting for some political beliefs. They were fighting for their freedom.

One last point. I am not writing this because of a bunch of Americans fighting the British 200 odd years ago. I am writing this because of those who sacrificed their lives between 1939 and 1945.
Monageria
20-12-2004, 10:33
Well that depends on what you think is important.

If you are somewhat of a patriot then you are probably going to say your own revolution(if you had one).

If you look on the bigger scheme of things you are definitly going to say the World Wars.

And if you are a history buff you are probably going to say one of them wars way back when. IE: The Trojan war, well....I'm too tired to think of anymore but you get the picture.
Aust
20-12-2004, 10:37
World War 1 or World War 2, followed by the Napolianic wars and the American revaloution

WW2 simply because it was the bloodyest and led to the appearence of 2 superpowers

WW1 it was the clash of the great Europian powers, we are still feeling it's effects now, without it i doubt if the Americans would be so influential

Napolianic wars, the 3rd most bloodyest war in history, or so I balive, this was a fight between the ideologys of Britian and France, between the Old and the New.
PIcaRDMPCia
20-12-2004, 10:40
To be perfectly honest it all depends on where you draw the line. I don't care if people from other countries see it as arrogant or not, but the American Revolution as well as the American Civil War were two of the most important wars in history. Quite literally we'd have a much different planet today, because everything else stems from those two events...but only if we draw the line there. It's the best place to do it, however, for the sake of the knowledge of the debators.
There is just too much that was influanced by the United States for us to see these as any different. For example, a main aspect of the rise of the Nazis in Germany was the Great Depression. Yes, they already had it tough from the demands placed upon them by the Versaille treaty, but it was the Depression that pushed them over the edge. And were it not for the US, that Depression would not have happened. Similarly, many revolutions would not have occurred had our own failed, such as Mexico's, France's, and many others. We influance so much, and some people just refuse to realize because they see that as American arrogance. I don't; I see it as acknowledging fact. Failure to acknowledge truth because it isn't to your liking is the worst form of ignorance.
NianNorth
20-12-2004, 11:47
I personally voted for the Seven Years War (which in my opinion should be called The First "Quasi" World War), simply because of the tremendous impact it had in foreign policy and how extensive the fighting actually was.

It was the first major war to be fought overseas in colonial holdings as well as on the home soils of major colonial powers, extending well into present day France, Germany, India, Canada, and the United States (just to name a few of the larger areas at stake). Technically this war was fought between two major allied powers over the span of three continents, making it the most extensive series of conflicts up until that time. As it was such a massive conflict, every nation involved acquired an extreme amount of debt over the course of the war; it is this debt which makes the Seven Years War so important in the modern era.

In an effort to pay for military actions on the North American Continent, the British Parliament attempted to pass a series of excise taxes on the American colonists. Since Canada (once owned by the French as a colonial possession and their main source of defensive worry) was now a British possesion, the American colonists didn't think it necessary to hold such extensive military financial burden. This discontent would eventually lead to the American Revolution.

France, humiliated by the defeat of its armies and equally strapped for cash from the fighting, would eventually rebel against the squandering monarchy. The French military, learning from the mistakes of their past, would adopt innovative reforms which would be used to great success by Napoleon during his conquests in the early 19th century.

Prussia, a major continental ally of Britain during the Seven Years War, would later establish itself as a military power of outstanding caliber. This military tradition, bolstered by the limited odds of their survival during this era, would eventually lead to the increase of Prussia's influence in the Rhineland (and creating the basis for the eventual unification of Germany in the 1870's).

Great Britain, because of their incredible gains from the conclusion of the war, established themselves as the de facto colonial superpower of the world until the end of the Second World War. The armed forces of the British Empire (especially the Navy) would be dominating forces in eventual dominion over Africa and the remainder of India (leading to tensions between England and Germany during the Boer War [Considered by some historians to be the ultimate precursor to World War I]). However, it would be India's cotton exports to Britain in the latter half of the 18th century which would lead to revolutions in global industry; the revolutions, influenced by the economy of textile exports, in mass production of fine cloth could be considered the prototypes to the industrial revolution which would sweep the globe in the early 1800's.

