LESSON # 6

Lesson # 6 - The end of the war

Wednesday, June 23rd

Welcome to a new lesson!

                                       

This week, we´re going to keep on learning about WW1. In this opportunity, we
´ll be focusing on how the war came to an end as well as on the inmediate
consequences of WW1. This lesson has been divided into three sections.

Shall we get started?

SECTION 1

The Treaty of Versailles and the end of the war.

 

World War I occurred from 1914 to 1918. While the war raged, American
President, Woodrow Wilson, tried to stay away from the conflict, but was
unable to do so. After the sinking of the Lusitania on May 7, 1915, and a
succession of other torpedo catastrophes involving the Germans, America was
forced to become involved in the war. They did not join either side initially, but
warned Germany to end all violence towards Americans. By January of 1916,
another component was added to the provocation of war. A telegram sent to the
German ambassador in Mexico offering Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona back
to Mexico if help was given to the Germans to fight the Americans. This note
was intercepted and the President Wilson was informed. Four more cargo ships
were sunk by German torpedoes following the events of the Zimmerman note.
The United States was forced to join World War I in a fight against Germany. 
Since the U.S. had a vested interest in aiding allies, their effort was immense; however, they did not feel th
nationalistic pressure as the other Allied nations. In 1918, when Germany finally signed an armistice and a
end the fighting, a treaty had to be compiled. Prior to meeting with other Allied Nations and even the end o
President Wilson put together his own plan to create peace within the world. Wilson had fourteen major
points which he wanted to be addressed, and delivered them at the Paris Peace Conference at the Versai
in 1918. 

Wilson´s points involved the limitation of secret treaties, freedom of the seas,

barriers and taxes, safety, boundaries, and the formation of a League of
Nations. The League of Nations was meant to be an open meeting where
countries could discuss their difficulties rather than create war. 

While Wilson presented a variety of ideas, leaders of other Allied countries were not pleased with all of hi
French Premier Georges Clemenceau and British Prime Minister David Lloyd George felt that Germany
reparations than the mere ideas suggested by Wilson. Both countries were deeply affected by the war and w
compensation from the losing nation. 

                                          
Aside from the grievances of other Allied nations, a variety of the small
European nations affected by the war, were not invited to the Paris Peace
Conference. All losing nations were not asked to attend either. All decisions
were to be made by the United States, England, France and Italy. Smaller
ethnic groups were completely ignored, and small nations were angered by
being completely ignored. The “Big Three,” as they were called, scripted the
entire Treaty of Versailles and only accepted one of Wilson’s Fourteen Points:
the formation of a League of Nations. 

Included in the Treaty of Versailles was the formation of new nations for certain ethnic groups. While s
were created, the shape and size of others were altered based on the needs and wants of the "Big Three". G
ordered to pay an immense amount of war reparations not only in cash, but in territory as well. Additiona
were told to sign a war-guilt clause admitting fault for beginning and perpetuating the world war. 

The Treaty of Versailles caused conflict with Russia amongst all the other issues. Although Russia was an
a great deal of Russian territory was redistributed. This caused additional conflict and hardship on the part
Russians. 

Although Wilson did not get much of what he originally had in mind, the League
of Nations was formed as a result of the Paris Peace Conference. Nations were
no longer expected to battle through their problems. Instead, an opportunity
existed to have round-table discussions in order to settle conflict. 

 Source:

The Americans: Reconstruction to the 21st Century (McDougal- Littel,

2009). Cicero: History beyond the Textbook (www.cicerohistory.com)

  NOW, WATCH the following two educational videos which  will help

you understand what you have just read. 

 
  

ACTIVITY 1 ACTIVITY 2 ACTIVITY 3

     
Make up a mind-map ANSWER: REFLECT:
outlining the key terms of the    
Which aspect of the Treaty of Was the peace treaty fair? W
Peace Treaty and paste it on
Versailles called your attention Support your answer with e
your e-Portfolio.
the most? Why?  possible!

 
SECTION 2

Exploring and analysing maps

OBSERVE and ANALYZE

01 What do the two maps, when viewed together, show about the way the
world changed between 1914 and 1920?
 
 02 Which countries are on the map for 1920 that are not on the map for
1914?
 

03 Which countries are on the map for 1014 that are not on the map for
2020? 
 

WATCH this animated map to see how WW1

changed Europe´s borders...
 

DON´T FORGET to keep a personal written record of the activ

and/or  what you have learnt during this lesson.Then go throu
the reading material attached to lesson # 5 to enlarge your
knowledge and reinforce your understanding of the main even
which marked the WW1.

SECTION 3

The First World War in a short film

 

 
 PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
01    What was your personal reaction to the film? Did the last scene
surprise you? Did it shock you? Did it make you feel angry? 

02    In two or three sentences, describe your emotional response to the

film.

03    Which aspect of the war does the film portrait? 

04    What is the attitude of the two young soldiers when they join in the
British Army? When do you think their attitude changes? Why?

05    What was life in the trenches during WW1 like? Provide a brief
description (remember to have a look at the reading material in
lesson # 5)

Dear students,

LESSON # 6 contains lots of information and some activities to complete.

Start working on it asap so as not to behind. We will be having new assessment
activities before the end of the first term and you will need to be up to date with
the lessons!  

We will be having a video meeting next Wednesday, June 30th. in Google

Meet.  I will be sending a reminder before Wednesday. During the meeting we
will be discussing the contents of Lessons # 5 and 6. You will then have the
opportunity to check your doubts and ask all the necessary questions!

See you next week!  

Grace