Will Walsh

Lesson Plan

Name: American Entrance into World War I

Class/Subject: CI 402 – Teaching Diverse Middle School Students

Date: 1 March 2011

Student Objectives:
 Using primary and secondary sources, students will analyze the causes for the entry of the
United States of America into World War I.
 In whole class discussion, students will justify and/or critique America’s involvement in
World War I, and forecast how it may have affected future events in the US.  

Content Standards:
 16.B.2d (US) Identify major political events and leaders within the United States historical eras since
the adoption of the Constitution, including the westward expansion, Louisiana Purchase, Civil War,
and 20th century wars as well as the roles of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow
Wilson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
 16.B.5a (W) Analyze worldwide consequences of isolated political events, including the events
triggering the Napoleonic Wars and World Wars I and II.

Materials/Resources/Technology:
 Computer, projector
 “Causes for World War I” handout, “The Zimmerman Note” placard, “The Sussex Pledge”
placard, “The Lusitania” placard and photographs, “Unrestricted Submarine Warfare”
placard, “Treaties and Alliances” placard
 http://www.history.com/videos/u-boats-sink-the-lusitania-in-1915#u-boats-sink-the-
lusitania-in-1915

Teacher’s Goals:
 To demonstrate to students the significance of events prior to the entrance of the USA into
WWI.
 To make apparent the impact of America’s entrance into the war

Time
1 min Start of Class
Teachers will introduce the lesson and the objectives for the day. Teachers will then
emphasize the importance of the content for future reference.

15 mins Introduction of Lesson

Teachers will engage students in an introductory discussion about their previous
knowledge on the start of World War I. Teachers will pose the following discussion
questions to the class and encourage student involvement. Teachers will also promote
 critical-thinking by asking pertinent follow-up questions after students’ responses:
-What do you know from your lessons on WW1 so far about the reasons countries
decided to go to war?
-What do you think the word “Isolationism” means? Why do you think America waited
so long to get involved? (Teacher will write the word on the board and encourage
students to consider the root of the word-Isolation)
-What do you think are the ‘rules of warfare’? Are some things more acceptable than
others?
- Based on your Knowledge of World History how did World War I begin?  Which
countries were involved and why were they fighting?

The teacher will ask students for any questions or concerns about information covered in
this introduction and explain the main activity for the day.

30 mins Lesson Instruction

Placards A-E will be placed at various locations around the classroom along with their
supplemental materials (websites, photographs and documents). Students will be
instructed to visit each placard for approx. five minutes and complete the second column
of the handout by writing down three facts from each placard that they believe are
important.  

Then, with a partner, students will discuss how the events on the placards influenced
America’s decision to enter World War I. Based on this discussion as well as their
previous three facts they gathered, students will complete the third column of the
handout.  
Teacher will instruct students to sit back down in their assigned seats and then  reconvene
with a whole-class discussion based on the worksheet the students completed.
The teachers will ask students to consider the various events and documents as well as
reflect on their significance in United States’ entrance into World War I. The chart will
be put up on the projector and the class will work together to determine how, and why
each event contributed to America’s involvement in the war. Teachers will encourage
students to analyze these events from their own perspectives, as well as the perspective of
an American citizen in the early 20th century.

13 mins Assessment
Teachers will pose the following questions to guide student discussion and to check for
understanding on the topic:
-What event(s) do you think is the most significant, why?
-Do you think our entrance to the war is justified by these events or could/should have
been avoided?
-What were some of the effects of America’s involvement in WWI?

Students will turn in their worksheet so teacher can check for understanding and
completion-teacher will return worksheet for students to refer to in future lessons.

1 min Closure
There were many different reasons for the entry of America into World War I. Despite
our initial position as isolated from the war, these major events and documents helped
involve the United States in the conflict. Eventually, the United States emerged from the
war as a major player on the world stage, and would have its hand in many large events
to come. The entrance of the United States in WWI, like other wars, was quite
controversial. While some think it is justified, others believe there was not a just cause
for our involvement.
 Placard A
The Zimmermann Note
The United States of America cut off diplomatic negotiations with Germany in 1916. In

1917, British code-breakers deciphered a telegram from the German Foreign Minister, named

Arthur Zimmermann that was being sent to the German ambassador in Mexico. In the telegram,

Zimmerman promises the restoration of historically Mexican territories in the USA back to Mexico

in exchange for support. Some of these territories include Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
To the German Minister to Mexico
Berlin, January 19, 1917
On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted.  In spite of this, it
is our intention to endeavour to keep neutral the United States of America.
If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico:
That we shall make war together and together make peace.  We shall give general financial
support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico,
Texas, and Arizona.  The details are left to you for settlement...
You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as
soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest
that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting
adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and
Japan.
Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless
submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months.
Zimmermann
(Secretary of State)

Source: Source Records of the Great War, Vol. V, ed. Charles F. Horne, National Alumni 1923
 Placard B
The Sussex Pledge
In this 1916 agreement, Germany agreed to disengage the policy of unrestricted submarine

warfare against ships carrying civilian passengers. The Germans even agreed to allow the safe

evacuation of crew members on ships carrying military supplies before attacking the shit.

As the war progressed, the German navy began to determine that military success would

depend on breaking supply lines to the Triple Entente. By this time, German strategists started to

consider the USA as a power that was not truly neutral. American vessels had been transporting

supplies to Britain for some time. In 1917, Germany announced that unrestricted submarine

warfare would be resumed. Weeks later, President Woodrow Wilson announced that he had

broken diplomatic relations with Germany.

 Placard C
The Lusitania
The Lusitania was a British ocean liner. On 7 May 1915, a German submarine torpedoed

and destroyed the vessel near the west coast of Ireland. Germans had been suspicious that the

ship, coming from the USA, was carrying supplies for the British war effort. Their suspicion was

justified when supplies were later found on the Lusitania. Almost 2000 passengers were on board.

About half of them died as a result of the attack, including more than 120 American civilians.

http://www.history.com/videos/u-boats-sink-the-lusitania-in-

1915#u-boats-sink-the-lusitania-in-1915
Placard D

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

Germany believed that neutral ships, including those coming from the USA, had been

transporting goods and supplies to Triple Entente powers. The German military resorted to

unrestricted submarine warfare, which means that the German submarines would attack any ship

that was suspected of aiding members of the Triple Entente. President Wilson cut off diplomatic

ties with Germany in hopes of deterring the practice of unrestricted warfare. By March of 1917,

several American ships had been destroyed by German torpedoes. The US Congress declared

war on Germany in April 1917.

 Placard E
Treaties and Alliances
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed the Triple Alliance in the late nineteenth

century. Great Britain, France, and later Russia began to feel pressured by this collaboration.

Together, these three states formed the Triple Entente. Although the USA did not enter the war

until 1917, they had been supplying goods to the members of the Triple Entente.
Name:

Effect it had on
Event 3 Facts America’s involvement
in WWI

Unrestricted
Submarine warfare

Lusitania

Sussex Pledge

Zimmerman Note

Treaties and
Alliances