The Impact of the Internet on Children free essay sample

The Impact of the Internet on Children Introduction amp; Background With the advanced development computer technology, currently, the internet is prevalently spreading nearly everywhere in our life, work and study. In fact, the internet is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the internet can help us to handle lots of complicated matters and make people broaden their horizons through the internet. However, according to the research, most of the people, especially lots of children, are influenced by the internet negatively in terms of time management, addiction to the online games, free pornographies and adult films, physical health and family relationships. Therefore, we must come up with some solutions which based on parental control and parental support to figure out these problems of the internet on children. Specific negative impacts of the internet on children One of the negative impacts of the internet on children is disrupting the time management in their normal life. We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of the Internet on Children or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As mentioned in the article â€Å"Internet parenting styles and the impact on Internet use of primary school children,† the authors Valcke, Bonte and Rots (2010) indicate that children cannot schedule time properly because of the internet disturbance. According to a sociological survey based on a group of questions given to some of Romanian parents (Muresan, Catalano amp; Bocos, 2010), 16. 73% of the parents think their children spent lots of time on the internet, and less time on other outdoor activities, and even sometimes they did not do their homework and copied other children’s homework, instead. In fact, more and more children are psychologically over dependent on the internet because many people call current generation as â€Å"digital natives† or â€Å"net generation† (Prensky, 2001). Not surprisingly, many children have accessed to the internet when they are in childhoods. â€Å"More than 80% of family has at least one or two computers; even some children have their own computers† (Muresan et. al. 2010). Moreover, more than half of the parents think that the main purpose of the computer is surfing the internet for information and they take it for granted that children can access the internet. As a result, children spend more time on the internet, and less time on the other activities in recent years. As a matter of fact, it is a very common phenomenon that current generation is the first generation that experiences the world primarily by means of the internet. The second negative impact of the internet on children is an addiction to the online games, free pornographies and adult films. We just call it â€Å"net addiction†. In their article, the three authors Muresan, Catalano and Bocos(2010) illustrate that 34. 95% of students like to play online games in their spare times. In another article, â€Å"Negative effects of the internet†, Wilkinson (2011) points out that more and more children become addicted to the internet. To be more specific, she mentioned that the internet houses more free pornographies and adult films which are easier to for children acquire than before although over 50% of parents said they control their children’s activity at the computer (Muresan et. al. 2010). In fact, the most important part of the parental control is not only control but offer help to children when they surf the internet. However, the majority of parents do not pay attention to internet education on children because â€Å"only 13. 2% of children receive guidelines by their parents† (Valcke, Bonte, Wever amp; Rots, 2010, P456). As a result, an increasing number of pornographies make it much easier for children to access adult films and absorb sexual images because there are more than 80% of the primary school children saying they are at unsafe internet usage (Valcke et. al. 2010). To some extent, the internet controls children’s life by pornography which makes it become a ubiquitous nature of thing in their normal life (Wilkinson, 2011). Therefore, more and more children fall victim to this negative emotional impact due to an unregulated online game, a harmful exposure to pornography and an uncontrolled publication of adult film on the internet. In the article â€Å"The effects of behavioral inhibition/ approach system as predictors of Internet addiction in adolescents†, the author Park, Lee, Jung and Choi (2012) raise a possible explanation to the children’s net addiction is the anxiety. That means the more anxiety to the internet, the less self-control on the access to the internet. Therefore, most of children are negatively influenced by an increasing number of online games, free pornographies and adult films, thus affecting their physical health. Besides an addiction to the online games, free pornographies and adult films, physical health is another major negative impact of the internet on children. Can you imagine sitting in front of a computer screen continuously for a long time without any food and water? In fact, it is a very common scene to most of children when they at the computer, especially for surf the internet. Therefore, lack of physical activity, children are easily getting in lots of unhealthy lifestyle even connected to the diseases such as obesity, eyesight problem and spine problem (Valcke et. al. 2010). Specifically, the more time in front of the computer screen, the more harmful computer radiation to children’s physical