History of the Americas

Go to the the Digital History Reader

(1) Read through the introduction and context part of the modules. Make notes that evidence for and against World War as a cause of the Russian Revolution.

(2) Using the evidence page make notes that consider the extent to which World War I may be said to have caused the Russian Revolution.Background for each source is included and in some cases questions are posed to help you with your analysis. Don't overlook these questions. Begin with the following visual sources :

• Russian Society
• Peasant Life
• Russian Officers at Tea
• Russian Soldiers at Mealtime
• Russian soldiers waiting for rifles
• The retreat from Warsaw
• The Blessing of the Wounded
• Refugees
• Bread lines
• Down with the Monarchy Poster
• Poster of Cossacks

(3) Now consider the following written sources:

• Miliukov's Speech
• Soviet Order #1
• Abdication of the Tsar
• Telegram from the U.S. Consolate

(4) For each of the documents listed, classify then by how they support either the World War 1 as the chief cause of the Revolution OR other reasons for the outbreak of revolution, such as an autocratic system of government, power sharing agreement between Bolsheviks and Menschiviks, Bolshevik tactics to encourage support for revolution or the political aspirations of individuals.You need to include a justification for your classification of each document that is grounded in the background/context reading and the source itself.

Keep your charts close to hand. We will be debriefing this question when I return next week.I will also be doing a note check on them :-)

If you get everything done, you may work on your semester project on the wiki. Please use the time I have given you in class to work on your projects. If time is not used appropriately I will (a) have very little sympathy for your complaints about too much homework and (b) will stop giving your class time to do your work--in which case you will have a lot of homework.

Reading 1 : Opposing Viewpoints: Should the U.S. Enter World War 1

Read through the two documents. What reasons does each author give for entering or avoiding World War 1? On what things do the agree? On What do they disagree?

Reading 2: Reasons for U.S.Entrance into WW1

Out of these statements, what do you find to be the most compelling evidence for why the U.S. entered the war? Explain.

Using the document links below, create a timeline of events leading up to the U.S. involvement in World War 1. You should note the 5Ws & Significance of each event to U.S. Involvement that you put on your timeline:

Telegram about Assassination of the Archduke

Outbreak of World War I; German declaration of war on Russia

Map of the World Showing Nations at War

US Policy on Loans to the Belligerents

President Wilson's Declaration of Neutrality

The Status of Armed Merchant Vessels

US Policy on Loans to the Belligerents

U.S. Protests Against Maritime Warfare

Value of U.S. Exports
(scroll down page)

German Admiralty Declaration Regarding Unrestricted U-Boat Warfare

President Wilson's First Warning to the Germans

Wilson's Change of Attitude on War Loans

Murder on the High Seas

Telegram from Wilson re: Sinking of the Lusitania

Lusitania

Commentary on The Bryce Report

Bryan Resignation Letter

German Ambassador's Assurances About American Ships

Cartoon: Untitled, Reasonable Program of National Defense, 11/20/1915

Excerpt from “Preparedness: The Road to Universal Slaughter”

World War I : The First Three Years
(scroll down to "Impact of the War on the U.S." then "The National Defense Act of 1916)

Wilson on the Sussex Case

Germany's Second Promise

The Drift Toward War
(first section only)

Peace Without Victory Speech

Germany officially breaks her promise

The Zimmerman Telegram

Telegraph to Wilson re: Interception of Telegram (page 2) (page 3)

Second Inaugural Address of President Woodrow Wilson
(look at paragraphs 1-3 & 8-9)

Wilson War Message to Congress

Presidential Proclamation 1364 of April 6, 1917

U.S. Declaration of War

: Map of the World Showing Nations at War, August 1, 1918

Compensation before & after WW1 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Stats)

Taking in to consideration the events you have just looked at concerning the U.S. entrance into the war, which of the following hypothesis about the reasons for U.S. involvement in the is the most compelling arguement:

1. Because the U.S. was under attack because of its neutrality

2. To make the world "safe for democracy"

3. Because we would have faced economic collapse if the allies could not pay back all the loans made to them by American bankers.

4. Because it was good for business.

5. Because of the cultural, historical and political ties to Great Britain.

6. Because Anti-German sentiment influenced by historic tie to England, German politics and American and British propaganda.

7. The result of the expansion of the U.S. weapons industry.

8. For another reason

9 For a combination of reasons.

Be prepared to justify your choice in an inclass debate on Tuesday.

Your  group’s task is to create a presentation about some aspect of World War II.  Your finished product should include narrative to link the information together. The narrative can be "live" at the time of the presentation or can be pre-recorded and added to the the presentation.  You may also wish to include period music or other background music to enhance the presentation.  We will be using Prezi (at Prezi.com) to create the presentations. Each group will need to create an account (this will allow everyone in the group to work on the prezi at the same time--more instructions on how to do this will be give on Tuesday.
This project will require that you do research beyond the textbook to tell a cohesive story from about a particular battle in WW1, its consquences in the war and the role of technology in the battle. Although you may choose to do an overview, it is expected that at least part of your documentary will highlight specific events/people. The use of both primary and secondary sources is expected. The purpose of your presenation is to create a documentary that reflects your groups interpretation of the sources. All sources used should be included in a sources "slide" at the end of your presentation.

You should use a combination of still pictures, text, narrative voice-overs created from primary source documents, text and music. Each group will be required to show adequate progress at the end of the period (yes , this will be a grade!) as well as turn in several documents showing the planning and colaboration process.

Conclude any research; begin collaboration on Prezi. HW: continue working on presentation; collect additional documents. Share prezi so Blank can check on your progress.

Kelsey B.
Alex B.
Jocelyn
Cynthia

Ash
Alex U.
Tori
Melinda

The First World War

The Western Front

Sparticus:WW1

The Great War

World War 1 at Sea

Trenches on the WebVideos about WW1

The Trench Experience

History Learning Site: Battles of WW1

BBC: WW1

Major Battles of World War 1