How well do these cartoons cover the causes of World War One?

causes of ww1

In pairs, Y9/GCSE students visit 9 different cartoons posted around the wall.

They have to work out:

  1. Which cause is being ‘covered’ in each cartoon – sometimes two.
  2.  Which causes are NOT covered.

They are given a textbook diagram explaining the causes in the form of an artist’s impression to help them.

The 9 cartoons cover, in order:

  • German expansion
  • Nationalism in the Balkans
  • Imperial rivalry in North Africa – Morocco
  • Nationalism in the Balkans, toppling of Turkish Empire, (again)
  • Alliance system linked with assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
  • Protection of Belgium
  • Imperial rivalry linked to naval race Imperial rivalry
  • Morocco and AlgecirasAlliance system linked to colonial rivalry

This leaves the arms race and the Franco-German rivalry over Alsace –Lorraine not covered and naval rivalry only fleetingly mentioned (sorry for the pun !)

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Written by Neil Thompson

All content on Keystage history is written and quality assured by Neil Thompson, a former history teacher, county history adviser and Ofsted inspector with more than 30 years’ experience in history education.

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