History - Unit 2 - World War 1

Key Vocabulary For This Unit: Empire, Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism, Assassination, Shell Shock, Trench, Soldiers Of Empire, Discrimination, Propaganda And Pals Battalions.

What did the British Empire look like by 1914?

• Students will know that Britain had a powerful and large empire that had control over countries in Africa, Hong Kong, India and Australia.
• Students will know that at its height Britain owned ¼ of the world.
• Students will know that Queen Victoria was known as the Empress of India and Grandmother of Europe.

What were the causes of World War One?

• Students will know that the causes of WW1 were militarism, alliances, imperialism and nationalism.
• Students will know that the Triple Alliance was Germany, Austria and Italy and the Triple Entente was Britain, France and USSR.
• Students will know that the catalyst for the declaration of war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

What was life like in the trenches?

• Students will know that trenches were dug by the Germans first to advance through Belgium into France under the Schlieffen Plan. • Students will know that the Battle of the Somme was the deadliest battle in British army history • Students will learn that soldiers suffered from shell shock and this included shaking, crying and vomiting.

How did Soldiers of Empire contribute to World War One?

• Students will know that David Olusoga believes the contributions of soldiers of empire have largely been forgotten.
• Students will know that many soldiers were discriminated against given the hardest tasks for example, the Chinese Labour Corps had to clear the battlefields.
• Students will know that the contribution of soldiers from the empire helped Britain win for example, Britain contributed 1.3 million soldiers.

What was life like on the Home Front?

• Students will know that there was a recruitment campaign in Britain to encourage men to volunteer. This included propaganda making war seem like an advantage.
• Students will know that women filled the jobs left empty by men and women were also behind the white feather campaign.
• Students will know that men received letters and parcels from home.

How did Pals Battalions help the war effort?

• Students will know that Pals Battalions encouraged volunteering with your friends and there was one in St Helens.
• Students will know that this meant that in some cases the whole male population of a village/town may not have returned.
• Students will know that St Helens was an important area for the war effort for the Pals Battalions and also because of its industry.

How did the Front Line differ from the Home Front during WW1?

The Front Line during WW1 was characterized by active combat, where soldiers faced direct danger, trench warfare, and high casualties. In contrast, the Home Front involved civilians supporting the war effort through industrial work, rationing, and maintaining morale. The Home Front experienced economic changes and social shifts, while the Front Line was focused on military strategy and survival.