health. Moreover, more than 27% of the parents think the internet caused medical problems such as sight and spine problems among their children (Muresan et. al. 2010). In recent years, although governments in different nations energetically develop national fitness programs which cause more and more people interest in exercise, the majority of parents would like to pay more attention to children’s school grades rather than the awareness of the need for children’s physical health. Consequently, an increasing numbers of children choose to stay at home and surf the internet instead of participating in outdoor activities. Last but not the least, family relationships are gradually broken by exposure to the internet. At present, more and more children and adults would like to make net friends instead of friends in real life (Wilkinson, 2011). Not surprisingly, more and more children rely on networking communication with others thus having flaw in face-to-face communication with their family members, especially with their parents. If children spend most of time on the internet, they will spend less time talking with their parents in real life. It is another symptom of poor time management. Without the internet, children largely depend on their parents to verify what they see, hear and feel (Verdick, 2012). However, with the appearance of lots of uncontrolled information on the internet, children prefer to talk with cyber friends and believe what they see, hear and feel on the internet. It also corroborate the anxiety is an explanation to the children’s net addiction Therefore, children who keep online are less likely to identify what is real and what is not, and they are unable to sense reality in the virtual world. As a matter of fact, children are always curious about new things even feel excited about making unreal friends on the internet while ignoring the real relationships between parents and themselves. You may have a question? Although this paper focuses more on the negative impacts of the internet on children, some people may argue that the internet plays a significant role in children’s life because it brings children a lot of convenience. In the article â€Å"The impact of Computer and Internet on the Young Students- An Ascertaining Research,† the authors Muresan, Catalano and Bocos (2010) think the biggest benefit of the internet for the children is the development of the mental abilities which include thinking, logic and observation, followed by an improvement of general culture and the interest for new things (21%). Children can no doubt absorb a large amount of knowledge on the internet. For example, when meeting difficulties on study, they search the internet for help, which is convenient, fast and easy. However, the internet brings children more hazards than benefits. For example, children are psychologically over dependent on the internet instead of challenging themselves in study, work and life. Therefore, the negative impacts of the internet on children exceed the benefits of the internet. Solutions to the negative impacts of the internet on children To offset the negative impacts of the internet on children mentioned above, there are two major ways: parental control and parental support. â€Å"The definition of parental styles is the number of involvement and strictness controlled by parents to deal with their children† (Valcke et. al. 2010). In terms of parental control, four authors Valcke, Bonte, Wever and Rots (2010) indicate that parents could restrict the internet use of their children by means like installing filter software, checking internet log files and drafting internet usage rules. Unfortunately, only 26. 3% of parents do these jobs regularly (Valcke et. al. 2010), with few practical effects on the resolution to the children Internet issue. Compared with effects of the parental control, parental support is a more effective measure to deal with the problems. Firstly, more than 60% of the parents talk with their children about the internet (Valcke et. al. 2010). This means the majority of the parents prefer to communicate with their children, and give support at different levels. Additionally, parents expect to create a safe and private internet environment for children so that they can accept parents’ advice actively instead of passively. Therefore, guiding children with respect to the internet usage and supporting them without strict limits are more effective than control and limit their access to the internet strictly to deal with the problems of internet. Conclusion The explosive growth of the internet is transforming children’s daily life. The specific negative impacts of the internet on children are clearly presented in this paper. In fact, these impacts of the internet on the children’s emotional, cognitive and social development are beginning to be highly valued. The parents, being aware of these negative impacts of the internet on children, have attempted to solve the problems by parental control and parental support. However, the majority of the parents understand their roles in children’s internet usage but unfortunately only a few become aware of the correct guidance in their children’s internet usage. People need educational distributions and legislation to maximize the positive impacts of the internet on children. If people managed well, internet can improve children’ time consciousness, enhance self-protection awareness, maintain physical health and deepen family relationships. But for these positive results to occur, as a society, people must learn how to confront these challenges in the internet development. References Muresan, E, Catalano, H amp; Bocos, M (2010). The Impact of Computer and Internet on the Young Students- An Ascertaing Research. Universitatii Petrol-Gaze din Ploiesti. Retrieved from http://0-web. ebscohost. com. opac. sfsu. edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer? id=1facbc86-59e3-4a13-88b9-385f32ffba68%40sessionmgr112amp;vid=4amp;hid=123 Park, S. M. , Park, Y. A. , Lee, H. W. , Jung, H. Y. , Lee, J. Y. amp; Choi, J, S (2012, August 20). The effects of behavior inhibition/ approach system as predictors of Internet addiction in adolescents. Elsevier. Retrieved from http://ac. els-cdn. com/S0191886912003716/1-s2. 