-Of course I could say more, but it's three in the morning here and I think that I should honestly go to bed now.
Strange that. The American colonies paid less tax than any other part of the empire. It may have had more to do with the British reluctance to expand westwards and the colonists wish to do so. Funny thing history, people write something often enough and despite the facts others start to belive it, just like the american civil war when it started had little to do with slavery. But it looks good for the victors to say it did so that's what is accepted.
Psylos
20-12-2004, 13:49
First, I know a lot more about the Napoleonic Wars than you do; they didn't change all that much in Europe other than some leader exchanges; in the end, almost nothing was affected.
????
You're kidding right?

Here is where you can learn about the french revolution :
http://idcs0100.lib.iup.edu/modernera/french.htm

Napoleonic Wars tore down the medieval structures of Europe, opened the paths of 19th century liberalism, hastened the advent of nationalism and spreaded the Declaration of the Human Rights. Those changes affected the whole world as Europe was in the middle of the biggest colonial campaign in history.
Psylos
20-12-2004, 14:20
The Revolutionary War. It established the first representative democracy this world has ever seen and unleashed the greatest force for good in history.

And it also gave us dudes in tight stockings and wigs. You can't win em all, I guess.
Democracy is an old greek term (Demos = people and cracy = society, or something like that). It pre-dates the US Revolutionary War of the 19th century (it pre-dates even the US or even England).
PIcaRDMPCia
20-12-2004, 14:25
Democracy is an old greek term (Demos = people and cracy = society, or something like that). It pre-dates the US Revolutionary War of the 19th century (it pre-dates even the US or even England).
Like he said, the first representative democracy. Even the Roman Republic was more of an oligarchy than a representative democracy.
Psylos
20-12-2004, 14:26
Like he said, the first representative democracy. Even the Roman Republic was more of an oligarchy than a representative democracy.
The US is the same.
Mumiya
20-12-2004, 14:27
Whichever Roman War which featured the Varian Disaster.
Neo Cannen
20-12-2004, 14:40
The Revolutionary War. It established the first representative democracy this world has ever seen and unleashed the greatest force for good in history.


*Ahem* Britain had a represntive democracy prior to you. Though it was not fully developed it did exist. Freedom and democracy are not purely American ideas. As for the first Democracy, I believe that goes to the Athenian Direct Democracy system.
Dunbarrow
20-12-2004, 14:49
Mongol Wars.
They so much sucked the life out of Islam :P
Neo Cannen
20-12-2004, 15:07
WW1

It made people realise that industrial war was so much more carnage than ever before. Had it not been fougt untill even 10 years later, any other war between any industrial power would have been far worse.
NianNorth
20-12-2004, 15:08
Originally Posted by Chainik Hocker
The Revolutionary War. It established the first representative democracy this world has ever seen and unleashed the greatest force for good in history.

And it also gave us dudes in tight stockings and wigs. You can't win em all, I guess.

I take it you are refering to Oliver Cromwells lot here!
My Gun Not Yours
20-12-2004, 17:59
The Mongol Invasions and the Destruction of the Caliphate are mentioned with great grief and direct blame by Osama Bin Laden for the reason he feels that Muslims are screwed. He makes no secret of this in his writings - if that had never happened, he believes that the ascendancy of the West would have never happened.

Whether or not it's true is beside the point. What is important is that the primary adversary of the US deeply believes it.

I can't help but think that after the US, he really has it in for China.
Dunbarrow
20-12-2004, 18:04
The Mongol Invasions and the Destruction of the Caliphate are mentioned with great grief and direct blame by Osama Bin Laden for the reason he feels that Muslims are screwed. He makes no secret of this in his writings - if that had never happened, he believes that the ascendancy of the West would have never happened.

Whether or not it's true is beside the point. What is important is that the primary adversary of the US deeply believes it.

