Introduction

As you have learned in the previous units of this course, it is quite apparent the events that occur in each period you study directly impact what happens in the next historical period. Considet the tremendous political and economic changes that ocurred in the 19th century. For example, think back to the previous two units, Industrialization, Nationalism and Imperialism. Great Britain became the leading industrialized country in the world, as other nations quickly followed suit, Germany and Italy emerged as unified states, and the great powers of Europe completed the conquest and colonization of vast territories in Africa and Asia.

Look at the title of this lesson, War Mania, and think about how it relates to the flow chart above. What does the word mania mean? Obsession, desire, love, craze, enthusiasm, fad, hysteria. Those are all emotionally charged words.

You're going to see a direct link to the title as you go through this lesson. As one historian has said, it was in no nation's best interest to go to war in 1914, yet they all did, and for what reasons? National pride, patriotism, and competition among nations.

 

Lesson Objectives

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

  • Explain causes and consequences of World War I, including imperialism, militarism, nationalism, and the alliance system.
  • Identifying alliances during World War I and boundary changes after World War I

The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: World History: 1500 to the Present Objective(s): 12, 12B4.

This lesson incorporates the following Literacy Standard(s):

 

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