0-S0191886912003716-main. pdf? _tid=da565484-3cfd-11e2-b7ba-00000a ab0f6camp;acdnat=1354507356_78755496c7716d0ee4f40d037a42edd6 Valcke, M, Bonte, S, Wever, B. D. amp; Rots, I (2010, February). Internet parenting styles and the impact on Internet use of primary school children. Elsevier. Retrieved from http://ac. els-cdn. com/S0360131510000436/1-s2. 0-S0360131510000436-main. pdf? _tid=cc34c9b0-3cff-11e2-a504-00000aab0f6bamp;acdnat=1354508191_72c3199642988ce217aa866f5e1fbde4 Verdick (2012). Negative Effects of Internet Usage on Child Development. Verdick. ORG. Retrieved from http://www. verdick. org/child-development-and-the-internet/child-dev-neg Wilkinson, M (2011, September 09). Negative effects of the Internet. Helium. Retrieved from http://www. helium. com/items/1332671-negative-effects-of-the-internet

Role of the law commision and the role played by pressure groups Essays

Role of the law commision and the role played by pressure groups Essays Role of the law commision and the role played by pressure groups Essay Role of the law commision and the role played by pressure groups Essay Essay Topic: Law In this essay I will explain the role of the law commission and discuss the role played by pressure groups and judges with regard to law reform. The law commission is made up of five people from the judiciary, the legal profession and legal academies. Generally the chairman is a high court judge and the other four include a QC experienced in criminal law, a solicitor with experience in land law and equity and two legal academics. They are assisted by legally qualified civil servants. It was set up in 1965 with its main task to be codification. In 1965 it was announced that it would begin codifying family law, contract, landlord and tenant and evidence. This wasnt its only task though, under the law commissions act 1965 the law commission was also meant to remove anomalies from the law, repeal obsolete and unnecessary legislation, consolidate the law and finally simplify and modernize the law. It operates on projects referred to it by the Lord Chancellor or government department, at times it may also work on projects itself feels necessary for consideration. Normally a project will begin with a study of the area of law in question and attempt to identify its defects. Foreign legal systems may be looked at to see how they deal with similar issues. Then it publishes a consultation paper inviting comments, it describes present law and sets out possible options for reform. The commissions final recommendations are in a report containing a draft bill where legislation is proposed. The government then decides if it accepts the recommendations of the law commission. If it does it is down to them to introduce any necessary bills in parliament. Personally I think the law commission was weak in some areas and stronger in others. For example they didnt do very well with codification, although they were set a list of laws to codify attempts for the first few were abandoned and the last one never even begun. It is thought that the reason for this is that they realized it wasnt going to work and it didnt fit in with law making in our country. Zander suggests it was down to a mixture of conservatism and realisation on part of the draftsman, legislators and even judges that it simply didnt fit the English style of lawmaking. Although they did better with contract law, they have radically changed it by recommending control of exclusion clauses which led to the unfair contract terms act 1977, they helped in many other situations as well. A pressure group is an organized group that seeks to influence government policy or legislation. Although the term pressure groups implies they use force not all of them do, different groups have different methods. Their aim is to influence people who have the power to make decisions. Some choose to lobby MPs gaining as much publicity as possible for their cause; others may organize petitions or encourage people to write to their own MP and/or minister. Some groups tend to be more effective than others, size or persistence may be the reason for some groups success. Examples include justice a group concerned with promoting law reform in general and charities such as help the aged and shelter. As well as pressure groups and other organizations the public generally make their opinions known to MPs, ministers and to newspapers. This can lead to reform; another thing that has a great impact on reform is the media as it claims to reflect what the public think in general. Although much law reform happens as a response to pressure from one or more sources agencies such as the law commission are set up to deal with area of law referred to them by the government. The majority of law reform is carried out by parliament and is done in four ways. The first one is repeal, then creation, consolidation and finally codification.

