World War I and the Roaring Twenties

Essential Questions

Enduring Understandings

Students understand that...

• • Was world war inevitable in 1914?

  • Was it possible for the United States to maintain neutrality in World War I?

  • Should the United States fight wars to make the world  safe for democracy? Or: Should the United States have entered World War I?

  • Was the Treaty of Versailles a fair and effective settlement for lasting world peace?

  • Should the United States have approved the Treaty of Versailles?

  • Was the decade of the 1920's a decade of innovation or conservatism?

  • Did the 19th Amendment radically change women's role in American life?

  • Should the United States limit immigration?

  • Should the United States have enacted the Prohibition Amendment?

• People develop systems to manage conflict and create order

• Conflict resolution can involve aggression, compromise, cooperation, and change

• Democratic societies must balance the rights and responsibilities of individuals with the common good

• Global Societies are diverse, creating varied perspectives, contributions, and challenges

• Culture is both a unifying and divisive force in human relations

• People respond to and resolve conflicts in a variety of ways

• The study of political, social, and economic patterns reveals continuity and change over time

• Scientific and technological developments affect people's lives, the environment and transform societies. 

• Progress is defined by cultural interpretation.

•  The study of the continuum of human civilization reveals the ideals, beliefs, values, and institutions of its people. 

Knowledge 

Students know that...

8.4a European militarism, the alliance system, imperialism, and nationalism were all factors that contributed to the start of World War I.

8.4b International, economic, and military developments swayed opinion in favor of the United States siding with the Allies and entering World War I. Domestic responses to World War I limited civil liberties within the United States. 

8.4c New military technologies changed military strategy in World War I and resulted in an unprecedented number of casualties.

8.4d Following extensive political debate, the United States refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles.  The United States then sought to return to prewar policies by focusing on domestic rather than international matters. 

8.4e After World War I, the United States entered a period of economic prosperity and cultural change. This period is known as the Roaring 20's.  During this time, new opportunities for women were gained, and African Americans engaged in various efforts to distinguish themselves and celebrate their culture. 

Key Ideas/Terms: 

Nationalism,

Militarism,

Trench Warfare,

Propaganda,

Central and Allied Powers,

Franz Ferdinand,

Czar,

Pacifist,

Warmonger,

Socialist,

Armistice,

Self-Determination,

Reparation,

Isolationism,

Recession,

Stock,

Bull Market,

Communism,

Disarmament,

Bootlegger,

Speakeasy,

Flapper,

Nativism,

Quota System

Skills

Students will be able to...

• Examine an overview of the causes of World War I, focusing on the factors leading to the United States entry into the war

• Examine examples of war propoganda and its effects on support for United States involvement in the war. 

• Examine the restrictions placed on citizens after United States entry into the war, including the Espionage Act (1917) and the Sedition Act (1918).

• Examine the effects of changes in military techonologies used during World War I, including trench warfare, chemical weapons, machine guns, and aircraft. 

• Examine Wilson's Fourteen Points and investigate reasons why the United States Senate refused to support the Treaty of Versailles, focusing on opposition to the League of Nations. 

• Investigate the efforts of women suffragists and explain the historical significance of the 19th amendment. 

• Examine the reasons for and effects of Prohibition on American society. 

• Examine examples of World War I and postwar race relations, such as the East St. Louis riots, the Silent March, and the Tulsa riots. 

• Explore the changes in American culture after World War I, including an examination of the Harlem Renaissance and other changes in New York City. 

 Other Evidence

Lesson Plans and Content

Videos, Documents, and Resources

• I Think Series: World War I

  • Activities:

    • Across the Pond: Uses a fictional dialogue to lead students to create a graphic organizer of the causes of WWI (page 25)

    • War!: Uses short newspaper excerpts to chart war "progress" by battle (page 32)

    • Life in the Trenches: Create a short story or play using information provided (pages 60-64)

• I Think Series

  • Activities:

    • Boom!: Analyzes the post-war increase in the American economy (pages 12-17)

    • A New Woman: Includes A Flapper's Appeal to her Parents; students connect flappers to other changes in women's rights (pages 18-23)

    • Prohibition: Discusses the real impact of Prohibition on American life; includes Fact or Opinion activity (pages 29-32)

    • Harlem Renaissance: Uses primary sources, maps, poems, and art to explain the population and cultural shift. (pages 33 - 39)

• World War I propaganda lesson: Provides image analysis and various examples.