I can't help but think that after the US, he really has it in for China.


True. And they know it. And will act accordingly. In fact... they already do.

A Nation and Ethnicity that has maintained its existence for some 5000 years knows how to deal with threats, in a decisive way.
Ninjadom Revival
20-12-2004, 18:25
You left out a lot of major wars and included others that probably shouldn't be there.
Regardless, World War II by far. You couldn't manuscript the effects of that war in a billion pages of literature; they are too vast, and have changed the very shape of the world forever. Just a few of the more major effects and side-effects:

*The beginning of the nuclear age.
*Change of government in Japan.
*U.S.S.R. and the Cold War lead-ins, including all subsequent wars of the Cold War (Korea, Vietnam, ect.).
*The creation of the independent, modern state of Israel, leading into the conflicts plaguing the world this very day.
*The rise and fall of national socialism.
Urukku
20-12-2004, 22:03
I cannot believe you people have completely forgotten the Star Wars trilogy. If that hadn't happened, why, Lord Vader could just march in to your home and take all your asthma medication and choke you to death and there'd be nothing you could do about it.

Ingrates.
New Grunz
21-12-2004, 00:48
It had to be the 7 Years War. Without that, France would still have Canada and West America, George Washington would never have became a good general, and America would never have happened
New Shiron
21-12-2004, 01:00
a critically important war left out is the war between the Greek City States and Persia...

if Persia had won at either Salamis or Marathon there wouldn't be a Western Civilization

After that, the next one of critical importance is Alexander the Great and his destruction of the Persian Empire and imposition of Hellenic (essentially Western) culture in the Eastern Mediterranean (the New Testament was originally written in Greek for example)

in the Modern Era though... its the American Revolution (established the United States) followed by the American Civil War and Napoleonic Wars (tied for importance... one kept America a united nation without the divisions of Europe and the other kept Europe divided)

then World War I.. which is the critical event of the 20th Century and nearly every war since then can be traced to it.

World War II is next as it saved Western Civilization and prevented the imposition of a monstrous empire that would have been a nightmare on Earth for literally billions

and the most important war that didn't happen was the war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact... otherwise civilization would no longer exist in a recognizable form (assuming we still existed as a species)
Personal responsibilit
21-12-2004, 01:09
I'd say the Nepoleanic war as it brought an end to the Papal rule of Europe and fulfilled biblical prophecy in so doing...
Virgin Island 420
21-12-2004, 01:17
Good thoughts all. What are we defining as a war anyway? Need to becareful are you pose your questions.

The Crusades, if you could call it a war. Holy war if anything. Started the Western World into a mess that they could not have understood. Trying to take the Holy Land from the Arabs was great blunder by the Church.

The French Revolution - had implications throughout the European Monarchy. I cannot agrue this point, as I have not studied it in detail.

The American Revolution - important to us here in the USA. When did this one end? The Revolution was "to make ALL equal", which did not happen until the 1960s with the Civil Rights Movement. Not all contries/societies believe in 'equal rights' for all. So I'm not sure that American Revolution has the world wide impact to say it is the most important.

