At the outbreak of World War I, Europe had enjoyed an unprece-
dented forty-three years of freedom from general conflict. Align-
ments and realignments of powers had flourished, but the constant
shifts in diplomacy had succeeded in maintaining the so-called bal-
ance of power which insured a general, though fully armed peace.
The predominant mood was one of optimism. Goods and people
moved freely, without major tariff barriers or passports to check them.
It was a time of colonialism and empire, and a time of general prosper-
ity throughout Europe and America which brought a higher standard
of living to more people than had hitherto been possible. Education,
sanitation, road building, and the like became public responsibilities,
and increasing attention was given to the welfare of larger and larger
segments of the population. In America, particularly, urbanization
spread rapidly, great fortunes were made, and the prowess of the
American businessman--who might now be said to be the national
hero--spread throughout the world. By the turn of the twentieth
century, the United States had become a world power.

Tremendous strides had been made in science and invention. The
years between 1870 and the First World War were (as indeed they
still are) the age of coal, iron, steam, and electricity. Railroads, auto-
mobiles, telephones, typewriters, the motion picture, and even the
airplane were among pre-World War I innovations which rapidly
became an indispensable part of daily life. Regard for and interest in

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