WWI & TOTAL WAR

Penny Whitworth-Smith

Seton Catholic Central

Global History & Geography

INTRODUCTION:

By 1900, Europe had experienced approximately 100 years of relative peace. There were brief localized conflicts, such as the Crimean and the Franco-Prussian wars; however, most Europeans held the belief that another full out war was unlikely since the Industrial Revolution and the Congress of Vienna.

Others were less hopeful……

Rivalries among countries were developing from the end of the 19^th century into the 20^th century. NATIONALISM brought many countries together (Italy and Germany) and broke others apart (Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire). Rising feelings of nationalism came from many sides. In the late 1870’s a British music hall singer wrote the following lyrics. His song added JINGOISM to the English language.

MILITARISM was also on the rise. Germany, for example, had increased their military spending by 300% between 1870 and 1914; and Britain still focused on the “Two-Power Standard”.

British Royal Fleet at

outbreak of WWI in

1914.

The “two-power

standard” meant that

the British Navy had to

be twice as powerful as

any other two countries

combined.

Between 1879 and 1907, the major European powers became caught up in a dangerous system of alliances. These alliances increased international tensions because any crisis involving one of the great powers involved her allies. The alliance system also raised the possibility that a minor incident could lead to a general war. Two alliances began to form:

The accident that ignited WWI occurred on June 28, 1914.

Gavrilo Princip, a member of the BLACK HAND, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sofia as they attempted to leave Sarajevo. The nineteen year old Serbian nationalist set off a chain reaction that ultimately led to the first WORLD WAR. Austria-Hungary gave Serbia one month to cease all anti-Austrian activities; when Serbia failed to comply Austria-Hungary began to mobilize their military forces. Because of the alliance system, Russia began to mobilize her forces as they were an ally of Serbia. The Domino Effect had begun… less than forty days after the assassination of the Archduke, Europe and her allies were in full out war.

THE TASK:

The class will be broken into five separate groups that are chosen randomly. Each group will be responsible to create a PowerPoint presentation that addresses the following question:

v Each group will analyze the political, social and economic aspects that affected European countries decisions to enter the war.

v Each group will create a thesis answering the question from above.

v Each group will then gather evidence to substantiate the group’s thesis.

v Each group will complete the accompanying worksheets that will help guide the group through the task located at the Global History Public Policy Analyst site.

v Each group’s PowerPoint will defend its thesis.

THE PROCESS:

Identify the Problem: Determine and define the problem. Print out and complete Worksheet #1.

Gathering the Evidence: Search the Web to locate evidence that will help prove or refute your thesis. Print out and complete Worksheet #2.

Determine the Causes: Focus on underlying factors that may have impact on your thesis and support the factors with evidence. Print out and complete Worksheet #3.

Evaluate the Policy: Did the policy you created succeed or eliminate or lessen the causes? Print out and complete Worksheet #4.

Comparative Analysis: Have other policies similar to the one you analyzed been enacted at other times and in other places in global history? Print out and complete Worksheet #5.

Create your PowerPoint.

Each presentation must be a minimum of twelve (12) slides.

A bibliography page must be included.

The presentation must include one map and a minimum of five (5) pictures and or graphics.

Each member of the group will do an equal share of the work.

RESOURCES:

Use the following websites to aid you in your quest. You ARE NOT limited to these sites!

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/ppa/ghl13.html

http://www.worldwar1.com/

http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/worldwarone/

http://www.iwar.org.uk/military/resources/aspc/text/theory/rise.htm

http://www.iwar.org.uk/military/resources/aspc/text/theory/ww1per.htm

http://www.lib.byu.edu/~rdh/wwi/

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook4.html#World%20War%20I

http://faculty.kirkwood.edu/ryost/greatwarpictures.htm

https://www.google.com

EVALUATION:

CATEGORY	4 Points	3 Points	2 Points	1 Point
Introduction and Thesis	The thesis is thoroughly identified and defined. The introduction is original, complete and addresses the question.	The thesis is moderately identified and defined. The introduction is original, may be complete and may address the question with limitations.	The thesis is poorly identified and defined. The introduction is weak and unoriginal. It is not complete and very limited.	There is no clear thesis. The introduction is not creative and does not follow a clear pattern of organization.
Content - Accuracy	All content throughout the presentation is accurate. There are no factual errors.	Most of the content is accurate but there is one piece of information that might be inaccurate.	The content is generally accurate, but one piece of information is clearly flawed or inaccurate.	Content is typically confusing or contains more than one factual error.
Research/Worksheets	The worksheets are completed entirely by the group and clearly demonstrate that the group accurately researched the problem, following the Public Policy Analyst.	The worksheets are completed by the group and demonstrate that the group did some research on the problem, following the Public Policy Analyst	The worksheets are minimally completed by the group and only demonstrate a minimal effort researching the problem, using only one source. Conclusions may be random and not address the task entirely.	Group does not turn in completed worksheets. If worksheet was handed in as incomplete and research done on the problem. No sources used. No conclusions drawn.
Citations	The research is clearly and accurately cited. The correct format is used.	The research is moderately cited. The correct format is used in most instances.	The research is poorly cited. The correct format is not used.	The research is not sited at all. There is no format used.
PowerPoint Presentation	Presentation shows considerable originality and inventiveness. The content and ideas are presented in a unique and interesting way.	Presentation shows some originality and inventiveness. The content and ideas are presented in an interesting way.	Presentation shows an attempt at originality and inventiveness on 1-2 cards.	Presentation is a rehash of other people's ideas and/or graphics and shows very little attempt at original thought.
Teamwork	Group delegates tasks and shares responsibility effectively all of the time.	Group delegates tasks and shares responsibility effectively most of the time.	Group delegates tasks and shares responsibility effectively some of the time.	Group often is not effective in delegating tasks and/or sharing responsibility.
Oral Presentation	The group presentation is comprehensive. Flows smoothly. Informative and creative. Everyone participates.	The group presentation is fairly comprehensive. Relatively informative and creative. Some group members do not participate.	The group presentation is poorly comprehensive. Informative, but may contain inaccuracies. Some members do not participate.	There is no clear/logical path for presentation. Contains inaccuracies. Very few members participate.

NYS STANDARDS:

Social Studies:

Standard 2 World History

Standard 3 Geography

Standard 4 Economics

Standard 5 Civics, Citizenship & Government

English Language Arts:

Standard 1 Language for Information and Understanding

Standard 3 Language for Critical Analysis and Evaluation

Standard 4 Language for Social Interaction

Mathematics, Science and Technology:

Standard 2 Information Systems

Standard 4 Science: Physical and Living Environment

Standard 5 Technology: Impact and Evolution of Technology

CONCLUSION:

The results from WWI were far reaching and very devastating. In 1918, at a cost of $350 Billion, 9 million soldiers and 1 million civilians were dead throughout Europe. The entire fabric of Europe would change. Nations that had existed were gone and new nations were formed. Some economies flourished and others failed dramatically. Socially, Europe was not yet equipped to deal with the impact the Great War would have on entire communities, let alone individuals. To make matters worse, a world wide flu epidemic took another 22 million lives. 550,000 of those were Americans.

Escapism would lead to changes in societies. Art, literature and even theatre would look for ways to brighten peoples futures that otherwise looked bleak.

On your quest, you needed to question and discover if WWI was, in fact, a total war. With such far reaching affects on the entire planet, could it be anything less?