Final answer:
The cartoon by John T. McCutcheon can demonstrate that alliances were one of the causes of WWI by highlighting the complex web of political alliances and the obligatory nature of support among allied countries, which led to the widespread nature of the war.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, the cartoon by John T. McCutcheon can be employed to argue that alliances were a cause of World War I (WWI). Before the war, powerful countries formed a complex web of political alliances that were meant to provide mutual support and security. However, these alliances also obligated countries to support each other, even if their own interests were not directly at stake.
When a crisis occurred, such as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the network of alliances activated, bringing multiple countries into the conflict. This is because the alliances created a domino effect where if one country was attacked or involved in a dispute, its allies were bound to assist, thereby escalating regional disputes into a full-scale war. Therefore, a representation like McCutcheon's cartoon could illustrate the interconnectedness and potential volatility of these alliances, demonstrating how they contributed to the broader conflict.
Additionally, it is important to recognize that the alliances created a sense of encirclement and threat among nations, particularly for Germany, which faced a hostile France to the west and a formidable Russia to the east. This feeling of insecurity significantly influenced the political and military decisions that led up to the war, as countries were more likely to take aggressive stances to secure their positions or preempt perceived threats.