Unit 6: World War I
By the early 20th century, competition between European states over colonial resources began to affect the cohesion of the international community. A growing arms race between Great Britain and Germany also raised concerns about European stability. In response to these growing tensions, European nations began making secret military alliances for mutual protection in the event of war. Tensions finally came to a head in the summer of 1914, when Serbian terrorists assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. Germany and Austria-Hungary threatened to invade Serbia, but Russia elected to protect the small state. As a result, these nations declared war on each other and treaty alliances forced France and Great Britain to join the conflict. By its end in November of 1918, World War I had consumed over eight million lives and had become the most deadly and destructive conflict in world history.
In this unit, we will examine the origins of the war and study how and why it spread so rapidly throughout the world. We will also evaluate the role that European colonies and colonized peoples played in the conflict. Finally, we will take a look at how European states attempted to maintain their colonial possessions through post-war peace agreements and how colonized peoples began to directly challenge European rule.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 8 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- identify the origins of World War I and analyze how the war's outcome altered economic and political balances of power throughout the world; and
- assess how the war affected European overseas empires; evaluate colonial participation in the war.
6.1: Causes
Read Chapter XIX (pages 650–668); Chapter XX (pages 669–706); and Chapter XXI (pages 707–734).
6.1.1: Military and Economic Competition among the Great Powers
6.1.2: Power Politics and the European Alliance System
6.1.3: The Summer of 1914
6.2: The Global War
6.2.1: The War in Western Europe
Read this article, which provides an overview of the events of World War I.
Read the introductions to each of the major campaigns.
Read this article, which gives a brief overview of the events that led to America's entry into World War I.
In this short video presentation, historian Everett Sharp of the University of Oxford conducts a tour of original and reconstructed World War I trenches and fortifications in France. Also, he talks about the grueling nature of trench warfare along the Western Front in Europe.
6.2.2: Colonial Warfare
6.2.3: New Weapons of War
Read this article, which provides an overview of the events during World War I.
6.3: Global Impact
6.3.1: Devastation of Europe
6.3.2: Treaty of Versailles
American President Woodrow Wilson delivered this speech on January 8, 1918, less than a year after the United States officially entered the First World War I. In the speech, Wilson presents a blueprint for postwar peace and reconciliation. He argues against European colonization and asserts that colonized peoples should be able to govern themselves. Finally, he argues for the creation of a "general association of nations" in order to guarantee peace and freedom throughout the world.
6.3.3: The Postwar Settlement
Unit 6 Assessment
Review the Chapter 23 overview, and then take the 12 question "self-check" multiple-choice quiz to assess your understanding of the subjects covered in Unit 6.
Review the Chapter 28 outline, and then take the multiple-choice, true/false, and short answer quizzes on the World Civilizations: AP Edition website to assess you understanding of the subjects covered in Unit 6. Unfortunately, the original provider for this quiz has rearranged the site in such a way that Submit Answers for Grading button does not work and no longer indicates the correct answers. This quiz should be fairly straightforward and easy for students with a good understanding of the course materials. Therefore, you should use this quiz as a self-assessment of how comfortable you feel with the material before you move forward.