How World War One started
Theme
Do people have the right to live in any country they want- should they even be allowed to make their own country?
Catalysts of World War One
Like most important events throughout history, there was more than cause for World War One. The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand just happened to be the straw that “broke the camel’s back.” Other major causes include, the growth of Nationalism, different Nations’ Imperialistic motives, the creation and failure of different alliances and an Arm’s race (building weapons).
The below activities will break down why some of these occurred.
Nationalism
Easily defined by Merriam Webster’s Dictionary as;
1: loyalty and devotion to a nation ; especially: a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups2: a nationalist movement or government
This could be seen as a particular country taking great pride in itself- like what happens during the Olympics…
But it can also be a binding force between people who feel strong connections with people who live in different countries. These people might want to re-arrange their country’s borders to be grouped together- or create a new country altogether.
That is what the group of Serbian Nationalists who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria were trying to do...
Let’s look at Topeka’s School District as an example. While some people are very proud of their school and happy with it the way it is, there might be others in that school who would want to re-arrange the boundaries so they could go to school with their friends.
What effect would changing those boundaries have?
| boundarymaphighschool.pdf |
Terrorism or Patriotism?
One man's hero is another man's villian... those people who were plotting to assasinate the Archduke thought they were patriots... as did a couple New Englander's back in 1776. Just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, is patriotism (people fighting for their rights) in the eye of the beholder?
No! He DID IT!
While there were many problems with the European powerhouses at the turn of the 20th century (small things like exploitation of people in factories, exploitation of people in other countries, etc). One major problem had to do with each country's "growing pains." As each Country expanded their empires on other continents, back in Europe the competition and tension grew, It would be those problems above which started a war no one wanted to take responsibility for.
Alternative Assignment
Explain how imperialism, nationalism, and the arms race between European countries led to World War I. What do you think might have been done differently to avoid the war? (2 pages)