The American Civil War?? What did this prove? It was not soley over slavery. The South wanted to hang to their way of life which included slavery. The North was just starting to see the industrial revolution. In the end, money was reason for the war. Plus, full equality was not given to minorities until the 1960s.
New Anthrus
21-12-2004, 01:17
WWI was. It was the culmination of what was wrong with the world, and that war was where it imploded. It took a long time for the world to get into a state of homeostasis, granted, but WWI destroyed the old: imperialism was dying, nationalism was not as violent, and the age of European hegemony was over.
In second place is the American Civil War. It kept the union together, ensuring that the US would become powerful. It also jump-started economic developement here, and the settling of our massive territories that were barely populated beforehand, like the Great Plains.
PIcaRDMPCia
21-12-2004, 04:07
*slams the bump button*
Psylos
21-12-2004, 09:50
The French Revolution - had implications throughout the European Monarchy. I cannot agrue this point, as I have not studied it in detail.
Actually it had consequences all over the world. It was the declaration of human rights and "Liberty, equality and fraternity" became a catch phrase.
At this time, France was a colonial superpower so the ideas of the revolution was spread all over the world. It shaped modern politics (right-wing and left wing refers to the assembly of jacobins and girondins (who were republicans)) and it sparked the socialist movement which made the bolshevik revolution in Russia, communist revolution in China and basically all over the world.
PIcaRDMPCia
21-12-2004, 09:56
The French Revolution, however, would not have occurred without our own first; it's what gave them the idea to do so. So, while the French Revolution is what spawned all of the others, our owned started the process; without it, the French and thus no one elses would have occurred...especially if ours was crushed as opposed to never happening.
Psylos
21-12-2004, 09:57
The French Revolution, however, would not have occurred without our own first; it's what gave them the idea to do so. So, while the French Revolution is what spawned all of the others, our owned started the process; without it, the French and thus no one elses would have occurred...especially if ours was crushed as opposed to never happening.
Well not really. France has an history on its own, you know?
You should click on the link I provided earlier and learn what sparked the french revolution.
There's something called Anglo-saxon revisionism which is bassically propaganda trying to minimize the impact of the french revolution. It's 200 years old.
Actually, the french helped starting the american revolution (the US did not exist at the time).
Neo Cannen
21-12-2004, 11:27
The French Revolution, however, would not have occurred without our own first; it's what gave them the idea to do so. So, while the French Revolution is what spawned all of the others, our owned started the process; without it, the French and thus no one elses would have occurred...especially if ours was crushed as opposed to never happening.

What's this I hear? American arrogence in the wings. Look a little more into French history. You will see that the American revolution had little to do with the French one.
Jordaxia
21-12-2004, 11:32
I say the Punic wars. (If I recall correctly, someone mentioned the Varian disaster, which took place in the Teutoberg Forest in Germania. I can't see a Roman defeat in Germania, however disastrous, profoundly affecting world history.)


The Punic Wars, between Carthage and Rome, are the most influential. It decided the civilisation of the world. Whether it would be Roman or Carthaginian. Had the Carthaginians won, who can say what would have happened? It's fairly unlikely that there would be a Christian faith, and it's doubtful that Carthage would expand into Greece, meaning their ideas and thoughts, and philosophical thought would continue on, likely meaning no dark age. With no dark age, and no fall of the ancient Empires due to Rome... everything would be different. I believe that the Americas would become Greek colonies, given they already knew the world was round (the horizon kinda gave them a hint)


I know that this is hardly lucidly written, but you can't deny its influence.
The Supreme Rabbit
21-12-2004, 11:33
The Winter War 1939-1940 in Finland. Then the Continuation War 1941-1944.
I laugh at you, Soviets! Hahaha!
Harlesburg
21-12-2004, 11:54
The American Civil War?? What did this prove? It was not soley over slavery. The South wanted to hang to their way of life which included slavery. The North was just starting to see the industrial revolution. In the end, money was reason for the war. Plus, full equality was not given to minorities until the 1960s

Dead on 35 mill vs 9 mill of which 3 mill slaves
only 25%? owned slaves
South had like 30 Factories(underexageration)
North 1300 or whatever but it was like bucket loads more
Lincoln used Gettysburg address to Unionise the Union as people were wondering what they were fighting for.
north got 95%? of new Immigrants most to NY

Look at Gettysburg Lee was a genius he flanked the North so many times too bad he chose to go down the middle :(

Good Question Go North or relieve Vicksburg/Missisippi?

Main question
You forgot the 30 years war :mad:
American Revolution changed much probably must important tilted the world.
But America wasnt the first Democracy Britain was had a King but the King Had been worthless since Charles I and The Bastard Cromwell :( .

