Name:______________________________

World War One Webquest US Honors 2010

Using the following website:http://www.firstworldwar.com/

1. Go to this linkhttp://www.firstworldwar.com/features/lusitania.htm
How and why was the Lusitania sunk? What arguments are presented in terms of who
was to blame?
The Lusitania was sunk by the U-20, a German submarine, with a
torpedo. The Lusitania was traveling slowly because there was a heavy fog, and
the Germans assumed that the large ship was slowing down to help the British.
The Germans felt that their attacks were justified because the captain of the
lusitania ignored their clear instructions to travel in a zig-zag pattern. The
Americans and the British believed that the Germans were way out of line with
their attack.

2. Go to this link --http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/zimmermann.htm

In your own words, what does the author of this article say about the significance of the
Zimmermann Telegram?
The author conveys in this article that the American people really
solidified their feelings of hatred towards Germany when they discovered this
telegram on the Texas border.

3. http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/usawardeclaration.htm
What specific arguments does President Wilson provide for a declaration of war?

Wilson Says-
“I am not now thinking of the loss of property involved, immense and
serious as that is, but only of the wanton and wholesale destruction of the
lives of non-combatants, men, women, and children, engaged in pursuits
which have always, even in the darkest periods of modern history, been
deemed innocent and legitimate. Property can be paid for; the lives of
peaceful and innocent people cannot be. The present German submarine
warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind.”

4. http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/trenchlife.htm
Identify and list at least 10 important facts about life in the trenches
• the years of stalemate exemplified on the Western Front from
autumn 1914 until spring 1918.
• Death was a constant companion to those serving in the line,
even when no raid or attack was launched or defended
against.
 • Rats in their millions infested trenches
• would attempt to rid the trenches of the rats by various
methods: gunfire, with the bayonet, and even by clubbing
them to death.
• a single rat couple could produce up to 900 offspring in a year
• Lice were a never-ending problem, breeding in the seams of
filthy clothing and causing men to itch unceasingly.
• Frogs by the score were found in shell holes covered in water;
they were also found in the base of trenches. Slugs and
horned beetles crowded the sides of the trench.
• Trench Foot was another medical condition peculiar to trench
life
• An hour before dawn everyone was roused from slumber by the
company orderly officer and sergeant and ordered to climb up
on the fire step to guard against a dawn raid by the enemy,
bayonets fixed.
• With breakfast over the men would be inspected by either the
company or platoon commander

5. http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/wilsonadministration.htm
List and briefly explain some important specific details about the biography
and presidency of Woodrow Wilson

• He was the president of Princeton University, and that caught the

attention of democrats.
• Wilson’s cabinet was weak and inexperienced
• Attempted tariff reform

6. Using this link and the links at the bottom of each article, identify and
describe at least ten important specific changes that happened to women as a
result of WWI http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/womenww1_one.htm

1. Women on the home front mostly

2. women rarely fought on the battle front
3.

7. Go to this link, find any five photographs on the right column, provide a brief
writeup of the image name and why you thought it was particularly powerful
or interesting http://www.firstworldwar.com/photos/index.htm
 8. Go to this link: http://www.firstworldwar.com/audio/index.htm
Select any 5 songs, listen to them, read the lyrics, and describe the meaning of the song
below (why you thought the song was interesting, how the song captured the time period,
specific relation to the war)

9. Read any one excerpt from a war journal and record your thoughts below –
what struck you as particularly meaningful?
http://www.firstworldwar.com/diaries/index.htm

10. Compare and contrast the content and meaning of the work of these two
American poets. How do these poems reflect the experiences of the authors?
Which was more meaningful to you and why?
http://www.firstworldwar.com/poetsandprose/seeger.htm

http://www.firstworldwar.com/poetsandprose/kilmer.htm