MAIN Peace Agreement

Pre-World War I, the acronym, MAIN, stands for what history has proven to be the four "main" reasons for the outbreak of wars: militarism, alliances, imperialism and nationalism. First, the militarization of Germany created problems before the war. Bismarck's series of alliances kept peace for a short time but eventually fueled the world further into the war. Imperialism in other countries such as Africa and specifically in the Balkans lead to disputes over territory between the larger countries. Finally, nationalism and the thought "my country, right or wrong" fueled the war and turned World War I into a total war.

Post-WWI, the peace agreement had to be settled. President Woodrow Wilson met with other world leaders to negotiate peace. Wilson's plan for peace, the Fourteen Points, addressed all parts of MAIN and would create a peace that had a decent chance to last. However, other world leaders such as Clemenceau of France and Lloyd George of Britain wanted Germany to be punished for the war and not negotiated with. As a result, a fair peace treaty was out of grasp. Germany was blamed for the war and made to pay reparations and accept harsh terms.
Wilson's Fourteen Points would have been one of the most effective peace agreements if all were passed. Intentional or not, it addressed all of the problems that caused the war in the first place. Only two of his Fourteen Points were accepted and the League of Nations was created. However, Germany was not allowed to be a part. Once Wilson returned to the US, the Senate turned down the invitation to join Wilson's League. The Treaty of Versailles included or caused MAIN to resurface/continue after WWI and would lead to another world war.

MAIN is the cause and also the answer to war. MAIN causes wars between countries but when considered can also end them.