World War One yep but WWII was ment to be a return to the balance of power of the 19C.
Harlesburg
21-12-2004, 11:57
The French Revolution, however, would not have occurred without our own first; it's what gave them the idea to do so. So, while the French Revolution is what spawned all of the others, our owned started the process; without it, the French and thus no one elses would have occurred...especially if ours was crushed as opposed to never happening.
H8 to agree but yeah but French and Spanish won your Revo so
:p brwwwww

More Rants 7 years war important but Napoleanic Wars more Important but insignificant? as was aresult of American Revolution.
Rajinistan
21-12-2004, 12:17
well it depends on what grounds you explain the positive element of a war. Is it the scientific good that benefits mankind, or the most remembered war, or what?

If you talk about which of the aforementioned wars gave the most to science, it was definitely the second WW.
Clint the mercyful
21-12-2004, 12:20
emergency war (d) 10
Kraytia
21-12-2004, 12:33
The Winter War 1939-1940 in Finland. Then the Continuation War 1941-1944.
I laugh at you, Soviets! Hahaha!

We lost both wars, you know. Some people are spamming "We didn't get annexed -> wE'RE tha winn3RS w00t w00t" -junk though.
Torching Witches
21-12-2004, 13:01
I put WW1, as it dictated the whole of the 20th century. In terms of my viewpoint, though, the British (well, English, mostly) Civil War was crucial. It meant Britain avoided the kind of bloody revolution that occurred much later elsewhere in Europe.
Sqid Marsupials
21-12-2004, 13:20
they see that as American arrogance. I don't; I see it as acknowledging fact. Failure to acknowledge truth because it isn't to your liking is the worst form of ignorance.

i agree with the sentiment and the logic behind it but americans are soooo arrogant it's obvious, even to an english man that the napoleonic wars affected the world the most :D
Khwarezmia
21-12-2004, 13:22
WW1 was the war to end all wars. 21 years later the world was plunged into an even greater war, it wasn't just a bunch of Imperialist European Superpowers muscling it up against each other. What do you think would have happened if Hitler had hung on for one or two more days in September 1940? The RAF would have been defeated and the entirety of the German war machine would have been marching through Britain. If Britain had fallen, Europe would be under the control of Hitler, he was at that time in cahoots with Stalin. America wasn't yet in the war. And the US would not have had the power at that point to fight both Japan and Germany, assuming the USSR was being invaded by Germany.

I think the most important point in WW2, which was in my opinion the most 'important' war, was the Battle of Britain. One of the few time in which the fate of the world was in that hands of a few men.

"[Never] has so much has been owed to so few..."
Mildura
21-12-2004, 13:40
This signalled the end of empires/colonialism, and brought about more freer govts and economies, it broke the most powerful nation up (at the time); Germany, and hence layed the ground work for World War Two, WW2 was a DIRECT result of the wrong doings and stupid pride (mainly the French for wanting Germany to cease to exist) from WW1, hence WW1 is the most "important" war in history.

"I think the most important point in WW2, which was in my opinion the most 'important' war, was the Battle of Britain. One of the few time in which the fate of the world was in that hands of a few men"

Wrong mate, Germany had expended their already weak amphibious capability on the invasion of Norway, they were forced to use Rhiene barges as the invasion 'ships', a small destroyer could knock these over simply from their wake, let alone firing on them, and the RN had more than enough Destroyers, Frigates, Corvettes, Sloops, etc to handle the barges. Hitler himself was NEVER confident on Operation Sealion, his focus was on the USSR, he actually respected the poms and their empire.

A more important time in WW2 was just after the fall of france when the British cabinet voted on sueing for peace with the Germans, it was defeated by ONE vote, Churchills, had it suceeded, then the world would never ever be the same again as a Germany that had taken down the USSR and with it it's vast natural resources (not to mention the mid east), even the US would not stand a chance, and btw, the Germans weren't that far off building the bomb either, the US sent in a investigation team to determine how close they were, and they came back saying all they needed was the plutonium, a relatively easy part of making nukes, you just need the materials (heavy water plants, etc) and Germany really only had Norway for that, and it was quite small to, esp compared to the US operations.
Jordaxia
21-12-2004, 13:43
Not quite. If Britain lost her air force, then the destroyers and other ships that would be used to send the german landing to the bottom of the sea would be picked off by German aircraft. Remember that air power is usually at an advantage to naval power, and the Germans would have plenty of time to secure the English channel with no RAF to stop them.

