Teaching World War I in the 21st Century 1 | Page 5

INTRODUCTION
Robert D’Alessandro, Executive Director, U.S. Army Center of Military History/Chief of
Military History, Vice Chairman, he United States World War One Centennial Commission
Libby H. O’Connell, Ph.D., Chief Historian, HISTORY®
HISTORY® and the United States World War One Centennial Commission are very pleased to join with National
History Day to provide educators with these resources for exploring World War I. This year marks the 100th
anniversary of the start of the Great War, giving us all the opportunity to reflect on the importance of this
conflict in the context of world history. World War I shaped modern warfare. With the first substantial use of
submarines, airplanes, chemical weapons, and tanks in battle, the war engulfed millions of people throughout
the world in a deadly four-year conflict.
As we look back on the war 100 years later, we can learn a great deal about the ways the war shaped our world.

As the lesson plans and articles in this book show, examining the many dimensions of World War I gives students
important and valuable ways to learn about the increasingly globalized world they live in today. Just as the war
propelled the weapons of modern warfare, it also ushered in new forms of medicine to treat the wounded, it
exposed many soldiers and civilians to new areas of the world, and it revealed the possibilities and pitfalls of
international politics. While the League of Nations was not ultimately successful, it created a framework for
international cooperation that would be immensely important as new conflicts arose in the twentieth century.
These resources offer multiple perspectives on the Great War, allowing students to consider the experiences
of people throughout the world whose lives were deeply affected by the war. Learning about the war from the
vantage point of other nations and countries is a vital way for students to think about historical context and
specificity. Through these lesson plans students also have an opportunity to learn about the ways women,
African Americans, and young people participated in and sacrificed during World War I. Artistic responses to
the war—particularly the rich outpouring of poetry and music—are additional avenues of exploration that
students will find compelling.

We are both honored to serve on the World War One Centennial Commission. Over the course of the next four years
we will be launching and publicizing important events, publications, and programs related to the commemoration
of the Great War. Stay tuned to http://worldwar-1centennial.org/ and to History.com for more information about
World War I commemorations and plans. We hope you enjoy this National History Day sourcebook as a way to
re-examine the events and legacies of the Great War.
Robert D’Alessandro
Executive Director, U.S. Army Center of
Military History/Chief of Military History
Vice Chairman, The United States World
War One Centennial Commission
Libby H. O’Connell, Ph.D.
Chief Historian
HISTORY®

Col. D’Alessandro and Dr. O’Connell are both commissioners on The United States World War One Centennial Co