Presented in collaboration with the United States World War One Centennial Commission and the National WWI Museum and Memorial.
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Education Resources
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The Road to WarThe First World War, Part 1 (Film Series)Creator: MacArthur MemorialIn 1914, how did a self-proclaimed modern, civilized world crash into a war that engulfed the globe and consumed millions of lives? Produced by the MacArthur Memorial, this short 13 minute film traces the events leading up to World War I in Europe. Included is a short viewing exercise (PDF) that can be used in your classroom.Watch Online, Download PDF |
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The Best Laid PlansThe First World War, Part 2 (Film Series)Creator: MacArthur MemorialPart 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 |
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StalemateThe First World War, Part 3 (Film Series)Creator: MacArthur MemorialPart 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) |
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The Rhyme of HistoryLessons from the Great WarCreator: Margaret MacMillan for The Brookings EssayFrom 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 |
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Legacy of WWICreator: 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 |
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Letter from Ho Chi Minh to Secretary of State Robert LansingCreator: National ArchivesPrior 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 |
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Observation, Donation, ActionAmericans Respond to War 1914-1915Creator: National World War I Museum and MemorialDespite 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 |
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Destruction of the EcosystemCreator: Tait KellerThis 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 |
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Mapping the Legacy of WWI in the Middle EastClassroom ActivityCreator: MacArthur MemorialUsing 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 |
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Teenage Assassins and the Outbreak of WWIThe Sarajevo Assassination and the Spark that Ignited a World WarCreator: Lisa AdeliFrom 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 |
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Breaking News: June 28, 1914Austrian Heir and His Wife Murdered in Bosnian CapitalCreator: National World War I Museum and MemorialThis 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 |
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Animals in World War IWorld War I Podcast SeriesCreator: MacArthur MemorialFrom 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 |
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The first world war, 1914-1918Animated MapsCreator: The Map as HistoryA 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 |
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Tanks in World War ITopics in Chronicling AmericaCreator: Library of CongressArticles 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 |
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Newspaper PictorialsWorld War I Rotogravures, 1914 to 1919Creator: Library of CongressIllustrations 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:
