An Overview of the First World War
The First World War was the first large-scale war in the history
of mankind. It took place between 1914-1918. More than 30
nations took part in it. There were many causes and events
leading to the war. The war ended in 1919 with the defeat of
the Central Powers.
After the First World War, the world has changed a lot. Cities
were destroyed, new weapons were developed and new
countries appeared etc.
Activity 1:
The “MAIN” causes of the First World War
We can use different letters to represent the major causes of the First World
War. Can you guess the meaning of the following MAIN causes of the First
World War? Put the letter in the brackets to explain the meaning of the causes.
M. Militarism
A country takes over new land or
countries and controls them.
A. Alliance System
&
Armaments race
An agreement is made between two or
more countries. These countries
become known as Allies. They will
help each other if needed. Countries
develop powerful weapons to prepare
for war.
I. Imperialism
People strongly support their country.
They will fight for or defend the rights
and interests of the country.
N. Nationalism
The government thinks that the army
and military forces are very important.
Activity 2:
Introducing the major six countries involved in the First World War
Identify the major six countries involved in the First World War and write their
names in the boxes provided. (Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Italy and
Austria-Hungary)
Germany
Russia
Britain
France
Italy
AustriaHungary
Useful Words
agreement
協議
Alliance System
結盟制度
armaments race
軍備競賽
Central Powers
同盟國
destroy
破壞
imperialism
帝國主義
large-scale
大規模
militarism
軍國主義
nationalism
民族主義
Activity 3:
Learn more about the background of the six countries
Use the following information to identify the six countries. Write down the
country name in the circle provided.
I’m Britain’s neighbour. My industrial production is
lower than both Germany and Britain. I have the
second biggest colonial empire. I want to take
revenge against Germany since I have been
defeated by her in 1870 and ceded land to her. I
want to get my land back!
AustriaHungary
-
-
-
France
I’m Franz Josef, an 84-year old emperor.
There are many races inside my empire such
as Germans, Hungarians, Czechs, Serbs etc.
I want to expand to the Balkan Peninsula and to
unite all my people under my rule.
My country has more land and more people
than any other power.
There were many other races in my country
and they want to get rid of my rule.
We have few modern mines and factories. We
do have an ice-free port and we want to have
one in Mediterranean Sea.
I also want to get more lands in the Balkans as
I believe that all Slav people should be united.
Russia
-
-
-
My country is one of Europe’s great powers and
is the first country in the world to industrialize. I
have enough supply of coal and iron.
I have acquired many colonies. I can get many
resources from them. To have more colonies
can also increase my international status and
bring glory to my country.
I have the best navy and I want to be the
number one naval power.
Germany is a big threat to me because she has
been trying to build a strong navy and empire.
-
Italy
-
Britain
I have colonial conflicts with France in Africa. Both
of us wanted to colonize Tunisia in Africa. I was
defeated by France in 1881 and Tunisia became a
colony of France.
I have many modern steelworks and factories to
make weapons.
I want to weaken France and prevent her from
making possible attacks.
I have been trying to build up my navy to
compete with Britain.
I am jealous of the large number of colonies of
Britain and France. I want to establish colonies
in Africa and to unite all German speaking
peoples.
Germany
Activity 4:
Using the information in Activity 3, identify the conflicts among the
countries over the armaments race, nationalism and imperialism. The first
one has been done for you.
Armaments race
Country
Information
Britain
She wanted to be the number one naval power.
Germany
She wanted to build her navy to compete with
Britain.
Nationalism
Country
Information
France
She wanted to get her land back from Germany.
She wanted to unite all people in the Balkan
Austria-Hungary
Peninsula under her rule.
Russia
She wanted to unite all Slav people.
Germany
She wanted to unite all German speaking peoples.
Imperialism
Country
Information
France
She was the second biggest colonial empire.
Austria-Hungary
She wanted to expand to the Balkans.
Russia
She wanted to have an ice-free port in Europe.
Britain
She wanted to get more colonies. By getting more
colonies, she could get more resources and glory.
Italy
She wanted to get colony in Africa but failed.
Germany
She wanted to get colonies in Africa.
