On the piece of paper you have been handed, list as many words as you can that are associated with WWI

If you do not know any words associated with WWI, list words that have to do with WAR itself – OR - do both (you have two minutes)

After you have finished, compare you words in groups and create groups of words that share common themes and provide category titles

Write your categories and words for each on your groups’ piece of poster paper

Throughout this process, list at least two questions per group that you would like answered during this unit about WWI, write those on the poster paper as well at the bottom

Based on the activating activity, what would you say some of the causes of war might be?

Are all wars fought for the same reasons? What are some reasons for war today that

you have heard in the news, or from listening to your parents or teachers talk?

Making Predictions:What do you think might be some factors that

caused WWI? Think of what we have discussed so far in class and apply it Europe.

ImperialismMilitarismLack of International OrganizationBoundaries and Past ConflictsNationalismAlliances

The Straw that Broke the Camel’s Back – Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Who can define imperialism?The domination of one county over another

(or region of another) politically, economically, and sometimes culturally

What are some examples of imperialism that we have talked about already in past classes?British, French, SpanishAmerican

As soon as the technology was available to move in and create colonies and empires, the moves were made.

European nations such as Germany, France and Great Britain held many colonies abroad, stretching their realms of influence.

In the early 20th century, Germany and France bitterly fought over rule in Morocco.

The lands of the Middle East and Africa were hotly contested among the Allies and Central Powers.

Why do think that is???

Even in peacetime, the nations of Europe continued to build and expand their armies.

Most notably, Great Britain, who relied on her navy for the vast majority of it military protection, felt a strong threat from Germany as its navy size began to swell.

Having peace time armies grow at alarming rates creates tension and mistrust among nations.

Think back to Spanish-American War and the presence of Navy in Asiatic and Caribbean

Prior to World War I, there was no governing organization to instill rules and regulations for international affairs. There was no NATO or United Nations. The only source of international

organization was The Hague Court of Arbitration, and compliance was voluntary.

The international relations of this time consisted of individual treaties, forged between nations that were sometimes contradicted with treaties with other nations.

Bottom Line – Zero reliability or trust

War in Europe was not a new thing – there had been multiple wars in Europe for centuries

What were they fighting for???TerritoryExample: Austria-Hungary – transfer of

power occurred so often that this region had 3 alphabets, 3 religions, and at least 11 languages spoken

Feeling of pride and devotion to one’s country ‘MERCA!!!!

Because of all the past conflicts and transfer of power, a strong sense of superiority and PRIDE for one’s nation fluctuated back and forth between different nations and regions

What does this lead to? Think of when you all have problems with one person, how does it affect everyone else in your circle of friends?

Europe, as well as other developed nations in the world at this time, flourished in national pride.

The idea of the nation and the sense of belonging associated with a nationality created pride and arrogance in certain situations.

For example, France had lost the regions Alsace and Lorraine to Germany. These provinces were primarily French-

inhabited, with a cultural and nationalistic connection to France, not Germany.

Also, many ethnic groups, such as the Poles, Czechs, and Slovaks craved independent nations, instead of being a minority in the Austro-Hungarian Empire or Germany.

If you find out someone has said or hurt one of your friends, how do you respond?

Think of this on a national foreign policy level . . . How would we expect our allies to respond if a terrorist group attacked us?

How do we respond any time a terrorist group attacks Israel?

Let’s see how this played out for the nations involved in WWI . . .

• Allied Countries (25 total)– Russia– France– Great Britain– Italy (had a treaty with

Germany, but recanted and secretly joined Allies

– US (joined in 1917)– Serbia (small player)

Important people to know: Herbert Henry Asquith, Prime Minister (UK)Woodrow Wilson (U.S. President)Aristide Briand, Prime Minister (France)

Austrian-Hungarian Empire

Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Germany

• These nations banded together, mostly out of national pride, and for revenge for previous losses

• Alliances were sloppy

Important people to know: Prince Max von Baden,

Chancellor (Germany) Heinrich von Clam-

Martinic, Prime Minister (Austria)

READ through the article entitled “Assassination of Franz Ferdinand”

The Austrian (prince) Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian

Germany, being a Central Power with Austria, declared war on Serbia

France and Britain were allies to Serbia, so they joined Serbia to oppose Germany in the war

This single event began WWI, and set in motion tensions that lead to WWII and the Cold War

Of all the causes we discussed for WWI, which one do you think was the most significant in creating hostilities in Europe?

Which of these causes do you think would lead to the US joining in the fight?

