DBQ – WHAT WERE THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF WWI?. STUDENT GUIDE SHEET DIRECTIONS: Over a four year...

DBQ – WHAT WERE THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF WWI?


STUDENT GUIDE SHEET

DIRECTIONS: Over a four year period from 1914 to 1918 Europe was beset by one of the most terrible wars in human history. This DBQ asks WHY SUCH A CATASTROPHE TOOK PLACE.

1.Read the BACKGROUND ESSAY2.SKIM the documents to get a sense of what

they are about


STUDENT GUIDE SHEET3.In the margin (on the side) of your paper,

record the MAIN IDEA of EACH document:

(We will work on these together – some you

will do with us, some you will do on your own)


Go to page 3 of your packet “Categories You Will Use to Organize Your Documents”

What is CONTEXT? To better understand something in history, we MUST look at its context…

DEFINITION: The political, social, cultural, & economic setting for a particular idea or event. Those things which surround it in time & place & give it its meaning.


What is MILITARISM?

DEFINITION: The army & military forces are given a high profile by

the government. Before WWI, the growing European divide led to an arms race between the main countries (BRITAIN, GERMANY, FRANCE)


What are ALLIANCES?

DEFINITION: An agreement made between 2 or more countries to give each other help if it is needed. When an alliance is signed, those countries become known as Allies.


What is IMPERIALISM?

DEFINITION: When a country takes over new lands or countries

and makes them subject to their rule.


What is NATIONALISM?

DEFINITION: Being a strong supporter of the rights and interests of one's OWN country.

INTERPRETING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS1) When group members are assigned, write the FIRST

& LAST NAMES of each person in your group.

2) WRITE YOUR GROUP NUMBER ON YOUR PAPER WHEN IT IS GIVEN TO YOU.

3) DISCUSS WITH YOUR PARTNERS WHAT YOU THINK (A.) THE MAIN IDEA OF YOUR ASSIGNED DOCUMENT IS and (B.) THE ANSWERS TO THE “SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS” FOR YOUR ASSIGNED DOCUMENT(S)

4) RECORD YOUR ANSWERS ON YOUR OWN NOTEBOOK PAPER – YOU ALL WILL PRESENT IN CLASS

DO NOT WRITE ON YOUR PACKET UNTIL DO NOT WRITE ON YOUR PACKET UNTIL WE REVIEW THE CORRECT ANSWERS IN WE REVIEW THE CORRECT ANSWERS IN CLASS!!!!!!CLASS!!!!!!

INTERPRETING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS – How to set up your notebook paper

GROUP # ________GROUP # ________ DOCUMENT #________DOCUMENT #________

MAIN IDEA: MAIN IDEA: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS: SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DOCUMENT 1

“Would not the end of the war be the end of humanity? War is life itself. Nothing exists in nature, is born, grows or multiplies except by combat. We must eat and be eaten so that the world may live. It is only warlike nations which have prospered; a nation dies as soon as it disarms. War is the school of discipline, sacrifice and courage.”

Source: Emile Zola, French writer, 1891, in James Joll, The Origins of the First World War, New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 1992.

INTERPRETING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS

DOCUMENT #__1_____DOCUMENT #__1_____

MAIN IDEA: War is what allows a nation MAIN IDEA: War is what allows a nation to grow & war is a GOOD idea.to grow & war is a GOOD idea.



SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:_SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:_

A.A.Zola’s main point is that war is good & makes Zola’s main point is that war is good & makes a nation stronger.a nation stronger.

B. Zola HAS been influenced by Darwin’s theory B. Zola HAS been influenced by Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest because…he says of survival of the fittest because…he says “nothing exists in nature w/o war.”“nothing exists in nature w/o war.”

C. Yes – b/c it says without war a nation diesC. Yes – b/c it says without war a nation dies

DOCUMENT 2B

“How many times in the last two years have we heard people repeat ‘Better war than this perpetual waiting!’ In this wish there is no bitterness, but a secret hope.”

