World War I

The First World War (1914 to 1918) resulted in over 20 million deaths across four continents. These lessons and resources explore the Great War’s profound political, economic, and social consequences, uncovering the global dimensions of the first total war.
World War I

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Featured Materials

What Caused the First World War?
Satirical drawing of a game of tug of war. Germany and Austria on one side with Belgium, Britain, France, Yugoslavia, Japan, Finland on the other, Italy makes the judge scrutinizing the contenders with the arms behind the back.
OER Project
Article

What Caused the First World War? External link

The First World War almost feels like a murder mystery, with many suspected causes and complex motives. Millions died in this confusing conflict that gripped the world.
Source Collection: World War I
Simple wooden cross marking the grave of unknown German soldier.
OER Project
Article

Source Collection: World War I External link

These sources reveal how people felt, struggled, and coped during World War I. Each piece of the story brings the human impact of total war to life.
First World War Casualties and Alliance Thematic Map
OER Project
Visual Aid

First World War Casualties and Alliance Thematic Map External link

A full-color thematic map of First World War Casualties and Alliance in 1914 CE, meant to help you support, extend, and challenge the frame narratives.

Lessons

Lesson 6.2
World History 1750
World War I
1914 CE – present
Causes of the First World War
Military forces grew, alliances solidified, and tensions rose across continents. When war finally came, it was no accident; it was the result of systems pushed to the breaking point.
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Lesson 6.4
World History 1750
World War I
1914 CE – present
Living in Total War
What did it mean to be part of the lost generation? Firsthand perspectives from the war reveal the fear, courage, and resistance that shaped the lives touched by total war.
View Lesson

Materials

The First World War as a Global War
Black and white photograph of several men in army uniforms, carrying a man on a stretcher.
OER Project
Article

The First World War as a Global War External link

How does a war become a world war? It’s a tough question to answer, but asking who fought, what they fought for, and where they fought should give you a fighting chance.
Britain and World War I
World History 1750
Video

Britain and World War I External link

The First World War transformed British society. Nick Dennis explores why Britain entered the conflict and how people in Britain experienced the war.
Southeast Asia and World War I
map of Southeast Asia
World History 1750
Video

Southeast Asia and World War I External link

Southeast Asia was a complicated place in 1914. Competing empires, religious ties, and shifting loyalties all played a role in sparking an uprising in Singapore.
A Lost Generation
Photo of a man kneeling before a large group of freshly dug graves. Wooden crosses mark each grave site.
OER Project
Article

A Lost Generation External link

When World War I started, people cheered in the streets. This enthusiasm was soon dampened by the reality of war. The disillusionment that followed challenged long-held beliefs about nationalism, heroism, and the benefits of industrialization.
Armenian Genocide
Map of Armenia
World History 1750
Video

Armenian Genocide External link

Amid the chaos of World War I, the Ottoman Empire turned against its Armenian citizens. Learn how war created the conditions for one of history’s first modern genocides.
Dr. Rosa Luxemburg
Dr. Rosa Luxemburg
World History 1750
Graphic Biographies

Dr. Rosa Luxemburg External link

Rosa Luxemburg was a socialist philosopher, economist, and teacher. Learn how she paid the ultimate price for her bold perspective on the First World War.

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