topic2-theworldof1919
Topic 2 - Conflict & Challenge;The World of 1919
This unit begins our journey through the 20th century. Though our official starting point is 1919, it is impossible to understand 20th century history without looking at the Great War of 1914-1918 and the forces caused it. We will therefore begin our story a little earlier, looking at the causes of war and the forces that still shape the world today. We will also examine the war itself. Though World War I was studied in Social Studies 11, this time our focus is on the Great Powers.
Handouts and Assignments:
Questions for the "Guns of August" video
World War I Resources:
"The Great War" from PBS is a terrific resource to study from. Visit all parts of the site and be sure to work through the flash animations.
Another very useful, easy to read and study from, source is the BBC's "World War I" pages. Also look at their other site: "The Great War: 80 Years On," which has tremendous links. At a lower reading level is the BBC's Schools World War I page.
"First World War.com" - an excellent multimedia source of information.
"Trenches on the Web" - one of the best sources of articles, pictures and other information on the First World War.
Paul Halsall's "Internet Modern History Sourcebook" has an excellent World War I page.
Spartacus Schoolnet's material is also superb.
Find and read primary documents at Brigham Young University's "World War I Document Archive"
For up close and personal accounts of the big events, see EyeWitness to History.com's World War I page.
SchoolHistory.co.uk World War I (1914-1918) - GCSE study material, including interactive diagrams.
Socialism:
Be sure to visit the lectures at the History Guide - see #19-24
Paris Peace Conference Resources:
The best treatment of the conference is from Canadian historian (and grand-daughter of David Lloyd George) Margaret MacMillan, Paris 1919, Random House, New York, 2001.
PowerPoint Presentations:
Moorhouse: Consequences of the First World War for Germany
Moorhouse: Hitler's Rise to Power
Young: Dictatorship (Be sure to turn off the annoying sounds)
Online Video Material
See what Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe has to say about Imperialism in Africa in this YouTube video
Professor John Merriman's lecture on the Origins of World War I
Benoy's Directory; Video Clips from Youtube & Googlevideo
World War One; 1914-1918 Map - A multimedia map presentation that summarizes the events of World War I on Youtube.
The Somme; From Defeat to Victory - Part 1, Part 2
Secrets of the Dead; the Killer Flu
Benoy's Movie Picks:
All Quiet on the Western Front. A German literary classic brought to the screen. 1930 & 1979 versions.
Gallipoli. Australia's coming of age. Great film, but typically misunderstands the British point of view.
All the King's Men. British common soldiers suffered as much as Anzacs at Gallipoli.
Joyeux Noel - English/French/German versions - a film about the Christmas 1914 unofficial truce.
A Farewell to Arms. American classic - 1932 & 1954 versions.
The Grand Illusion. French film about prisoners of war from Jean Renoir.
The Blue Max. The war in the air.
Lawrence of Arabia. Lawrence and the Arab Revolt. A must see.
The Trench. Life in the front lines.
Paths of Glory. American anti-war film from Stanley Kulbrick.
Regeneration. Poets Owen and Sassoon meet in a rehab. hospital.
The Guns of August. A classic documentary of the causes of the war. Brilliant.
My Boy Jack. Jack Kipling, son of the poet, had difficulty getting into the military until his father pulled strings to help him. He went missing at the battle of Loos - this is about his family's quest to find out what happened.
Listen to some of the music of the era (expect a delay as the file downloads):
The Tanks That Broke the Ranks
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