Source: A French citizen, 1912, in James Joll, The Origins of the First World War, New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 1992.

DOCUMENT 2C

“I spent the evening (of August 3, 1914) walking round the streets, especially in the neighborhood of Trafalgar Square, noticing cheering crowds, and making myself sensitive to the emotions of passersby. During this and the following days, I discovered to my amazement that average men and women were delighted at the prospect of war.”

Source: Bertrand Russell, British philosopher, in James Joll, The Origins of the First World War, New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 1992.

DOCUMENT 2D

“You will be home before the leaves have fallen from the trees.”

Source: Kaiser Wilhelm II, to departing troops in the first week of August, 1914, in Barbra W. Tuchman, The Guns of August, New York: Ballantine Books, 1994.


DOCUMENTS #__2 B, C, & D____DOCUMENTS #__2 B, C, & D____

MAIN IDEA: _in these quotes they all are MAIN IDEA: _in these quotes they all are talking about how people were HAPPY talking about how people were HAPPY to go into the war._to go into the war._


DOCUMENTS #__2 B, C, & D____DOCUMENTS #__2 B, C, & D____SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:_SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:_

D. it is talking about them being happy D. it is talking about them being happy and excited to go into war and it would and excited to go into war and it would be over quicklybe over quickly

E. These provide CONTEXT because they E. These provide CONTEXT because they are giving the atmosphere and are giving the atmosphere and circumstances before the warcircumstances before the war

DOCUMENT 3Source: Map created from various sources.

WWI ALLIANCES – Where is the U.S.? Why aren’t we in this diagram?



MAIN IDEA: The purpose of the document MAIN IDEA: The purpose of the document is to show which countries made up is to show which countries made up EACH EACH EuropeanEuropean alliance. alliance.

DBQ – WWI ALLIANCES(Write this on PAGE 7 of your packet)

• TRIPLE ENTENTE - Alliance between Britain, France and Russia was made because of worsening relations between:

1.) Germany and Russia & 2.) Germany and Britain

• TRIPLE ALLIANCE - Germany and Austria-Hungary make an alliance with Italy to stop Italy taking sides with Russia.

DOCUMENT 4Source: John T. McCutcheon, cartoonist, Chicago Tribune, August 5, 1914.



MAIN IDEA: Each person represents the MAIN IDEA: Each person represents the countries fighting in WWI. Depending countries fighting in WWI. Depending on the size of each person is how strong on the size of each person is how strong each country is.each country is.

INTERPRETING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTSDOCUMENT #__4____DOCUMENT #__4____SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:

G. Chicago Tribune August 5, 1914G. Chicago Tribune August 5, 1914

H. John G. McCutcheon – cartoonistH. John G. McCutcheon – cartoonist

I. They are blaming each other for starting the I. They are blaming each other for starting the war. (finger pointing)war. (finger pointing)

J. All the European countries that went to war & J. All the European countries that went to war & broke the “Peace of Europe.”broke the “Peace of Europe.”

DOCUMENT 5

God save the Tsar!God save the Tsar! God save the noble Tsar!

Long may he live, in power,In happiness,In peace to reign!Dread of his enemies,Faith’s sure defender,God save the Tsar!

(repeat previous 3 lines)

-Source: Russian National Anthem, Composed by Prince A. V. Lvov, Lyrics by Vasily Zhukovsky

Rule BritanniaRule Britannia When Britain first, at Heaven's

command, Arose from out the azure main; This was the charter of the land, And guardian angels sung this strain: Rule, Britannia, rule the waves; Britons never will be slaves.

The nations, not so blest as thee,Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall:While thou shalt flourish great and free, The dread and envy of them all. Rule, Britannia, rule the waves; Britons never will be slaves.

-Source: Poem by James Thornton



MAIN IDEA: The main idea of these MAIN IDEA: The main idea of these documents is glorifying NATIONALISM – documents is glorifying NATIONALISM – pride in one’s country.pride in one’s country.