Classroom Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Classroom Management - Assignment Example If the teachers will allow too many disruptions, then it's very difficult to implement better discipline and classroom management techniques.(Beykont, 2002, pp-37) Different students have different sense and judgment of what's right and what's wrong. If a teacher wants to be respected then it's important for them to treat all the students fairly, and if the teachers fail to treat all students equitably then they will be labeled as unfair and no student will bother to follow their rules. (Barrow, 2004, pp-94) Teachers should also punish the best student of the class, if he or she does something wrong, this will win the hearts of all the other students of the classroom. Teachers must learn the techniques of dealing with disruption with little interruption as much as possible. Because if there is any kind of disruption in the classroom then teachers should imperatively and immediately deal with it taking care that the momentum of the classroom should not be interrupted. (Campbell-Rush, 2001, pp-117) During classroom discussion if a teacher observe that the students are taking to each other and not paying attention to what the teacher is teaching. Then teacher should use the technique of asking a sudden question from any student to help them to get back on track. If the teachers will stop the flow of their lesson in order to deal with classroom disruptions, then this clearly means that you are robbing those students who really want to learn their lessons during the precious in-class time. (Campbell-Rush, 2001, pp-138) Avoid Confrontations in Front of Students Most of the primary school teachers agree on a point that whenever there is confrontation in classroom is a loser and a winner. (Dean, 2003, pp-46) Teachers at all costs have to take care of maintaining discipline in their classroom. If teacher have disciplinary issues with any student then the teacher should deal with that student privately so that the will not lose face in front of other students and especially his or her friends. Those teachers who deal disciplinary issues in the classroom can cause some student to deviate from the path. (Dean, 2003, pp-54) Stop Disruptions with a Little Humor Primary school teachers should also learn the technique of stopping classroom disruption with the help of litter humor. It will allow the student to be more comfortable in the classroom. The use of humor technique will also create a friendly environment for learning. If something goes wrong in the classroom then the teachers should have a good laugh to help all the students to get back on track. Teacher should not confuse sarcasm with good humor. (Cangelosi, 2004, pp-63) The basic difference between a good humor and sarcasm is that humor can immediately disperse a situation, while sarcasm can actually harm the relationship between students and their teacher. Teachers must have a good judgment in this regard because what's funny for someone, others find it to be quite offensive. (Cangelosi, 2004, pp-77) Keep High Expectations in Your Class In order to maintain successful classroom management and discipline, teachers should h

Equity Valuation in the Style of Warren Buffet Project Essay

Equity Valuation in the Style of Warren Buffet Project - Essay Example The strategy is proved to be effective over time and prevents investors from making costly and foolish investment losses. The investment strategy uses both quantitative and qualitative factors which finding a good stock. The company chosen for financial analysis is Apple Inc. (Ticker Symbol AAPL) which is a Fortune 500 company whose shares are publicly traded. Apple Inc. is a leading hardware and software company which has headquarters in Cupertino, California, U.S. The company has over 400 global retail stores spread in over 14 countries and it is listed in NASDAQ as a publicly traded company. The Four Filters Approach Filter 1 – Understanding of a company and its products The company sells its products globally through retail outlets, online stores and direct sales with the help of third party distribution networks. The company is best known for its innovative hardware products and next generation media including iPhone, iPad, iPod, Smart Phones, and so on. The companyâ€⠄¢s products and services also include MAC, iCloud, App stores, Apple TV, App Stores, MAC App Stores and iBookstores. Their software services include iOS operating system, OS X, iTunes, iWork and iLife production and creativity suites. The company’s customers are small and medium sized businesses, retail customers, enterprises, educational institutions, and government customers. Filter 2 – Competitive Advantage Apple Inc. is the second largest company in information technology sector in the world. In terms of revenues, only Samsung Electronics (leading Korean company and key competitor of Apple) exceeds the consolidated revenue of Apple. In the year 2008, Fortune magazine name the company as the most admired company in United States as well as globally. Filter 3 – Ability and Trustworthiness of Management