WWI

Militarism
- Definition: The belief in maintaining a strong military capability and readiness to use it aggressively.
- Between 1910-1914, defense spending increased significantly across Europe.
  - France: +10%
  - Great Britain: +13%
  - Germany: +73%
- German Naval Laws increased battleships, highlighting militaristic expansion.
Alliances
- Definition: Formal agreements for mutual support in war.
- Key alliances:
  - Russia and Serbia, supported by France.
  - Great Britain had agreements to protect France and Belgium in case of invasion.
Imperialism
- Germany maintained colonies in Africa, signifying its imperial ambitions.
- Europe dominated Africa except Liberia and Ethiopia.
- France controlled parts of Africa and Southeast Asia.
- Great Britain claimed India, termed the British Raj.
Nationalism
- Rising national sentiments fueled conflicts, especially between France and Germany.
  - Source of anti-German feelings in France due to the loss of Alsace-Lorraine in 1871.
- Germany, unified in 1871, aimed to assert its position as a world power.
- Ethnic tensions in Austria-Hungary: multiple ethnicities seeking independence, including Czechoslovakians and Serbians.

Austria-Hungary viewed Serbia as a threat to its empire, especially after annexing Bosnia in 1908, a move that angered Serbia seeking Balkan unity.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip, a supporter of Serbian nationalism, on June 28, 1914, escalated tensions.
This event polarized European powers, leading to alliances forming against one another:
- Russia supported Serbia.
- Germany backed Austria-Hungary, leading to a domino effect of alliances activating.

France: Increased military readiness following the lost territories.
Russia: Mobilized troops in support of Serbia, creating tensions with Germany.
Schlieffen Plan: Germany's military strategy to avoid a two-front war, focusing first on France before diverting forces to the East against Russia.

Students will create a timeline reflecting the events during the July Crisis leading up to WWI, noting key decisions made by countries involved.

Group debate on which of the MAIN factors was the most significant in causing WWI, supported by evidence and reasons:
- Each student must present their argument clearly and substantively.

Analysis of the costs of war:
- Identify which country suffered the greater losses.
- Understand the term "lost generation" describing young men lost in the war.
- Document psychological impacts on survivors, such as trauma or mental disorders.

Pre-war, most women were domestic servants; roles expanded into traditionally male jobs such as munitions factories.
Factors promoting this shift included workforce needs and women's desire to aid in the war effort.
Post-war effects:
- Many women forced back into traditional roles, leading to limited long-term change.
- Some societal shifts included women gaining more freedom and changing fashion norms.

Introduction of conscription through measures like the Derby Scheme and Compulsory Military Service Bill in 1916.
Conscientious objectors faced societal rejection and punitive measures.

Break down political cartoons using T.A.C.O.S method:
- Time period, Action, Caption, Objects, Summary to derive messages about societal attitudes towards issues like women's roles and conscientious objection.

Evaluate how much women’s lives changed after the war, considering both societal acceptance and the return to pre-war norms.