Activity 5:
By 1900, Europe was divided into two camps. One is called Triple
Alliance. The other is called Triple Entente. Can you guess which
three countries will form one camp and which three countries will
form another? Using the following blank map of Europe, shade the
two camps with two different colours.
Blue – Triple Entente
Red – Triple Alliance
Useful Words
Balkan Peninsula
巴爾幹半島
camp
陣營
cede
割讓
colonial empire
殖民地帝國
colonize
佔領為殖民地
colony
殖民地
compete
競爭
glory
光榮
ice-free port
不結冰港
international status
國際地位
Mediterranean Sea
地中海
navy
海軍
races
種族
revenge
報復
Slav
斯拉夫人
threat
威脅
Tunisia
突尼西亞
Activity 6:
Events leading to the First World War
A. Germany declared war on France and
invaded Belgium
B. Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand
and his wife were shot dead by a Serb
student.
Date
1st August 1914
28th June 1914
4th August 1914
30th July 1914
3rd August 1914
28th July 1914
C. Because of her alliance, Russia
mobilized her army to support Serbia.
D. Because of the alliance, Germany
declared war on Russia
E. Unsatisfied with Serbia’s response to
an ultimatum, Austria-Hungary declared
war on Serbia.
F. Britain declared war on Germany
With the help of your textbook, write down the date that matches with the event. Put the
date next to the letter representing the event in the following table.
Count down to war
Date
28th June 1914
28th July 1914
30th July 1914
1st August 1914
3rd August 1914
4th August 1914
Event
B
E
C
D
A
F
Useful Words
alliance
同盟
declare war
宣戰
invade
佔領
mobilize
動員
response
回覆
ultimatum
最後通牒
Activity 7:
Option 1
With the help of your textbook and your own knowledge, use one or two sentence(s) to
further explain each of the following statements. An example has been done for you as
a demonstration.
1. EXAMPLE
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
The underlined words are the
explanation/elaboration.
Why did Austria-Hungary declare war on Serbia?
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia because Serbia only accepted
some of the terms or demands, not all the demands of the ultimatum.
2. The European powers, especially Britain and Germany wanted to
build more armaments.
Why did they want to build more armaments?
The European powers, especially Britain and Germany wanted to build
they wanted to feel safe.
more armaments because _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3. The origin aim of the alliance system was to maintain peace in Europe.
Could the alliance system maintain peace in Europe?
The origin aim of the alliance system was to maintain peace in Europe.
However, ___________________________________________________
it increased the tension among the European powers and turned a
___________________________________________________________
local war to a general war.
4. Nationalism took an extreme form after 1870.
Would people support the expansion of their country?
Nationalism took an extreme form after 1870. ______________________
It demanded that people
__________________________________________________________
should be loyal to the nation and support its expansion.
5. The European powers wanted to get more overseas colonies
Why did European powers want to get more overseas colonies?
The European powers wanted to get more overseas colonies because
They wanted to get more raw materials and overseas markets for their
___________________________________________________________
industrial goods.
___________________________________________________________
*Note: The above are the suggested elaborations. Other logical elaborations are also acceptable.
Activity 7:
Option 2
Match the following statements on the left hand column with the correct elaborations
given. Write the letter only in the right hand column. An example has been done for you
as a demonstration.
EXAMPLE
Austria-Hungary declared war
on Serbia because
Serbia only accepted some of
the terms or demands, not all
the demands of the ultimatum.
1.
The European powers,
especially Britain and
Germany wanted to build
more armaments
A. It demanded that people
should be loyal to the
nation and support its
expansion.
2.
The origin aim of the
alliance system was to
maintain peace in Europe.
B. because they wanted to
feel safe.
3.
The European powers
wanted to get more
overseas colonies
C. However, it increased the
tensions
among
the
European powers and
turned a local war to a
general war.
4.
Nationalism took an
extreme form after 1870.
D. because they wanted to
get more raw materials
and overseas markets for
their industrial goods.
Activity 8:
Mini-essay
Which is the most important cause leading to the outbreak of the First World War?
Support your answer by giving 3 reasons.
In our opinion, __________________________________________ was the
most important cause leading to the outbreak of the First World War. There
were three reasons to justify our view.
Firstly, ______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________