Unit 1 Lesson 1: Causes of WWI



Book V: World War I to Great Depression

Unit 1: World War I

Lesson 1: Causes of World War I

Topic Overview:

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand may have been a public cause of World War I, but the nations of Europe were already on the path to war for more complex reasons. Imperialism, Militarism, Nationalism, and a complex system of alliances all greatly contributed to the outbreak of WWI. 

Activity Overview:

In this recreation simulation students will simulate the inflammatory political activity that led to WW I led to the so-called “Great War.” They will do activities that symbolize militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism.

Objectives:

1. Students will be able to define nationalism, imperialism, militarism and alliances as causes of WW I.

2. Students will be able to recognize the global political conditions that led to WW I.

Setup:

1. Arrange 3 stations for 3 teams.

2. At each country’s station place a roll of tape, a pair of scissors for each student, markers, the country flag, scrap paper, and a device to play CD’s.

3. Label the classroom walls with the included region titles (one name to a wall): Africa, Asia, Middle East, and South Pacific.

4. Make a score board grid for team points on the board or an overhead transparency.

5. Cut out the Alliances Cards.

Materials:

1. 3 CD players

2. 3 rolls of tape

3. 6 sets of colored pencils or markers

4. Large pile of scrap paper

5. World War I Causes Worksheet and Key (p. 7-8)

6. Geographic Region Titles (p.9-10)

7. Alliance Cards (p.11)

8. Country flags (p.12-14)

9. Imperialism Overhead (p.15)

10. National Anthem CD’s (addendum)

Activity in Detail:

1. Divide the class evenly into three teams: Germany, France, and Russia. Have them each report to their respective stations.

2. Explain to students that they will be recreating the events that led to WW I by acting as a country and engaging in 3 competitions.

3. Competition 1: Nationalism

The team who can sing or hum their anthem the loudest wins.

a. Students begin memorizing their country’s national anthem so that they can sing or hum it in competition. They only need to learn the first few seconds of their anthem.

b. Give the teams 2-3 minutes to practice their anthems.

c. Each group will probably try to play their CD louder than the other groups. Allow this to encourage participation. Help them bolster the “nationalistic” saying things such as, “France sounds pretty good.”

d. Hold the competition with groups singing simultaneously.

e. Award points to the best team: 1st - 5, 2nd - 3, 3rd - 1.

4. Competition 2: Imperialism

Part 1: The team that can make the most flags in 2 minutes and can claim the most geographic regions on the walls with their flags wins (e.g. win two out of four geographic regions). You may put your flag on top of another country’s flag.

a. Students make as many color replicas of their country flag as possible. One flag is a ¼ of a piece of paper.

b. Call out current leaders during the competition. For example: “Germany has more flags in Africa,” and “France is leading in the South Pacific!”

c. Call out remaining time in this competition periodically. Allow students to tear down flags of other countries or try to block others from putting up their flags, although do not share this idea out loud (remember that the overall goal of this activity is to build frustration between countries.

d. Keep the competition close by secretly equalizing the score so that all teams are motivated to continue.

e. Award points. Split points in case of a tie: 1st - 5, 2nd - 3, 3rd - 1.

5. Competition 3: Militarism

This competition has two parts. Simultaneously, the group that can create the most armies and the longest connected strip of paper in 2 minutes wins. Points will be awarded separately to the winner of both competitions.

a. Armies and the long strip of paper are made from their flags taped on the walls. One army is a thumb-sized ball of paper made from their flags. The long strip of paper must be connected with tape and each piece of paper must touch.

b. While students are producing armies, go to each group and read their Alliance Card to them in a secretive huddle. Quickly explain that role.

c. After 2 minutes, have group members count their own armies while other group members bring the long strips to the front of the room to compare.

d. Ask each team to report their total number of armies. Record these numbers on the chalkboard. Students may lie, and that can be debriefed as propaganda at the end. Award points.

e. Choose the longest strip and award points.

6. Remind students about the Alliance Cards.

7. Announce the overall winner. This will start the “war.” Control the chaos as papers (armies) fly.

8. For clean-up, award participation points for a 1 minute classroom clean-up.

9. Begin the debriefing process by handing out the WW I Causes Worksheet.

Debriefing:

1. Explain that the goal of the competition was to create frustration and animosity among teams.

2. Help students complete columns 1 and 2 on the Worksheets.

3. Use the following dialogue to discuss how each cause could lead to war:

1 Nationalism:

How would other countries respond to a country that said it is “#1?”

What might countries do to prove their superiority?

How in this activity did you try to prove you were superior?

5 Imperialism:

What happened when you tried to take over the same areas?

Explain that the race for territory occurred worldwide.

Show the Imperialism Overhead.

9 Militarism:

• How does having a large military affect the balance of power?

• What could one do with a large army?

• Explain that many European countries tried to increase their military strength by fielding large armies and producing powerful weapons, such as Germany’s “Big Bertha” cannon.

d. Alliances:

• What happened in class when one country started to throw their paper?

• Explain to students that frustration increased as the system of alliances became increasingly more complex. The explosive situation was set ablaze with a spark that started a chain reaction of conflict. The spark was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

4. Show that the 4 causes comprise the acronym “MAIN.”

Assessment:

1. World War I Causes Worksheet

2. Essay Question: What were the causes of WWI?

World War I Causes Worksheet

|Causes of |Definitions |Class Activity |How could this lead to war? |

|WW I | | | |

|Nationalism | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

|Imperialism | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

|Militarism | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

|Alliances | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

World War I Causes Worksheet Key

|Causes of |Definitions |Class Activity |How could this lead to war? |

|WW I | | | |

|Nationalism |Devotion to the interests of one’s |Sang your country’s national |Each country wants to be better |

| |nation or having pride in one’s country|anthem |than each other |

| | | | |

| | | | |

| | | | |

|Imperialism |One nation taking over a weaker nation |Put flags on geographic areas |Nations will clash over dominance |

| |to exercise control over it | |of lucrative areas |

| | | | |

| | | | |

|Militarism |Aggressive military preparation; |Made paper balls and a large strip |Desire to use army to spread |

| |exalting the military ideal: building a|of paper to symbolize military |nationalistic ideals |

| |military culture |buildup | |

|Alliances |A close association of nations or other|Agreed to help another country in |If only two countries start |

| |groups, formed to advance common |counterattack with paper balls |fighting, many are pulled in as |

| |interests or causes | |well |

| | | | |

| | | | |

Geographic Region Titles

AFRICA

___________

MIDDLE EAST

Geographic Region Titles

SOUTH PACIFIC

___________

ASIA

Alliance Cards

CARD 1: GERMANY

After the teacher announces the overall winner, gather all your armies and throw them at the French team.

____________________________________________________________

CARD 2: RUSSIA

If you see France attack Germany, throw all your armies at the German team.

____________________________________________________________

CARD 3: FRANCE

If you are attacked by the German team, retaliate by throwing all your armies at them.

_______________________________________

France

WW I Russia

(for this flag students only have to copy, the yellow, white, blue, and red parts)

WW I Germany

Imperialism Overhead

© 2000, W. W. Norton & Company, used with permission.

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Germany

France

Teacher

Russia

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