Causes of the First World War
Teacher Resources
Driving Question: What caused World War I?
Military forces grew, alliances locked in, and tensions rose across continents. When war finally came, it was no accident; it was the result of systems pushed to the breaking point.
Learning Objectives:
- Use causal-thinking skills to evaluate the factors that led to the outbreak of World War I.
- Use image-analysis skills to assess how propaganda was used in World War I.
Vocab Terms:
- alliance
- diplomatic
- ethnic
- mobilization
- propaganda
- sovereignty
- total war
Opener: Causes of the First World War
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 7.2 Teaching Guide.
Use your knowledge of the nineteenth century and a 1914 political cartoon to make predictions about the coming war. Who’s involved—and what might happen next?
A War to End All Wars
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 7.2 Teaching Guide.
Unpack the tangled web of alliances, rivalries, and political choices that led to war in 1914. This step helps you sort through long-term causes and immediate sparks.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the article. Be sure to look at the section headings and any images.
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- Why was Franz Ferdinand assassinated?
- How did alliances lead to war?
- How did imperialism contribute to the war?
- Why did industrialization make a big war more likely?
- Is it possible that the war happened by accident?
After you read
Respond to this question: During the long nineteenth century, changes took place that might have helped cause World War I—what were they?
"MAIN" Causes of War
Global Conflict
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 4 of the Lesson 7.2 Teaching Guide.
World War I was not confined to Europe. Explore how deeply interconnected the world already was in 1914, and how those connections turned a regional crisis into a global war.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the article. Be sure to look at the section headings and any images.
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- What were the main alliances during World War I?
- What European factors helped cause the war?
- What global motivations led other countries to join?
- Where did most battles outside Europe take place?
- What were some major consequences of the war?
After you read
Respond to these questions: How did World War I change global networks—such as trade, communication, or political alliances? What stayed the same?
Closer: Causes of the First World War
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 8 of the Lesson 7.2 Teaching Guide.
Now that you've explored the causes of World War I, hypothesize what the nations involved in the war were thinking as you revisit the political cartoon from earlier in the lesson.
World War I Up Close
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 8 of the Lesson 7.2 Teaching Guide.
World War I changed not just nations but the lives of everyday people. Analyze a collection of wartime voices and images to explore the many ways war shaped lives both on the front lines and at home.
World War I Poster Analysis
