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US HISTORY II: WWI
‘WWI is an inevitable war”
Based off this statement evaluate each of the following countries positions. You will become a member of an advisory team representing one of the following areas: Austro-hungry, Germany, France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire. Representatives from each country will meet in Belgium on 7/31/1914. You will need to have background information in order to represent your country/area appropriately. You will need a general background of the country: brief history, geographical location, alliances, and leaders; long term reasons why explaining why your country is willing to risk going to war, and short term reasons explaining why your country is willing to risk going to war. Once you have presented this information, a peace proposal will need to be developed to prevent this war. Consider a compromise considering all perspectives.
As a group divide up the information, and be able to begin presenting your responses next class period. We will be developing a peace proposal and will proceed further.
Great Britain:
- Identify allies.
- How does the industrial rivalry affect Britain and Germany’s relationship?
- What are the imperial rivalries between Britain and Germany in Africa?
- What are British interests in the Middle East and how does this affect conflict with the Ottoman Empire?
Russia:
- Who are Russia’s allies?
- What is the significance of having access to the Dardanelles from the Black Sea?
- Why is Russia allied with Serbia?
- What is the relationship with Germany-how did Germany lose Russia as an ally, and why does Russia need to mobilize its army so much in advance? (consider the German reaction to this)
Austro-Hungry:
- Identify its allies.
- What problems does its empire face?
- What are its goals in the Balkans?
- Can they proceed in war without German assistance?
Serbia:
- Identify allies.
- What are Serbian objections to the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina to Austria?
- What is Serbian nationalism and its goals; what is pan-Slavism and its goals?
- How does Serbia respond to the ultimatum sent by Austro-Hungry?
July 1914 - Prince Lichownowsky's Reply to Sir E
Germany:
- Identify its allies.
- Describe its colonial and military interests.
- Why is Germany an economic rival of Great Britain?
- Describe the relationship between Germany and Austro-Hungry.
France:
- Identify its allies.
- After the Franco-Prussian War, what area did France lose to Germany.
- What is the relationship of France and Germany in relationship to Morocco?
- How did France win Russia as an ally over Germany?
Italy
- Identify its allies.
- Under what conditions will Italy go to war?
- What territorial and colonial interests does Italy have in Europe and Africa? How will going to war affect this?
- In what ways is Austria your rival?
Ottoman Empire:
- What is the relationship with Bosnia and other Balkan countries?
- What strategic strait does Turkey have and why is it strategic?
- What is the relationship between Turkey and Great Britain in the Middle East?
Learning Advice
Remember that the causes of war go beneath the surface of what countries publicly say and write. Often they have hidden agendas. Each country wants something, and they may use their alliance with another country as an excuse to pursue their real goals. Ask yourself, what is your countryís real goal(s)?
When you read the primary source documents, ask yourself these questions:
- Who wrote the document and does the author have a bias?
- For whom is it written and why?
- Did the author create it for a particular cause?
- Was it written by an eyewitness?
- Was the document translated and could the translation affect the meaning of the document?
- What kind of document is it and who was meant to see it?
- What was happening when this document was written?
- When you prepare your peace proposal, make sure that you offer something to your enemies. What are you willing to compromise and/or allow to change so that the other country can 'save face.' List your main points succinctly.
Resource: SCORE _ CH/SSP Technology Academy
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