The Great War (WWI)

 

In the late 1800's and early 1900's, the wealthiest and most powerful nations in the world were on a crash course toward war for many reasons.  The great powers were extremely nationalistic, imperialistic, militaristic and they felt great mistrust and animosity towards each other.  In this dangerous and competitive world, nations formed alliances hoping to deter their enemies from war.   However, the intense competition and hatred between nations finally became so intense that, in 1914, a small event plunged much of the world into a war.  Eventually, over 60 nations entered The Great War, later known as World War I.  With over 10 million killed and whole nations devastated, it was the most devastating war the world had ever known. 

When it was over, people called it, “the war to end all wars” because many believed that humanity would never again make the mistake of fighting an industrial war with weapons so terrible.  However, in the very treaty that ended World War I can be found the seeds for yet another world war.  Despite the terrible losses of WWI, nations did not yet learn to forgo their militarism, nationalism, imperialism, hatred and unfair international agreements.

Assignments

 

1)  ____/15      The Stage is Set for War, 363 – 366: Reading Quiz

a)       What is nationalism?  What nation had begun to compete with Britain for economic dominance?

b)       What nations nearly fought over Morocco?

c)       What is militarism?

d)      Who was Bismarck?  What nations formed the Triple Alliance?

e)       Who was Kaiser Wilhelm II?  What did he begin to construct that became a challenge to Great Britain?

f)        What was the Triple Entente?

g)       Be able to find the Balkans on a map.

h)      Understand the conflicting interests in the Balkans, specifically over Bosnia and Herzegovina, of the Serbs, the Austrians, and the Russians.

i)        Who was Archduke Franz Ferdinand, what happened to him, and what did this cause?

j)         What was the ultimatum that Austria sent to Serbia?

 

2)  ____/15      War Consumes Europe, 367 – 371: Reading Quiz

a)       What kind of chain reaction did the alliances in Europe create?

b)       Who was Schlieffen and what was his plan?

c)       Who were the Central Powers and who were the Allies?

d)      What was everyone who went into battle when the war started convinced of?

e)       What was the Western Front?  What battle caused the Schlieffen plan to fail?

f)        What was Trench Warfare?  Where was “No Man’s Land”?

g)       Describe the German and British offenses in 1916 near Verdum and the Somme.

h)      What nations fought on the Eastern Front?  What happened to Russia by 1916?  What was Russia’s only asset?

 

3)  ____/15      A Flawed Peace, 380 – 383: Reading Quiz

a)       The leaders of what nations wrote the treaty that ended the war?  What nations leaders were not present?

b)       What American president negotiated the treaty?  List the several goals of his Fourteen Points? 

c)       What was the treaty called?  What was the League of Nations? How did the treaty punish Germany?

d)      What was the “War Guilt” clause?

e)       What nations were created by the treaty?

f)        Why didn’t this treaty create a lasting peace? 

g)       How many died in the war?

 

4)  ____/40      Causes of War Poster

Create a poster that presents the 4 causes of war, which are described in your notes.

Divide the poster into 4 areas, and then use words and pictures to demonstrate each cause.  It should be clear from your presentation that you understand what each cause is.   

 

 

5)  ____/75      WWI Exam: Sixty multiple-choice questions and a written section.  No notes.

 

            This test is a standard, and it consists of two parts.  The first part is a closed-note, multiple-choice exam with 60 questions.  The second part is written.  You will write two paragraphs, one for each of two of the four causes of war.  The paragraphs should answer the following questions:

 

How did the Treaty of Versailles solve or not solve the 4 cause of war?  In what ways was each cause either abated (lessened) or exacerbated (intensified) by the treaty?  Refer specifically to the parts of the treaty that relate to the cause and how they either helped or made the cause worse.  

 

Class Web Page: http://www.mcglashan.com/tyler/world.htm