Answer both questions in a paragraph on your paper in the space provided. Use your notes and what you gained from the article to answer the questions.

Essential Question:

What were the reasons that led to US entry in the first World War?

What were the reasons why some Americans did not want to enter

the war?

Isolationism – why some wanted to remain uninvolvedThe US would spend too much money and

risk too many lives

(Greek mythology) the priest of Apollo who warned the Trojans to beware of Greeks bearing gifts when they wanted to accept the Trojan Horse; a god who favored the Greeks (Poseidon or Athena) sent snakes who coiled around Laocoon and his two twin sons killing them

1. Belief that Germany violated American neutrality

German perspective: US was not neutral as they claimed, they were providing money and ammo to Allies long before US troops got involved

2. US needed to protect its economic interests3. President Woodrow Wilson’s believed the

US should enter WWI and asked Congress for approval

4. German submarines sank US merchant ships

Sinking of the Lusitania

German U-boat: submarineChanged the rules of naval warfareElement of surprise – give no warning to

their targetsAmericans felt like this was unfair and

unjust

Irony: Britain had set up a blockade of the seas trying to lead to the starvation of the German people Americans felt like this was justified in wartime However, the use of U-boats to destroy these

blockades were uncivilized in the American Eye

Britain had destroyed the transatlantic cable connecting Germany and US so all communication came through Britain

Information was biased – but helped shape the attitudes of US in favor of Britain

Exaggerates stories to try and create a stir. Common story in newspapers was that

German troops would chop off the hands of Belgian babes

Of course after the war this proved to be untrue

Germany spotted the Lusitania in the Irish Sea and suspected correctly that it was carrying weapons for the allies.

Fired upon and within 18 minutes the ship sunk with its 1,198 passengers

128 of the dead were Americans Sparks start flying at home

Germany had issued a warning reminding all potential travelers that there was a war going on and to do so at your own risk. They took no blame for the incident

Wilson demanded that Germany renounce unrestricted submarine warfare and make payments to the victims and survivors. Germany laughed

Wilson ordered a second stronger note Germany says they will stop sinking ships without

warning but of course they continued to do so. Wilson had just been re-elected on the promise

to “keep us out of war”. Q: What would you do?

The Zimmerman Telegram was a telegram from Germany that was intercepted on its way to Mexico by Britain – they, of course, turned it over to the U.S.

Guesses? What do you think it said???

It was an agreement that said: If the U.S. decided to declare war by joining

the entente powers, Germany would form an immediate alliance to Mexico if Mexico joined the Central Powers

If Mexico agreed, Germany would promise Mexico that if they would invade the US, Germany would recover their lost lands for them that the US took Texas, New Mexico and Arizona

How do you think Mexico responded?They officially rejects it – it would be suicide

to fight its northern neighbors

In 1914 the youth of Europe had marched off to fight, eager for a chance at heroism.

The number of soldiers killed or wounded was horrifying.

Industrialization had produced new killing machines of terrible efficiency.

Ripped apart by machine guns, hand grenades, or artillery shells, and asphyxiated or disabled by poison gases, soldiers found that heroism came at a ghastly price.

It was the machine gun that froze the front If soldiers charging across no-man’s land

toward the enemy survived the shelling that rained down upon them, the enemy’s machine guns, firing 450 rounds a minute, mowed them down.

The generals, unaccustomed to the new weaponry were confused, but they continued to give orders to attack.

Such tactics produced only a mounting pile of infantry dead. In one 1916 battle for example, the British suffered

60,000 casualties in a single day of combat.

Morale sank Desperate, troops began using any tactic

available: They slaughtered prisoners of war Erasing the distinction between soldier and

civilian, they burned fields and poisoned wells. On the seas, German submarines struck any ship

they believed to be carrying arms to the Allies. A British naval blockade slowly starved the

German people. Soon the war was one of attrition - meaning each

side tried to wear down the enemy gradually by inflicting enormous losses

Read through the lyrics to the song “Take me Out” by the Band Franz Ferdinand

What do you think the song is about? Which lyrics led you to come to that

conclusion?

At the Start of the war (1914) armies were composed of:1. Infantry (foot soldiers)2. Cavalry (soldiers on horses)3. Artillery

No tanks, no guided missiles, very few trucks (supplies were carried in horse-drawn wagons), only a few airplanes. EVENTUALLY THEY BECAME MORE ADVANCED

1) infantry (foot soldiers) Weapon: rifle that could fire from 5-10

shots before reloading effective range of about 600 yards

2) cavalry (soldiers on horses) Weapons: short rifle Sword or lance

3) artillerymachine guns could fire around 500 bullets

a minutecannons could fire about 6 explosives a

minute range of 2-5 milesnavy were basically armored warships that

were floating platforms for cannonssome navies possessed a few submarines

with armed torpedoes

-easily destroyed by gunfire -rain turns it into mud holes -cold and small -morale of soldiers hard to keep up

The Christmas truce was a series of widespread, unofficial ceasefires that took place along the Western Front around Christmas 1914.

