IB History Paper 3, Option 4, Topic 13: Europe & the First World War & Review

Aligned to the IBO's History Guide of 2020, the Europe and the First World War unit contains 11 detailed lesson plans with primary source activities, and three detailed study guides that are vital in preparation for the upcoming IB Paper 3 examination on Topic 13 Europe and the First World War.

The following topics/lesson plans:

1. European Motivations for 'New Imperialism' in the 19th century;

2. Impact of European Imperialism;

3. Continental and Overseas Crises - the Moroccan Crisis (1905 to 1906 and 1911) and the Balkans Crisis (19112 to 1913);

4. The July Crisis of 1914: European Powers' Response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand;

5. Historiographical Debate on the Cause(s) for War in Europe in 1914;

6. The First World War: Media Coverage of the Cause for War and the 'Blame Game';

7. Preparation for War: The Role of Propaganda in the European Belligerent Nations: Russia, Germany, Italy, France, and Great Britain;

8. War Correspondents: The Horrors of War and the Role of New Technology;

9. President Wilson and the Evolution of Foreign Policy from 1914 to 1919; and

10. The United States and the Call for Arms: Propaganda Music and Posters; and

11. A Deadly War: The Cost of the First World War in Charts and Statistics

Study Guides Fully Prepared for Teachers and for Students:

1. America's Role throughout the First World War: A comprehensive, detailed analysis of the following topics: 1. America's Initial Foreign Policy during the First World War (July 1914 to 6 April 1917); 2. Historiography on America's entrance in 1917; 3. The Role of the Federal Government throughout the war (finances, food production, industries, propaganda, and civil liberties); and 4. The Role of the Military and Minorities (women and African Americans) throughout the war;

2. Great Britain: Its Involvement in the First World War: A comprehensive, detailed analysis of the following topics: 1. The British Military System in 1914 and Campaigns and Battles; 2. The British Military System in 1915 and Campaigns and Battles; 3. The British Military System in 1916 and Campaigns and Battles; 4. The British Military System in 1917 and Campaigns and Battles; and 5. The British Military System in 1918 and Campaigns and Battles. This study guide includes the important roles that Prime Ministers Asquith and Lloyd George played throughout the war. Detailed notes are included for the following: 1. The policies implemented by Asquith and Lloyd George and their impact on Great Britain's ability to wage a successful war; 2. The creation of different government departments and agencies to aid in the war effort; 3. The relationship between the British Prime Ministers with their war cabinets, the political parties (namely the Labour and Conservative) throughout the entire war; and 4. The methods and means that the British Parliament undertook to aid in the British war effort and the impact that these policies had on Great Britain. This study guide also provides a detailed summary and analysis on the impact that the war had on Great Britain from a military, political, economic, and social standpoint. [Note: As per the requirements within the IBO's History Paper 3, Option 14, Topic 13, two nations needed to be discussed in detail regarding the impact that the war had on society. Great Britain was selected as the first of two.];

3. Imperial Germany: Its Involvement in the First World War: This comprehensive, detailed study guide focuses on the impact that the war had on Germany from a political, social, economic, and military standpoint. This study guide provides a detailed analysis of: 1. The relationship between the chancellors and the Reichstag and the German Supreme Army Command; 2. The various policies passed by the chancellors and the Reichstag and the impact that these policies had on German society and on the nation's ability to wage a successful war; 3. The relationship between the German government and industries throughout the war and the impact that the industries had on the German war effort (Note: I also provide a detailed summary and analysis of the impact that the British naval blockade had on food and industrial production in Germany during the war); 4. the role of women and workers in the workforce and the impact that the war had on the economy and the price of goods; 5. the German war machine - the army and navy - throughout the entire war from 1914 to 1918 - their victories and defeats and the impact that each battle and campaign had on Germany's ability to wage a successful war against their Allied counterparts. In this section, a throrough analysis is given on the important role that Hindenburg and Ludendorff had on political and military matters. The last part of the detailed study provides a detailed summary on the reasons for the defeat of Germany and its allies within the Central Powers. [Note: As per the requirements within the IBO's History Paper 3, Option 14, Topic 13, two nations needed to be discussed in detail regarding the impact that the war had on society. Imperial Germany was selected as the second nation.]