Florida International University Historians and WWI Discussion – Description
DISCUSSION 1 : Historians and WWI
Prompt:
World War I essentially determined the trajectory of twentieth-century world history, and the conflict had an important impact on American history. The historiography on WWI is immense, with historians (from all over the world) taking a number of different perspectives, contributing different arguments about the significance of the conflict, and examining a wide range of issues and topics.
This essay asks students to identify and discuss at least one aspect about WWI that they believe historians should focus on. What do you think is the most important story about WWI? If you were writing a history about WWI, what would you write about? What is the experience that students of WWI absolutely need to know about? What is the story that needs to be told? What is most significant about WWI history? What is the “big take away”? Your answer can focus on the American, European, or global historical experience.
American Yawp, Chapter 21. https://www.americanyawp.com/text/21-world-war-i/Trench Warfare. (n.d.). National WWI Museum and Memorial. https://www.theworldwar.org/learn/about-wwi/trench-warfare Mock,
DISCUSSION 2 This discussion is based on the Yawp textbook, chapter 21 and the below readings.
For this discussion, students will discuss the foreign policy of President Wilson, often described by historians as “Wilsonian idealism.” What does “Wilsonian idealism” mean exactly? And what evidence do historians typically point to as evidence of “Wilsonian idealism”? You must discuss two pieces of evidence that illustrate “Wilsonian idealism.”
Finally, is “Wilsonian idealism” made for the real world, is it practical?
The following three sources should help students in their understanding of Wilsonian diplomacy (Wilsonian idealism):
https://millercenter.org/president/wilson/foreign-affairs
http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/41929/1/Idealism%20in%20international%20relations%20%28LSERO%29.pdf
http://www.vcdh.virginia.edu/solguide/VUS09/essay09b.html
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