Classwork for Monday 3/9/2009

Do Whatcha Know!
From its start in 1914, most Americans opposed U.S. involvement in World War I; even though they thought Germany was a bully, it just wasn’t their problem. But in 1916, Germany announced that it would begin to sink any ships entering the water around Britain, its enemy. Four American ships (and others carrying Americans, like the Lusitania) were sunk. Germany also sent a telegram to Mexico, called the Zimmerman note. This note asked for a German-Mexican alliance, and promised that if the U.S. entered the war, Germany would help Mexico get back Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

1. What do you think the United States will do?
2. What do you think should happen next?

Intro to New Material
• Together, students who support the war will read the sections “American Military Mobilization” and “American Success in Combat” from page 402 to page 406. They will answer the following questions in their own words as they read:
1. How did the U.S. raise an army for WWI?
2. What four steps did the U.S. government take to quickly build a navy?
3. How did the U.S. help the Allies win?

• Together, students who oppose the war will read the sections “Selling the War” and “Attacks on Civil Liberties” from page 411 to page 414. They will answer the following questions in their own words as they read:
1. How did the U.S. government finance the war?
2. What methods did the Committee of Public Information use to make the war more popular?
3. What was the original purpose of the Espionage and Sedition Act?

Guided Practice
• Students who support the war will summarize problems Americans faced as they prepared for and participated in WWI.

• Students who oppose the war will summarize the ways the U.S. got Americans to support the war.

Independent Practice
Students will return to their assigned seats, and teach their classmates what they learned in small groups. Students will take notes on what their classmates teach them, which will serve as evidence of the exchange of ideas.

Learning Log
Draw a cartoon showing
1. Why the U.S. got involved in World War I
2. How the U.S. fared in World War I
3. How the U.S. dealt with anti-war protesters