why study world war I?
There are certain events that have occurred throughout history that have a tremendous effect on society. World War I is one of those events that shook up society and changed the way we look at war. World War I is the first major global conflict in which many countries, with various interests, took sides and fought for those interests in various parts of the world. Students can study the different interests of the various countries involved and can analyze what made them get involved into this conflict in the first place. The system of alliances that led to this war is a point that cannot be dismissed when studying WWI. Alliances were the contributing factor that led the countries into war. It is important to know the reasons that allowed this war to become a global conflict so that students can gain understanding of the conditions that can make a global conflict even possible. A global conflict had not been seen in history until WWI came about. The fact that it was a global conflict makes it an incredibly important area of study.
World War I is the first war where the effects of industrialization can be seen. This war employed the use of various new technologies, tanks, submarines, poison gas, which would change the way war was fought. Students can study the affects that new technology had on the battlefield and the human cost that was brought on by the new technologies. Students can look back at this war and study the dangers of using chemical warfare. Students are introduced to the horrific effects poison gas can have on people and will be reintroduced to this theme when studying WWII. The use of new weapons in the battlefield and the use of chemical warfare are issues that remained long after the Treaty of Versailles was signed. It was WWI, however, that introduced this new technology to the masses. World War I foreshadows what war could look like after industrialization.
World War I was truly a total war where everyone was impacted. The idea of total war, of civilians being asked to help in the war effort and manufacturing switching over to produce goods for war, is one that needs to be studied. Students should understand that war could impact all parts of society. When studying war, students may be inclined to think about the soldiers. They may not necessarily think about the people left in the cities and the sacrifices they had to make to support the war effort. Since World War I was a total war, it gives students the opportunity to see multiple perspectives on how war can affect society. They are able to study propaganda posters and look at the demands that were made of the civilian population alongside studying life in the trenches. World War I offers a multitude of perspectives that students can study because it was a global war and a total war.
When looking at the name given to this war, World War I, we see another reason why this is important to study, it was the First World War, not the last. The provisions set in the Treaty of Versailles set the stage for WWII. It is important for students to understand the connection between the two wars. World War I is a crucial time to study because looking back at that time allows students analyze the conditions that led to WWII and it allows them to analyze the missed opportunities to stop another global conflict. By studying World War I, students can understand how the interests of a few can impact the course of history.
World War I is the first war where the effects of industrialization can be seen. This war employed the use of various new technologies, tanks, submarines, poison gas, which would change the way war was fought. Students can study the affects that new technology had on the battlefield and the human cost that was brought on by the new technologies. Students can look back at this war and study the dangers of using chemical warfare. Students are introduced to the horrific effects poison gas can have on people and will be reintroduced to this theme when studying WWII. The use of new weapons in the battlefield and the use of chemical warfare are issues that remained long after the Treaty of Versailles was signed. It was WWI, however, that introduced this new technology to the masses. World War I foreshadows what war could look like after industrialization.
World War I was truly a total war where everyone was impacted. The idea of total war, of civilians being asked to help in the war effort and manufacturing switching over to produce goods for war, is one that needs to be studied. Students should understand that war could impact all parts of society. When studying war, students may be inclined to think about the soldiers. They may not necessarily think about the people left in the cities and the sacrifices they had to make to support the war effort. Since World War I was a total war, it gives students the opportunity to see multiple perspectives on how war can affect society. They are able to study propaganda posters and look at the demands that were made of the civilian population alongside studying life in the trenches. World War I offers a multitude of perspectives that students can study because it was a global war and a total war.
When looking at the name given to this war, World War I, we see another reason why this is important to study, it was the First World War, not the last. The provisions set in the Treaty of Versailles set the stage for WWII. It is important for students to understand the connection between the two wars. World War I is a crucial time to study because looking back at that time allows students analyze the conditions that led to WWII and it allows them to analyze the missed opportunities to stop another global conflict. By studying World War I, students can understand how the interests of a few can impact the course of history.