DOCUMENT #__5__DOCUMENT #__5__

SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:_SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:_

K. These songs MORE LIKELY to be K. These songs MORE LIKELY to be Nationalistic b/c they want to preserve the Nationalistic b/c they want to preserve the greatness of their country & give respect to greatness of their country & give respect to their leaders.their leaders.

L. These documents are all anthems that talk L. These documents are all anthems that talk about a country with great pride, like about a country with great pride, like America’s “Star Spangled Banner”America’s “Star Spangled Banner”

DOCUMENT 6“The war between Serbia and Austria…is inevitable. If

Serbia wants to live in honor, she can only do this by war. This war is determined by our obligation to our traditions and the world of culture. This war derives from the duty of our race which will not permit itself to be assimilated. This war must bring about the eternal freedom of Serbia, of the South Slavs, of the Balkan peoples. Our whole race must stand together to halt the onslaught of these aliens from the north.”

Source: Newspaper run by Colonel Draugutin Dimitrevic, head of the Serbian military intelligence and founder of the secret society, “Union or Death” (called “The Black Hand” by its opponents), 1912 in James Joll, The Origins of the First World War, New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 1992.



MAIN IDEA: This underground newspaper MAIN IDEA: This underground newspaper is saying that Serbia’s honor, freedom & is saying that Serbia’s honor, freedom & future can ONLY be preserved with future can ONLY be preserved with revolution & going to war.revolution & going to war.


DOCUMENT #__6__DOCUMENT #__6__SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:_SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:_

M. The “Black Hand” was a secret Serbian M. The “Black Hand” was a secret Serbian society. Their objective was to start a society. Their objective was to start a revolution and they were responsible for revolution and they were responsible for the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.

N. The Black Hand was NOT connected with N. The Black Hand was NOT connected with the items in Document 5 b/c doc 5 was the items in Document 5 b/c doc 5 was about Russia & Britain.about Russia & Britain.

DOCUMENT 7 – What are “armaments?”

***Note: By 1914 the Entente Powers could field 2.23 million men, Germany & Austria-Hungary 1.3 million.***

Source: From James Joll, The Origins of the First World War, New York: Addison Wesley


DOCUMENT #__7____DOCUMENT #__7____

MAIN IDEA: This graph is to illustrate the MAIN IDEA: This graph is to illustrate the “ARMS RACE” between the Triple “ARMS RACE” between the Triple Alliance & Triple Entente powers Alliance & Triple Entente powers


DOCUMENT #__7____DOCUMENT #__7____SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:_SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:_O. ARMAMENTS are weapons & equipment to be O. ARMAMENTS are weapons & equipment to be

used in battle such as guns & ammo, tanks & used in battle such as guns & ammo, tanks & ships.ships.

P. Germany is the nation that increased its P. Germany is the nation that increased its military spending at the fastest OVERALL rate.military spending at the fastest OVERALL rate.

Q. Great Britain spent the most on its NAVY in Q. Great Britain spent the most on its NAVY in 1910.1910.

R. Britain did this b/c they wanted to protect R. Britain did this b/c they wanted to protect their colonial interests overseas & maintain their colonial interests overseas & maintain control of trade routes.control of trade routes.

The WWI Plane of the The WWI Plane of the ““Red Baron”Red Baron”

DOCUMENT 8Quote from Prince Bernhard von Bulow, German Chancellor,

speech to Reichstag, December 11, 1899.“…we realize that without power, without a strong army and

strong navy, there can be no welfare for us. The means of fighting the battle for existence in this world without strong armaments on land and water, for a nation soon to count sixty millions, living in the centre of Europe and at the same time stretching out its economic feelers in all directions, have not yet been found. In the coming century the German nation will be either the hammer or the anvil.”

Source: From James Joll, The Origins of the First World War, New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 1992.


