Education Resources

	The Best Laid Plans The First World War, Part 2 (Film Series) Creator: MacArthur Memorial Part 2 of a video series on World War I, this 7 minute film covers the start of the war and the Schlieffen Plan. In August 1914, the nations of Europe march enthusiastically to war. Capturing the mood of the time, famed sociologist Max Weber declares: "Regardless of outcome, this war is great and wonderful." With war plans like Germany's Schlieffen Plan and France's Plan XVII in place, each side is confident in early August that they can secure a quick victory. What they ultimately discover is that war is easy to plan... until it actually starts. Watch Online, Download PDF
	Stalemate The First World War, Part 3 (Film Series) Creator: MacArthur Memorial Part 3 of a video series on World War I, this 6 minute film explores the First Battle of the Marne and the stalemate that followed on the Western Front. Included are a short viewing exercise and a critical thinking and primary sources worksheet (PDFs) that can be used in your classroom. More related resources are available on MacArthur Memorial's website. Watch Online, Download Viewing Exercise (PDF), Download Critical Thinking and Primary Sources (PDF)
	World War I Sheet Music Creator: Library of Congress Thousands of pieces of sheet music from the collections of the Library of Congress, with the greatest number coming from the years of the United States' active involvement in the First World War and the immediate postwar period. View Online
	The Rhyme of History Lessons from the Great War Creator: Margaret MacMillan for The Brookings Essay From The Brookings Essay, noted historian and University of Oxford professor Margaret MacMillan takes a critical look at the parallels between the rise of globalization and nationalism before WWI and today in this long-form essay. Read Online
	Legacy of WWI Creator: HISTORY® The legacy of World War I in the United States and elsewhere is anything but simple. This short video from HISTORY® explores the varied consequences of World War I from the growth of the American government, World War II, the Vietnam War and beyond. Watch on HISTORY.com, Watch on YouTube
	Letter from Ho Chi Minh to Secretary of State Robert Lansing Creator: National Archives Prior to his pivotal role in the Vietnam War, Nguyen Ai Quac (Ho Chi Minh) requested members of the Paris Peace Conference to consider the rights of Vietnamese people in French Indochina. His request was ignored. The National Archives has the original 1919 letter (in the original French and translated into English) from Ho Chi Minh as well as other related documents from the Paris Peace Conference. Read the Letter
	Observation, Donation, Action Americans Respond to War 1914-1915 Creator: National World War I Museum and Memorial Despite President Woodrow Wilson's request that Americans remain "neutral in thought and in action," ordinary people responded actively during the first two years of the Great War. During the National World War I Museum and Memorial's 2014 Symposium (1914: Global War & American Neutrality), Dr. Christopher Capozzola explored the varied American responses to the war in this 55-minute recorded presentation on YouTube. Watch Online
	Destruction of the Ecosystem Creator: Tait Keller This article by Tait Keller posted to 1914-1918 Online: International Encyclopedia of the First World War examines the ecological impact of WWI, explaining in detail how large-scale environmental transformations came from expanded production and industrialization during the war rather than just the tolls of combat. Read Online, Download PDF
	Mapping the Legacy of WWI in the Middle East Classroom Activity Creator: MacArthur Memorial Using the maps provided, students will identify the alliances of 1914 and answer questions about borders in the Middle East as result of the war. Download PDF
	Teenage Assassins and the Outbreak of WWI The Sarajevo Assassination and the Spark that Ignited a World War Creator: Lisa Adeli From Lisa Adeli of the University of Arizona - Center of Middle Eastern Studies and teacher fellow at the National World War I Museum and Memorial, this is a lesson created for high school students dealing with big issues, such as nationalism, terrorism, and the role of individuals in history, and the specific events surrounding the outbreak of World War I. Download PDF
	Breaking News: June 28, 1914 Austrian Heir and His Wife Murdered in Bosnian Capital Creator: National World War I Museum and Memorial This handout from the National World War I Museum and Memorial, written in the style of a breaking news alert, explains the events of June 28, 1914, when Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated. Download PDF, View Online
	Animals in World War I World War I Podcast Series Creator: MacArthur Memorial From transportation, to communication, security, comfort and morale, animals have been indispensable human partners throughout history. It is therefore not surprising that animals have played important roles in military conflicts. During World War I, millions of animals were put into service on each side. This war is often remembered for the great human suffering, but millions of animals also experienced the horrors of the war, while bringing their own unique skill sets to the business of war. Listen Online, Visit Website
	The first world war, 1914-1918 Animated Maps Creator: The Map as History A series of animated maps on the historical events and movements of armed forces throughout the World War I in all major battlegrounds, including the Dardanelles, naval engagements, Balkan campaigns, etc. Available in English, French and Spanish. Explore Online
	Tanks in World War I Topics in Chronicling America Creator: Library of Congress Articles from historic newspapers document the introduction of tank warfare in the First World War. All the linked articles and many more are searchable via the Chronicling America: American Historic Newspapers digital collection. Explore Online
	Newspaper Pictorials World War I Rotogravures, 1914 to 1919 Creator: Library of Congress Illustrations from historic newspapers in the collections of the Library of Congress detail events of the First World War alongside other news of the day.This online collection is drawn from the Sunday rotogravure sections of the New York Times and New York Tribune, as well as The War of the Nations: Portfolio in Rotogravure Etchings, published by the New York Times compiling images from their "Mid-Week Pictorial" supplements. Explore Online

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about this project

The United States World War One Centennial Commission and the National World War I Museum and Memorial are dedicated to educating the public about the causes, events and consequences of the conflict and we encourage the use of these resources to better understand the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community.

Assisting in this endeavor are: