World War I Peace Talks
STUDENT MATERIALSSTUDENT MATERIALSS-1WORLD WAR I PEACE TALKSWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 1200 / LESSON 7.2 ACTIVITYPurposeIn this activity, you will look at various plans for peace after the First World War and weigh the merits (advantages) of each according to diverse international interests. The simulation approach allows for deeper reflection on the human and material costs of “total war,” and helps you see firsthand how countries’ different wartime experiences played into the peace talks of 1919 that followed Germany’s surrender. Ultimately, this will lay the groundwork for considering how treaties, although written in the name of peace and prosperity, can contribute to future problems.PracticesCausation, contextualizationDuring this simulation, you will practice causal reasoning as you explore the effects of the First World War from primary and secondary sources, and as you consider the implications of the actual peace process of 1919. You will also use historical empathy as you try to draft treaty terms from one country’s postwar point of view. ProcessIn this activity, you’re going to take part in a simulation that mimics the peace talks that occurred toward the end of World War I. Step 1—Simulation PrepFirst, complete the information sheet about the costs of the First World War by country. Once you have completed this sheet, your teacher will assign you to one of the following country groups: Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, South Africa, and the United States. You will be taking on the role of one of the delegates for that country as you deliberate possible terms to include in the World War Peace Treaty. Once you are in your group, take some time to compare the data you found on your assigned country, and analyze the social, political, and economic effects of those numbers on your country. Step 2—SimulationYour teacher will moderate this world summit, which is of utmost importance. Over the course of the simulation, the delegates (you!) will examine five different issues and determine which terms best address each issue. You will be given one issue at a time for deliberation as well as three possible terms to be included in the treaty regarding that issue. Take out the World War I Terms Worksheet and pick one student in your group to record notes. You are about to take part in five rounds of deciding the terms for each issue brought on by the war. At the end of the five rounds, you will have the terms for your peace treaty.Your teacher will read the issues to you one by one, and once you’ve had a chance to discuss the terms with your group, you will have to make a choice as to which is best. Then, you’ll record your reasoning on your worksheet, and take turns posting your country’s choice on the front board with a brief explanation/defense of your reasoning. After all the countries have posted, the winning choice (the term that appears the most) gets to stay up on the board, and the others get taken down. Do this for each of the five rounds, leaving the “winning” terms on the board after each round. What will emerge is a list of terms that sound a lot like the actual World War I peace treaty.
STUDENT MATERIALSSTUDENT MATERIALSS-2WORLD WAR I PEACE TALKSWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 1200 / LESSON 7.2 ACTIVITYStep 3—Responses to the Treaty’s TermsTo wrap up the simulation, draft a brief statement (one or two paragraphs) from your assigned country’s perspective, in response to the Treaty’s terms. Then, your teacher will debrief you about the actual peace conference and the terms that came out of it. Are you surprised by any of the terms? To wrap up, discuss the following questions with your class. • The preparation worksheet you filled out included more nations than those included in the simulation. How might the end result have changed had these nations been included in the peace talks? • What are the advantages of punishment versus reconciliation and how do you balance these two things during conflict resolution?• How do you think Germany responded to the treaty?
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-3WORLD WAR I PEACE TALKSWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 1200 / LESSON 7.2 ACTIVITYThe Cost of World War I WorksheetDirections: Use the Internet to determine the financial and human cost of World War I for each of the following countries. You can use the links below or do your own research to find these numbers. Step 1• https://spartacus-educational.com/FWWcosts.htm• https://www.dva.gov.au/newsroom/media-centre/media-backgrounders/overview-australias-involvement-first-world-war• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_casualties• https://www.census.gov/history/pdf/reperes112018.pdf• https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/colonial-troops• https://scottmanning.com/content/world-war-i-troop-statistics/CountryWorld War I expenditures (in US dollars) 1914-1918Deaths from World War I (civilian and military)Deaths as percent of population Number of soldiers mobilized for the war effortNumber of colonial soldiers who participated in the war*FranceBelgiumGermany
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-4WORLD WAR I PEACE TALKSWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 1200 / LESSON 7.2 ACTIVITYCountryWorld War I expenditures (in US dollars) 1914-1918Deaths from World War I (civilian and military)Deaths as percent of population Number of soldiers mobilized for the war effortNumber of colonial soldiers who participated in the war*Great BritainUnited StatesIndia (under the British Raj)JapanRussia
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-5WORLD WAR I PEACE TALKSWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 1200 / LESSON 7.2 ACTIVITYCountryWorld War I expenditures (in US dollars) 1914-1918Deaths from World War I (civilian and military)Deaths as percent of population Number of soldiers mobilized for the war effortNumber of colonial soldiers who participated in the war*Australia (part of the Commonwealth of the British Empire)South Africa (part of the Commonwealth of the British Empire)Austria-Hungary*Note: Only some of these countries had colonies.1. What countries included in the table were members of the Central Powers?
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-6WORLD WAR I PEACE TALKSWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 1200 / LESSON 7.2 ACTIVITY2. What countries included in the table were members of the Allied Powers?3. What country spent the most money on the war? 4. What country had the largest number of casualties?5. What country had the highest percentage of casualties?6. What country had the largest number of colonial troops participating in the war?
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-7WORLD WAR I PEACE TALKSWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 1200 / LESSON 7.2 ACTIVITY7. Overall, which country fared worst and why?8. Overall, which country fared best and why?
STUDENT MATERIALSSTUDENT MATERIALSS-8WORLD WAR I PEACE TALKSWORLD HISTORY PROJECT 1200 / LESSON 7.2 ACTIVITYWorld War I Terms WorksheetCountry/Point of View: Issues Terms: A, B, or C?Our Country’s Reasoning:War GuiltWhich country or countries should be blamed for causing World War I?ReparationsWhich country or countries should pay for the damages of war? How much?Military PowerShould all countries be permitted to keep a powerful military in peacetime?Colonial PossessionsShould countries be permitted to keep their colonial possessions in the wake of World War I?League of NationsShould countries join an international peacekeeping & decision-making organization?