The company delivers innovative products and services to customers that include software, hardware, peripheral, and applications. Apple is committed to providi ng best user experience by leveraging its ability of producing unique design. The company continuously invests in marketing, advertising, research and development in order to boost sales and produce innovative products and technologies. The company’s long term strategy includes expansion of distribution network for reaching more customers globally in developing countries and providing them with high quality sales and support experience. Filter 4 – Intrinsic Value Analysis Free-Cash Flows The free cash flows are used to measure the financial performance of the company and it is calculated by subtracting capital expenditures from operating revenues. The free cash-flow represents the company’s ability to generate money required for expanding asset base and hence they are important to identify opportunities that can enhance shareholders’ value. Cash is very important to invest in new products, make M&A, reduce debt and pay dividends. The FCF is calculated usi ng the following formula: In order to determine the

Jane Eyre Essay Example for Free

Jane Eyre Essay The novel Jane Eyre was originally published in London, England in 1847 by Smith, Elder Co. The early editions of the novel were given the subtitle An Autobiography and named Currer Bell as the editor, not the author. The subtitle was dropped in subsequent editions of the novel. During the days when the novel was published, it was popularly believed that men and women had different duties and responsibilities. Women were encouraged to be devoted and submissive to their husbands. The ideal woman was passive, charming, self-sacrificing and pure. Jane Eyre and other works of the Charlotte and her sisters were centred around the lives of protagonists who did not conform to these societal ideals. Thus, in order to hide their true identities and genders, the three Bronte sisters published their works under pseudonyms. These were Acton Bell (Anne Bronte), Ellis Bell (Emily Bronte) and Currer Bell (Charlotte Bronte). Despite its immediate popularity, Jane Eyre was condemned by its earliest critics as anti-Christian. These negative reviews can be attributed to the generally rebellious tone of the novel. Through the description of the protagonist’s life, including those related to her social status and matters of the heart, the reader is presented with several social and political issues. The novel questions society’s view of women, the importance of the arts and the basis of a solid marriage. Based on the standards of the society in the days when the novel was first published, Jane Eyre as a character lead an immoral life. Jane fell in love and lusted after a married man, was proposed to by her cousin, and describes a clergymen as hypocritical and greedy. The novel is written in such a manner that the reader empathizes with Jane, and in doing so, leads the reader to question his or her beliefs. The novel is also explicitly anti-Christian in that Jane questions the existence and importance of God. During her days at Lowood, Jane’s close friend, Helen Burns contracts tuberculosis. On her deathbed, Helen calmly reassures Jane that by dying young, she is escaping great sufferings, and will go to God. Jane remains sceptical, and asks, â€Å"Where is God? What is God? † In the same conversation, Jane questions the existence of heaven and the ability of people to enter it. Using contemporary standards, these questions might be considered by some to be normal and even healthy. However, in the context of the society during the time when the novel was first published, such comments would have been considered as blasphemous and grossly immoral. Critics who believed that the novel was in fact an autobiography were correct. Although the life of the character Jane Eyre is not identical to that of the author Charlotte Bronte, there are obvious parallels. For example, while attending Lowood School, one of Jane’s closest friends dies of consumption. Similarly, while attending school at Cowan Bridge, Jane’s sisters died of the same illness. This coincidence drew comparisons between the fictional headmaster of Lowood whom Jane denounces as insincere and deceitful, and Charlotte’s own former headmaster who ran Cowan Bridge. Another parallel can be drawn between the character of John Reed and Charlotte’s brother Branwell, because both men suffered from alcoholism. Perhaps the most obvious similarity between the novel and the author’s life is the fact that both Jane and Charlotte were governesses. In accepting Jane Eyre as the true adventures of its heroine and by branding the novel as anti-Christian, early critics were correct. Due to similarities in the personal life of Charlotte Bronte and the experiences of Jane Eyre, it can be inferred that the novel is an autobiography. Based on the standards of society during the time it was first published, the rebellious tone and the manner in which the novel questioned respected social institutions, the novel can be considered as anti-Christian.

