Why did they fight? Understanding Nationalism, Imperialism and Militarism during World War I

 

World War I Propaganda Poster


Lesson Plan


Grade:

9th
 

Duration: 

2-3 45 minute periods
 

Summary/Objective: 

It is this sense of Why did they fight that I find students particularly struggle with in trying to understand the causes of WWI. Through an analysis of several primary sources from the WWI period, students will gain a better, more human understanding of the overwhelming sense of Nationalism that led Europe not only into a race for colonies and resources, but an arms race leading up to the war and eventually would continue to drive men to go “over the top” in the face of heavy casualties throughout the grinding years of the war. Students will then use this understanding of Nationalism in successive assessments to evaluate different national perspectives, and finally, in summative assessment will create their own primary source document that demonstrates why nations and individuals fought this war.
 
This lesson will follow a discussion of the causes of WWI in Europe as well as the new technology of WWI causing total war and much higher casualty rates. Students will begin to ask. “Why would you continue to go and fight in a war with such high odds of being killed?” This lesson will address these questions.
 

Benchmarks:

P.I.S. A; S.S.S.M. A

G.L.I’s.:

Hist. #7 a.&b.; Geog. #2&3
 

Materials needed:

 
2. WWI civilian memoirs and analysis worksheet: 
Congar, Yves. “25th August, 19th, 26th, 30th, September, 4th November, 12th & 24th December.” Intimate Voices. Ed. Svetlana Palmer and Sarah Wallis. New York: Harper Collins, 2003. 54-60
 
3. WWI soldier memoirs and analysis worksheet: 
Meinertzhagen, Richard. “28th December 1915.” Intimate Voices. Ed. Svetlana Palmer and Sarah Wallis. New York: Harper Collins, 2003. 171-173
 
 
 
6. What Would You Do assignment handout 
 

Introduction: (day 1) 

  1. After explaining the causes of World War I, present students with national scenario “What would you do” (handout here and text in “Causes of WWI” powerpoint presentation). 

  2. Have students answer this question as a journal entry and discuss answers. Would you go to war? Why? Why not? What country do you think this represents? 
  3. Explain that this scenario represents the thoughts of Germany and that this sense of us vs. them, and the idea that only one nation can eventually prevail and thrive is the Nationalism that many people during this time period lived by. We often look at war from the perspective of the winners, or the “good guys.” For this lesson, we will attempt to understand war through the lens of Nationalism in order to better understand why WWI and WWII were fought and how to avoid conflict like these in the future.

Procedure: (day 1)

Distribute Primary source packets with copies of primary sources and accompanying discussion questions. 

Discuss. 

Inform students that they have resources from predominantly the Allied perspective. 

Discuss the bias yet importance of primary resources. That is why for their final project, they will be designing a primary resource (poster, memoir, poem or artwork) from the opposite perspective/bias; that of the central powers.

To begin, introduce WWI posters (see also powerpoint presentations: "Causes of WWI" PowerPoint File

"U.S Enters World War I PowerPoint File

and "US Homefront during WWI" PowerPoint File

Students should fill out discussion questions on 1 of these sources (see primary source analysis worksheets) Show and discuss “Your Liberty Bonds will Help Stop This!”

  • Discuss student answers. 
  • How might a German or Turkish propaganda poster look? 
  • Show them “What England Wants”  Direct students to the Yves Congar entries. 
  • Discuss and have students complete document analysis questions. 
  • Place students in groups of no more than three to analyze the remainder of the sources and complete the analysis questions for the remainder of the period. Circulate to help students with this analysis process.

Assessment: (day 2)

  • At the opening of the period, ask students, why did they fight? Why would you? Reasons will vary. 
  • Steer conversation to topics of the primary sources. 
  • Discuss reasons why different nations went to war (from notes). 
  • Discuss similarities (from notes and primary sources).  
  • Direct students attention to “Why they fought” Venn Diagram and have them complete in same groups from yesterday. 
  • Circulate and check analysis questions.  
  • When this is finished they may move on to the project, creating a primary source from the perspective of a central power within these same small groups. 
  • This will be due at the start of next class period.  
  • Instructor may have students present and discuss these small group projects, in this case, add an additional class period to complete lesson plan.
Created by Art Lewandowski, Fostoria High School, Ohio