World War One

Assess the relative importance of long- and short-term causes of the First World War.
To what extent can it be said that the First World War was caused by the alliance system?
To what extent can it be argued that the First World War was caused by nationalism?
To what extent should Germany be held responsible for causing the First World War?
Define “total war” and examine to what extent the First World War was a “total war”.
Account for the defeat of the Central Powers in the First World War.

I will choose two of the questions above for the essay writing next week (Week 4). You should only answer one question!

ESSAY 1: This part of history will be tested by an essay-in-class. Here are some papers about how to write an essay:
Overview of an essay: Overview – Essay
Textbook – Overview of an essay: Textbook – Essay
Essay Writing: ESSAY WRITING
Advice – Essay: Advice – Essay Writing
Essay ”training paper” (pdf): Essay training paper
Essay ”training paper” (Word): Essay training paper
Image – Essay Structure
Evaluation of an essay: Essay evaluation
EXAMPLE – WWII-Essay: Example of a good essay
EXAMPLE – WWII Essay (with comments): Good Essay – with comments
INTRODUCTION: Introduction – three examples

HOMEWORK – COMPARE AND EVALUATE TWO ESSAYS
1. Essay 1
2. Essay 2

CAUSES: Here you will be able to find some material about CAUSES of WWI (Textbook pages 36-43: Textbook – Causes of WWI). Before you read any of these sources we will look at a documentary of the situation in Europe before 1914 and WWI. When you look at this documentary you should try to fill in the following paper: WWI – Backgrund of the Great Powers
LINK to the documentary – “On the Idle Hill of Summer” (BBC 1964 – The Great War)
Germany 1871-1918: Germany 1871-1918
German foreign policy 1871-1914: German Foreign Policy 1871-1914
Potsdam War Council 1912: 1912 Potsdam War Council

Imperialism: WWI – Imperialism
Great Powers around 1900: Great Powers 1900
Balkans before WWI: Balkan before WWI
Overview – Crisis: Crisis before WWI
Moroccan Crisis 1905 / Algeciras Conference 1906: Crisis 1905-06
Bosnian Crisis 1908: Bosnian Crisis 1908
July Crisis 1914: July Crisis 1914
War Plans: War Plans
Causes of WWI – Textbook: Textbook – Causes of WWI
Causes of WWI – PP: WWI – Causes

COURSE: Here you will be able to find some material about the COURSE of WWI (Textbook pages 44-63):
Overview Fronts: Overview Fronts
WWI – Fronts: WWI – Fronts
WWI 1917–1918: WWI – 1917-1918
WWI – USA joins 1917: Why did the US join?
WWI 1918–1919: November 1918-June 1919
WWI – Weapons and warfare: WWI – Weapons and warfare
Total War

HOME FRONT
Textbook – Home Front: Home Front in Great Britain
Home Fronts: Home Fronts
Women in WWI: WWI and women

RESULTS: Here you will be able to find some material about the RESULTS of WWI (Textbook pages 64-75):
Why did Germany and her allies lose WWI: Why Germany lost WWI
Versailles Treaty June 1919: Treaty of Versailles
Overview Peace Treaties: Overview Peace Treaties
USA demanded separate Peace Treaties – why: Why did the US not sign the first Peace Treaties
Some results of WWI: WWI – Results
Impact of WWI: WWI – Impact of the war
Map – Germany after WWI: Map Germany after WWI
Map – Changes in Europe after WWI: Map Europe after WWI
Pandemic 1918-1920 Spanish Flu: Spanish Flu

FILMS:
WWI in 9 Minutes:

Somme 1916 – Part 2:

In the Trenches:

Women in WWI – in Great Britain: