We are studying the Great War this week and next. Last year in World History we looked at the war more from a European standpoint. This year we will focus on America's involvement. Today we reviewed some of the basics of the war. I showed students photographs of four well-known people who were involved in the war. Then students spent time reading Chapter 9 section 1 and writing on two topics: (1) list and describe the events that eventually led to American involvement in the Great War; (2) how did President Wilson respond to these events?
I lectured a bit on a new weapon - the submarine - and how Germany used submarines in trying to blockade Great Britain and France from trade with the United States. Topics that came up during this lecture were Winston Churchill, Room 40, German code books and the Lusitania. We then discussed the Zimmerman telegram, how the British were able to decode it, and the role it had in worsening relations between the U.S. and Mexico and eventually bringing the United States into the war.
We ended the class with the CNN Student News. Quiz over Chapter 9 sections 1 & 2 on Thursday.