In the world's history there has been many disputes among countries that have led to war. But there has only been two instances that these disputes or disagreements have led to World War.

World War One has effected many regions of the world from Europe and the Baltic regions to Australia and even the United States. Millions of men were lost from each country in this war leaving families without fathers, sons and brothers. By the end of this devastating war many families could not even remember why their loved ones were sent to fight. As a result the question comes up "What truly brought about this war?"

By analyzing the years leading up to 1914 and the beginning of the war, the source of the war can be found, with the tension rising among European powers.

THE TASK

How did World War one truly start?

This question does not have one specific answer. There are many events that lead up to the making of WWI. In the following web sites provided, your task is to research the beginning of WWI. Think about events that led up to the WWI, and why these problems and disputes between countries forced a war to breakout.

Now that you have researched the rise of WWI, write an article for a newspaper describing specific events or problems that a country was having that forced them into the War. This article should include a few interesting facts on the specific subject as well as the journalists thoughts on the war that was rising. The article should also have a grabbing title to interest and grab the reader's eye.

RESOURCES

The Web pages listed below will give you a good history about the beginning of WWI and what major events led up to the war. Some of these pages will take you straight to articles. Others will take you to a page where you will have to search and pick out articles you think are important to the building of WWI.

World War One Document Archive 1914

How World War One Started

The Reason Specific European Nations Started World War One

The Schlieffen Plan 1905

THE PROCESS

To truly investigate why countries entered WWI and why a European dispute erupted into a World War this topic must be researched heavily. Use the following steps to guide your research.

1. To accompish the task, investigate the web sites that are listed on this page.

2. Remember while reading information on the web sites about WWI, take good notes that will help you come to a conclusion about why WWI ever happened.

3. The following questions will help lead you in your investigation.

Who is Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and what was his significance leading up to WWI?

Why did specific countries have to enter WWI?

Why did WWI grow to be a world war when the rising problames were focused in Europe?

LEARNING ADVICE

When searching through the web sites provided, always be an investigator. If there are more links that look like they can be helpful, click on them.

BROWSE IT ALL

Also remember to take notes while you are looking at the web sites. The notes that you take can be very helpful when you are ready to write your paper.

CONCLUSION

After researching the rise of WWI and looking at the major events that led up to WWI, as well as the status of the European countries at the beginning of the war, think about why these events had to happen. Why did countries get pushed into the war? Do you think that WWI could have been prevented? Be prepared to discuss with the class.

Men in the field

http://raven.cc.ukans.edu/~kansite/ww_one/photos/greatwar.htm