Getting Back To Basics :: essays research papers

Getting Back to Basics In earliest times primitive people made contact with the outside world through the same five senses used by people today. They could hear the sounds of animals, see objects, feel the rain on their faces, smell the fragrance of wild flowers, and taste berries and other foods. Primitive people also expressed their feelings through art and dance. The cave paintings in Lascaux, France, which were drawn some 27,000 years ago, depicted animals of the time. Do these images show Paleolithic man’s continuity with nature? It is not known whether these pictures had a methodical, or a magical or religious purpose; however, they did show that primitive people had both a need and a talent for self-expression. In Suzi Gablik’s book, Conversations before the End of Time, Gablik touches base with several artists analyzing the discontinuity between man and nature, nature and art, and art and man. During interviews with each artist, philosophical questions arise, such as what is art for (Ellen Dissanayake), are humans really at the apex of the pyramid (Christopher Manes), and can mankind survive without modern technological civilization (Rachel Dutton and Rob Olds)? Links between ecology, psychology, and art are explored, and the consensus among the artists states that mankind needs to change how we live with the earth by getting back to the basics. What is Art For? & Making Art About Centipedes If you were to ask Ellen Dissanayake what is art for, she would reply that art is â€Å"making special.† Dissanayake believes that humans, since the beginning, have been attracted to objects that were ‘extraordinary or special’, and ‘make special things’ to show that we care and have regard for those things. Most importantly, â€Å"art is for everyone and not solely for an elite group of artists in the art world.† Upon first reading this article, I agreed with Dissanayake, however after rereading, I discovered that there was some hypocrisy in what she was saying. Initially, Dissanayake created a solid argument on why art is important to man, why we create art, and to whom art is created. However, when linking this to the importance that man must â€Å"realize that we cannot go on living in ways that are so mechanical, materialistic and hard on the environment (Dissanayake, p.54), Dissanayake separated man into a Darwinist view of nature, and m an’s superiority over it. In my opinion, this view is the reason man is disconnected with nature.

Causes of World War 1

The Causes of World War I World War I is essentially much more complicated and complex than a simple list of causes. While there was a series of events that directly led to the fighting, the actual origin causes are much deeper and a part of continual debate and discussion. Ultimately, countries all over Europe made joint defense agreements that would pull them into battle. Therefore, if one country was attacked, allied countries were bound to defend them. Before World War 1, the following alliances existed: * Russia and Serbia. * Germany and Austria-Hungary. France and Russia. * Britain and France and Belgium. * Japan and Britain. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, in which Russia got involved in to defend Serbia. Germany, seeing Russia rallying, declared war on Russia. France was then drawn in against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Germany attacked France through Belgium, pulling Britain into war. Then Japan entered the war. Afterwards, Italy and the United States would enter on the side of the allies. Imperialism is when a country boosts their power and wealth by bringing additional territories under their control.Before World War I, Africa and parts of Asia were points of controversy amongst the European countries. This was particularly true because of the raw resources these areas could provide. The growing competition and want for greater empires led to an increase in disagreement that helped press on the world into World War I. As the world got into the 20th century, an arms race had begun. By 1914, Germany had the greatest increase in military buildup. Great Britain and Germany both greatly increased their navies in this time period.Further, in Germany and Russia particularly, the military establishment began to have a greater influence on public policy. This increase in militarism helped push the countries involved to war. Much of the origin of the war was based on the desire of the Slavic peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina to no longer be part of Au stria-Hungary, but instead be part of Serbia. In this way, nationalism led directly to the War. But in a more general way, the nationalism of the various countries throughout Europe contributed not only to the