Through the week leading up to Christmas, parties of German and British soldiers began to exchange seasonal greetings and songs between their trenches on occasion, the tension was reduced to the point that

individuals would walk across to talk to their opposite numbers bearing gifts.

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, many soldiers from both sides independently ventured into "no man's land", where they mingled, exchanging food and souvenirs.

As well as joint burial ceremonies, several meetings ended in carol-singing.

Troops from both sides were also friendly enough to

play games of football with one another.

After years of battle the final Allied assault came on September 26, 1918.

Over a million troops began the drive to expel the Germans from France and cut their supply lines.

The German commanders begged for peace, but still hoped to dictate some terms.

The Allies refused. By the time the cease fire came, the Kaiser

had fled. On November 11, the guns finally fell silent.

More than 50,000 American soldiers died in battle and many more died of disease.

These losses though were minute in comparison to those suffered by the Europeans.

There is an estimate that a total of 8 million soldiers and sailors lost their lives in Europe. The French alone suffered over a million

war dead and 4,000 towns completely destroyed.

Do you think it was necessary for us to get involved in WWI? Why or why not?

How do you think history would have been rewritten if we had not joined in the fight?

What were the benefits of the War for the US, and do you think those outweighed the negative consequences?

Essential Question:

How and why did America chose to be peace makers in global foreign

affairs?

What was Wilson’s proposal for peace in as mentioned in the

Fourteen Points?

With the fighting in Europe over, the nations involved in the conflict began the difficult task of shaping peace.

President Wilson feared that the failure to craft a treaty acceptable to all parties would lead to future wars.

The postwar world in Europe and at home seemed almost as divided as before the war.

Woodrow Wilson statement “The world must be made safe for democracy” was made to justify his decision to ask congress to declare war against Germany “We are to be an instrument in the hands of God

to see that liberty is made secure for mankind” – this statement urged Allied powers to adopt the Fourteen Points

Wilson’s Fourteen Points – proposals that he believed would bring about A just and lasting peace

Read through Wilson’s Fourteen Points and Answer the following questions in paragraphs on your own piece of paper:

1.What is Wilson proposing? Which points are most influential in this proposal?

2.How do you think the “Big Four” (Britain, Italy, France, US) will react to the proposal? Why?

3.How will the Central Powers react to Wilson’s proposal? Why?

4.Does this peace treaty propose a plan that would help avoid future international problems? Explain your answer.

-call for end to secret alliances -restoration of freedom of seas -reduction in armaments -self-determination:

Paris Peace Conference

Wilson attends himself as the U.S. delegateBelieved that no one was in this for the

rewards – WRONG REASON BUT People did want rewards:

France wanted to humiliate and destroy Germany so it could never conquer again.

Wilson was forced to give up the whole self determination idea

10 days of hard work League of Nations: organization in which

the nations of the world would join together to ensure security and peace for all members.

Article 10 was a provision that stated an “attack on one as attack on all”

The League would have no military power - moral power only

Congress rejected it - Why do you think they did?

A: afraid of losing power and respect

Return to peace conference a few months later “The Big Four” Britain, France, Italy, and US

Allies accepted Wilson’s plan for a League of Nations with exceptions 15 year French control of the mineral resources in

Alsace-Lorraine French insisted on German war guild and financial

responsibility British wanted reparations: payment from enemy

for the economic injury suffered in the war. Ruled that Germany owed Allies $33 billion

dollars As Wilson feared, Germany would never

forget or forgive this humiliation

Treaty of VersaillesPresented treaty to Germans on May 7,

1919Refused at first but at threat of invasion

they had no choice but to signAll signed at Versailles - therefore the name

Why do you think the US refused to sign at first?The reason the Senate refused to ratify the

Treaty of Versailles after WWI was the belief that the treaty Threatened US sovereignty

Effects of a Defeated Germany in World War I: Forced to pay reparations (a payment of

compensation)Reparations caused inflation (increase in

consumer prices, and decrease in the value/power of currency)

German economic collapse Later Hitler would end payments though The last payment was received in October,

2010