Opposition to World War I

Opposition to…
Part of a series on Anti-war topics

Military action in Iran • Iraq War • War in Afghanistan • War on Terrorism • Landmines • Vietnam War • Nuclear armament • World War II • World War I • Second Boer War • American Civil War • War of 1812 • American Revolutionary War
Agents of opposition
Anti-war organizations • Conscientious objectors • Draft dodgers • Peace movement • Peace churches • Peace camp
Related ideologies
Anti-imperialism • Antimilitarism • Appeasement • Nonviolence • Pacificism • Pacifism • Satyagraha • Vanguardism
Media
Books • Films • Songs
Politics Portal · v • d • e

World War I was mainly opposed by left-wing groups, but there was also opposition by Christian Pacifist groups. The term anti-war usually refers to the opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. Organised opposition to a possible future military attack against Iran by the United States (US is known to have started during 2005-2006 There has been significant opposition to the Iraq War across the world Opposition to the 2001 Afghanistan War consisted of tens to a hundred thousand protestors in the United States and the United Kingdom. See also War on Terrorism Criticism of the War on Terrorism (also named the War on Terror) addresses the issues morals Ethics, efficiency economics The International Campaign to Ban Landmines is a coalition of Non-governmental organizations whose goal is to abolish the production and use of Anti-personnel mines Opposition to US involvement in the Vietnam War is significant because domestic protest in the U Nuclear disarmament is the proposed dismantling of Nuclear weapons. Opposition to World War II was most vocal during its early period and stronger still before it started while Appeasement and Isolationism were considered viable diplomatic Opposition to the Second Boer War in Britain was modest when the war began on 11 October 1899 and was always less widespread than support for it let alone Popular opposition to the American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865 was widespread This article concerns Loyalists in the American Revolution. For information on the role of those Loyalists in Canadian history after their emigration see United Empire In order to facilitate organized opposition to war Anti-war activists have often founded anti-war organizations A conscientious objector (CO is an individual who on religious moral or ethical grounds refuses to participate as a combatant in war or in some cases to take any role that would support A draft dodger, draft evader or draft resister, is a person who avoids ("dodges" or otherwise violates the Conscription policies of the A peace movement is a Social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war (or all wars minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or Peace churches are Christian churches groups or communities advocating Christian pacifism. Peace camps are a form of physical Protest camp that is focused on Anti-war activity Anti-imperialism, strictly speaking is a term that may be applied to or movement opposed to some form of Imperialism. Antimilitarism is a doctrine commonly found in the Anarchist and more globally in the Socialist movement which may be both characterized as Internationalist Nonviolence is a philosophy and strategy for social change that rejects the use of physical Violence. Pacificism is the general Ethical opposition to War or Violence, except in cases where force is deemed absolutely necessary to advance the cause of Satyagraha ( Sanskrit: सत्याग्रह satyāgraha) is a philosophy and practice of Nonviolent resistance developed by Mohandas In the context of Revolutionary struggle vanguardism is a strategy whereby an organization (usually a Vanguard party) attempts to place itself at the center of the An anti-war book is a book that is perceived as having an Anti-war theme An anti-war film is a Film that emphasizes the pain horror and human costs of armed conflict An Anti-war Song is a Musical composition that either states anti-war sentiments directly or one which is perceived (by the public and/or critics as having World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth

The trade union and socialist movements had declared before the war their determined opposition to a war which they said could only mean workers killing each other in the millions in the interests of their bosses. A trade union or labour union is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals in key areas such as wages hours and working conditions forming But once the war was declared, the vast majority of the socialist and trade union bodies decided to back the government of their country and support the war. For example, On the 25 July 1914, the executive of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) issued an appeal to its membership to demonstrate against the coming war, only to vote on 4 August for the war credits the German government wanted. Likewise the French Socialist Party and its union, the CGT, especially after the assassination of the pacificist Jean Jaurès, organised mass rallies and protests until the outbreak of war, but once the war began they argued that in wartime socialists should support their nations against the aggression of other nations and also voted for war credits. The Socialist Party ( Parti Socialiste, PS is the largest left-wing political party in France. Jean Léon Jaurès (full name Auguste Marie Joseph Jean Léon Jaurès; 3 September 1859 31 July 1914) was a French [1]

The few exceptions were the Russian bolsheviks, the Socialist Party of America, the Italian Socialist Party, Karl Liebknecht, Rosa Luxemburg and their followers in Germany, and very small groups in Britain and France. The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists ( Большевик Большевист (singular, derived from bolshe, "more" were a faction The Socialist Party of America (SPA was a socialist Political party in the United States. The Italian Socialist Party ( Partito Socialista Italiano, PSI was a democratic socialist / social democratic political party founded in Genoa ( August 13, 1871 - January 15, 1919) was a German Socialist and a co-founder of the Spartacist League and the Communist Rosa Luxemburg (Róża Luksemburg 5 March 1870 or 1871 15 January 1919 was a Polish-born Jewish German Marxist theorist, socialist In Sweden, the socialist youth leader Zeth Höglund was jailed for his anti-war propaganda, even though Sweden didn't participate in the war. Carl Zeth "Zäta" Konstantin Höglund ( April 29, 1884 – August 13, 1956) was a leading Swedish Socialist politician

In Scotland, and particularly in Glasgow, an active campaign against the war was carried out, in particular among shopyard workers. The leaders of this movement included John Maclean and Willie Gallacher, and they both served prison sentences for their activity. Gallacher claims that for years, Lloyd George did not dare visit Glasgow because of the strength of the anti-war movement.

Other opposition came from conscientious objectors - some socialist, some religious - who refused to fight in the war. A conscientious objector (CO is an individual who on religious moral or ethical grounds refuses to participate as a combatant in war or in some cases to take any role that would support In Britain 16,000 people asked for conscientious objector status, and many suffered years of prison, including solitary confinement and bread and water diets, to oppose the war.

Even after the war in Britain, many job offers were marked "No conscientious objectors need apply".

In Britain in 1916 a "Stop the war now" campaign was big enough to have meetings in even small towns, but remained very much a minority affair. One famous British anti-war activist was the philosopher Bertrand Russell. Bertrand Arthur William Russell 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS (18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970 was a British Philosopher, Historian

In Russia, opposition to the war led to soldiers also establishing their own revolutionary committees and helped foment the October Revolution of 1917, with the call going up for "bread, land, and peace". The October Revolution (Октябрьская революция Oktyabrskaya revolyutsiya) also known as the Soviet Revolution After the revolution, the Bolsheviks called for an armistice, but the world powers refused, worried about the possible spread of revolution. The Bolsheviks agreed a peace treaty with Germany, the peace of Brest Litovsk, despite its harsh conditions. They also published the secret treaties signed by Russia with Western powers, hoping that this publications would encourage international workers' resistance against the war.

In 1917, a series of mutinies in the French army led to a number of soldiers being executed. These soldiers were rehabilitated by the French government in the 1990s.