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Scheme of work – Cambridge IGCSE® History (0470)
Option A: 19th century, The Development of Modern Nation States, 1848–1914
6: What caused the First World War?
Recommended prior knowledge
Background knowledge of late-nineteenth century Europe, including relations between main European powers.
Context
This unit provides an insight into the reasons that led up to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.
Outline
Core content Option A. Key question 6: What caused the First World War?
Focus points
Suggested teaching activities
Learning resources
Did the Alliance System make
war more likely or less likely?
Discuss the meaning of nationalism and
militarism as relating to Europe at the turn of
the century.
www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/causes.htm
Useful overview with links and worksheets.
Peaple, S. European Diplomacy 1870–1939 Chapters 4–5
Baycroft, T. Nationalism in Europe 1789–1914 Chapter 6
Students colour code a pre-prepared map to
show the make up of the Alliance. As a followup, consider why these alliances arose.
www.firstworldwar.com/origins/causes.htm
General introduction to causes of WWI.
After considering a variety of evidence,
including statistics relating to economic and
military strength, explain why ‘the Alliance
System increased tension in Europe’.
Collier, M. Colonisation and Conflict 1750–1990 pages 106–113
Walsh, B. OCR GCSE Modern World History, Third Edition pages 212–215
www.activehistory.co.uk/main_area/
Good worksheets, sources and maps (Membership required).
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Cambridge IGCSE History (0470)
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Focus points
Suggested teaching activities
Learning resources
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir1/causes_war1act.shtml
Good activity.
How far did colonial problems
create tensions between the
Great Powers?
Students research the colonial problems that
affected the Great Powers, especially relating
to Britain, France, Italy and Germany.
In small groups students consider the extent to
which these problems caused tensions
between the Great Powers. Findings to be
presented to other groups. Presentation could
be visual or verbal, or a combination.
Two events in Morocco (1905 and 1911)
should be considered specifically. Students
may wish to study these events from a German
(the Kaiser’s) foreign policy perspective,
producing arguments as to why tension was
increasing.
Consider how different a British perspective
might be. This could be presented in the form
of a report to the British government.
Students to consider the Anglo – German arms
race. Write paragraphs on the race (i) on land;
(ii) at sea. Produce an answer to, ‘Explain why
the arms race escalated in the early years of
the twentieth century’. A final section of the
answer
should
consider
‘who
was
responsible?’
Why were problems in the
Balkans so difficult for the
Great Powers to solve?
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In relation to 1908-1909, discuss how events of
that year in the Balkans increased tension
between the countries. How was the threat of
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7kp3vf1uKA
Two-part YouTube video on the causes of WWI – lots of other You Tube
videos.
Peaple, S. European Diplomacy 1870–1939 Chapter 3
Baycroft, T. Nationalism in Europe 1789–1914 Chapter 7
Walsh, B. OCR GCSE Modern World History, Third Edition page 218
Walsh, B. OCR GCSE Modern World History, Third Edition pages 216–218
Walsh, B. OCR GCSE Modern World History, Third Edition page 219
Cambridge IGCSE History (0470)
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Focus points
Suggested teaching activities
Learning resources
war increased by events in the Balkans in
1912-1913.
How did the assassination of
Franz Ferdinand lead to war?
Listen to the story of the Assassination of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vaRWhADXwU&feature=related
You Tube video focusing on the assassination of Franz Ferdinand.
Label a diagram of a series of steps with
events on specific dates between the 23 and
31 July 1914. The date should be on the
actual step with the event on the riser. A
completed diagram gives you the final steps to
war.
Walsh, B. OCR GCSE Modern World History, Third Edition page 210
Useful source account of assassination, Source 1.
Aylett, J.F. The Twentieth Century World pages 8–9
Using the content from the whole of this Key
Question, students should produce a mind map
to demonstrate the long, medium and shortterm causes of the First World War.
Using this mind map as a guide, answer the
following essay type question. ‘How far was
Germany’s
aggressive
foreign
policy
responsible for the outbreak of war in 1914?’
Hold a class discussion. Select a number of
groups each with four members. Each group
should represent a country involved in the
steps to war. Each group should present the
arguments as to why the country they
represent should, or should not, go to war. The
presentations should end with a view as to
which country was the more responsible. This
conclusion might be arrived at by awarding a
mark out of 10 to represent the role played in
causing war. This can be updated on a chart
on a SmartBoard.
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Walsh, B. OCR GCSE Modern World History, Third Edition pages 220–221
Syllabus 0470 past questions papers – can be accessed by logging onto
the Teacher Support website http://teachers.cie.org.uk
Cambridge IGCSE History (0470)
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