Secondly, the Strongest nation at the time of WW1 was still the British Empire, but it had grown decadent by that time.
Psylos
21-12-2004, 13:48
http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=381318
Khwarezmia
21-12-2004, 13:57
[QUOTE=Jordaxia]Not quite. If Britain lost her air force, then the destroyers and other ships that would be used to send the german landing to the bottom of the sea would be picked off by German aircraft. Remember that air power is usually at an advantage to naval power, and the Germans would have plenty of time to secure the English channel with no RAF to stop them.QUOTE]

Zackly. The channel is not a long way across is it? And the Germans still had their navy too, it really did depend on the RAF. However, it is true to say that Hitler was never really all for Operation Sea Lion.

And why are you mentioning Russia? The Germans didn't invade Russia until 1943.
Shiaze
21-12-2004, 14:04
As much as I would like to say WWII, but being an American (hears booing and hissing) I'd have to say the American Revelution.
Khwarezmia
21-12-2004, 14:07
As much as I would like to say WWII, but being an American (hears booing and hissing) I'd have to say the American Revelution.

Hmm, fine example of how propoganda and patriotism warps historical fact.

Fascinating really.
Ultra Cool People
21-12-2004, 14:10
There are two wars in the last century that really changed everything. WWI did away with all the European Royal Monarchies with the exception of the British. (and it took away the last real power from the English Monarch).

WWII for obvious reasons.
Harlesburg
21-12-2004, 18:34
I put WW1, as it dictated the whole of the 20th century. In terms of my viewpoint, though, the British (well, English, mostly) Civil War was crucial. It meant Britain avoided the kind of bloody revolution that occurred much later elsewhere in Europe.
Yeah WWI
30 years war was around their too nothing friendly about that
"[Never] has so much has been owed to so few..."
By so many God bless the Kiwi's,Aussies,Frogs,Waloons,Bohemians,Canadiens and Yanks of the RAF :p
Wrong mate, Germany had expended their already weak amphibious capability on the invasion of Norway, they were forced to use Rhiene barges as the invasion 'ships', a small destroyer could knock these over simply from their wake, let alone firing on them, and the RN had more than enough Destroyers, Frigates, Corvettes, Sloops, etc to handle the barges. Hitler himself was NEVER confident on Operation Sealion, his focus was on the USSR, he actually respected the poms and their empire.
Have you seen what they used at Dunkirk? The Germans did scrape the Barrel but they did get the boats including Norway's.
JU88 goes BU-BYE little shippy mwahahahahahahaha

He said USSR Thats 41
Of greater concern was North Africa estimated 20 times more transport was needed for only4 german Divs opposed to 297 in the east :confused:
Hitler saw it as a sideshow to prop up Italy and refused to divert more Armour.
But when Africa was effectily lost supplies doubled :confused: causing 3 years of war for what?
New Kiev
21-12-2004, 18:41
You could say that in a sense America's current troubles stem from both the Crusades and the 1st and 2nd WWs.
Haken Rider
21-12-2004, 19:47
christ americans are up themselves and speak such a lot of bullshit. the most important war, thats not even up there, would be the wars started against France in 1792 and then joined with the Napoleonic wars, because these wars helped to define and shape the French revolution, the greatest and m ost influential revolution there ever was.

I'm totaly with this dude.

After the Napoleonic war, Europe was changed. Much bourders are now similair. From that came WO1 and from WO1 came WO2.
Harlesburg
23-12-2004, 06:12
You could say that in a sense America's current troubles stem from both the Crusades and the 1st and 2nd WWs.
I wont you could