beginning but the extension of the war in Europe. Each country tried to prove their dominance and power.The instantaneous cause of World War I that made all the aforementioned items come into play (alliances, imperialism, militarism, nationalism) was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. In June 1914, a Serbian nationalist assassinated him and his wife while they were in Sarajevo, Bosnia which was part of Austria-Hungary. This was in objection to Austria-Hungary having control of this region. Serbia wanted to take over Bosnia and Herzegovina. This assassination led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. When Russia began to gather together due to its alliance with Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia.Thus began the expansion of the war to inc lude all those involved in the mutual defense alliances. Works Cited: * Beck, Roger B. World History: Patterns of Interaction. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2005. Print. * Duffy, Michael. â€Å"Firstworldwar. com. †Ã‚  First World War. com. 22 Aug. 2009. Web. 22 May 2012. . * â€Å"World War One – Causes. †Ã‚  Causes of World War One. Historyonthenet. Web. 22 May 2012. . * â€Å"What Really Caused World War 1? †Ã‚  WW1. Web. 22 May 2012. . Causes of World War 1 The Causes of World War I World War I is essentially much more complicated and complex than a simple list of causes. While there was a series of events that directly led to the fighting, the actual origin causes are much deeper and a part of continual debate and discussion. Ultimately, countries all over Europe made joint defense agreements that would pull them into battle. Therefore, if one country was attacked, allied countries were bound to defend them. Before World War 1, the following alliances existed: * Russia and Serbia. * Germany and Austria-Hungary. France and Russia. * Britain and France and Belgium. * Japan and Britain. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, in which Russia got involved in to defend Serbia. Germany, seeing Russia rallying, declared war on Russia. France was then drawn in against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Germany attacked France through Belgium, pulling Britain into war. Then Japan entered the war. Afterwards, Italy and the United States would enter on the side of the allies. Imperialism is when a country boosts their power and wealth by bringing additional territories under their control.Before World War I, Africa and parts of Asia were points of controversy amongst the European countries. This was particularly true because of the raw resources these areas could provide. The growing competition and want for greater empires led to an increase in disagreement that helped press on the world into World War I. As the world got into the 20th century, an arms race had begun. By 1914, Germany had the greatest increase in military buildup. Great Britain and Germany both greatly increased their navies in this time period.Further, in Germany and Russia particularly, the military establishment began to have a greater influence on public policy. This increase in militarism helped push the countries involved to war. Much of the origin of the war was based on the desire of the Slavic peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina to no longer be part of Au stria-Hungary, but instead be part of Serbia. In this way, nationalism led directly to the War. But in a more general way, the nationalism of the various countries throughout Europe contributed not only to the beginning but the extension of the war in Europe. Each country tried to prove their dominance and power.The instantaneous cause of World War I that made all the aforementioned items come into play (alliances, imperialism, militarism, nationalism) was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. In June 1914, a Serbian nationalist assassinated him and his wife while they were in Sarajevo, Bosnia which was part of Austria-Hungary. This was in objection to Austria-Hungary having control of this region. Serbia wanted to take over Bosnia and Herzegovina. This assassination led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. When Russia began to gather together due to its alliance with Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia.Thus began the expansion of the war to inc lude all those involved in the mutual defense alliances. Works Cited: * Beck, Roger B. World History: Patterns of Interaction. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2005. Print. * Duffy, Michael. â€Å"Firstworldwar. com. †Ã‚  First World War. com. 22 Aug. 2009. Web. 22 May 2012. . * â€Å"World War One – Causes. †Ã‚  Causes of World War One. Historyonthenet. Web. 22 May 2012. . * â€Å"What Really Caused World War 1? †Ã‚  WW1. Web. 22 May 2012. .