DOCUMENT #__8____DOCUMENT #__8____

MAIN IDEA: The main idea is that MAIN IDEA: The main idea is that Germany would rather strike first and Germany would rather strike first and with great strength (the hammer) with great strength (the hammer) rather than be weak and beat upon (the rather than be weak and beat upon (the anvil) anvil) ANDAND that Germany must fight for that Germany must fight for its place as an economic superpower in its place as an economic superpower in competition with Britain.competition with Britain.


DOCUMENT #__8____DOCUMENT #__8____SCAFFOLDING SCAFFOLDING

QUESTIONS:_QUESTIONS:_

S.) Prince Von Bulow S.) Prince Von Bulow would rather be the would rather be the hammer than the anvil, hammer than the anvil, striking and attacking – striking and attacking – not the country being not the country being struck.struck.

Source: Reynold’s Newspaper, London, March 9, 1913.

DOCUMENT 9 - Who is the “fool” in the political cartoon?

<“Germany has suddenly announced her determination to increase her already monstrous armaments by a special and additional expenditure of fifty million pounds.”


DOCUMENT # 9DOCUMENT # 9____

MAIN IDEA: Germany is being foolish MAIN IDEA: Germany is being foolish spending more & more spending more & more $$$$ on on armaments (weapons) & it will lead armaments (weapons) & it will lead them to a war they will likely lose.them to a war they will likely lose.


DOCUMENT # 9DOCUMENT # 9 SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:

T. The fool is Kaiser Wilhelm who represents GERMANY. T. The fool is Kaiser Wilhelm who represents GERMANY. His folly is the build-up of armaments.His folly is the build-up of armaments.

U. Based on the information from Doc #7, the cartoonist U. Based on the information from Doc #7, the cartoonist WAS justified in saying that Germany was foolish to WAS justified in saying that Germany was foolish to spend so much on weapons.spend so much on weapons.

V. YES! Based on Docs 7, 8 & 9, MILITARISM was an underlying V. YES! Based on Docs 7, 8 & 9, MILITARISM was an underlying cause of WWI.cause of WWI.

W. Absolutely! German militarism should be included as an W. Absolutely! German militarism should be included as an underlying cause for them to enter WWI.underlying cause for them to enter WWI.

DOCUMENT 10

FREIHEIT DER MEERE = “Freedom of the Seas”ENGLAND DER BLUTSAUGER DER WELT = “England is the bloodsucker of the world.” Does this mean England was a vampire??


DOCUMENT # 10DOCUMENT # 10______

MAIN IDEA: The main idea is that England MAIN IDEA: The main idea is that England is a “bloodsucker” whose influence & is a “bloodsucker” whose influence & control is spread all over the world, control is spread all over the world, strangling other countries and especially strangling other countries and especially Germany. Germany.


DOCUMENT # 10 DOCUMENT # 10 SCAFFOLDING SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:QUESTIONS:

X. Germany is the source of the cartoon X. Germany is the source of the cartoon AND England is the target.AND England is the target.

Y. CROSS “Y” OUT – IT’S A REPEAT OF Y. CROSS “Y” OUT – IT’S A REPEAT OF MAIN IDEA. MAIN IDEA.

DOCUMENT 11 – Colonial Possessions, Spring, 1914 (W. Hemisphere)


DOCUMENT # 11DOCUMENT # 11______

MAIN IDEA: To show the worldwide MAIN IDEA: To show the worldwide colonial possessions of European colonial possessions of European countries that would become involved in countries that would become involved in WWI & WHY they would feel the need WWI & WHY they would feel the need to protect their possessions.to protect their possessions.


DOCUMENT # 11DOCUMENT # 11______SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:_SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS:_

Z.) COLONY means a group of people who leave their native country to form a new land settlement subject to rule by the parent nation. COLONIAL means a gathering of colonies.

AA. Britain controlled the largest AREA /BB. Britain controlled the largest POPULATION

CC. (Back to the “octopus” drawing…) Yes, we CAN understand Germany’s concerns - since the largest land area & pop. was controlled by Britain, their influence was easily spread to become the world’s dominant superpower.

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