Militarism - Causes of the First World War WWI

Lesson Objective: To analyse why militarism caused the First World War

Starter:

• Engage students in a source discussion about militarism, focusing on primary sources related to the build-up to WWI.

Teacher Led Instruction:

• Provide clear and concise instruction on the concept of militarism, emphasizing its role in the lead-up to the First World War.
• Facilitate class discussion to ensure students grasp key points and encourage questions.

Main Activity:

• Divide students into groups and assign each group a specific country involved in WWI (e.g., Germany, France, Britain).
• In their groups, students analyze historical information about their assigned country’s militaristic policies and actions leading up to the war.
• Students identify key events, policies, and decisions, discussing how militarism played a role in each country’s actions.

Plenary:

• Bring the class back together for a concluding discussion on why militarism was a significant factor leading to the First World War.
• Encourage students to synthesize the information they gathered during the main activity.
• Facilitate a dialogue where students express their opinions and insights on the connection between militarism and the outbreak of the war.