Slippery Slopes: Preventing War

by David M. Smith, Alberta

INTENDED GRADE/SUBJECT AREA

Grade 10 History

CONCEPT

The Causes of World War I

RECOMMENDED TIME FRAME

Option I — 1.5 x 80-minute classes
Option II — 2 x 80-minute classes

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Overhead projector of country profiles (Option I)
Photocopies of individual country profiles (Option II)
Map of Europe: 1914 for each group
Map of the World: 1914 for each group

INSTRUCTIONAL OUTCOMES

Describe the economic, political, and social situation of each of the major European powers as well as Canada in July 1914.
Understand how the actions of each of these countries were bound by events and actions of other countries.
Understand the relationship of national self-interest and international cooperation.
Understand the relationship of background causes of the war to immediate causes of the war.

BACKGROUND

This exercise attempts to recreate the historical process that helped lead the world into the Great War. Rather than starting with the “consequence” (the outbreak of the war) and walking the students backwards through to the causes, The Slippery Slope to Total War is designed to present students with some of the same dilemmas that faced the major powers in July 1914 and determine the extent to which the war became “inevitable” at this point. It also explores the extent to which any of these states had freedom of action, reinforcing the idea of the international community as an integrated system as opposed to several completely autonomous agents.

ACTIVITIES

Option I:

Divide the class into groups of four or five. Place “Phase One — Austria” on the overhead projector and discuss the country profile and situation with the class.

Have each group determine three courses of action for the country with a rationale for each.
Have each group report to the class as to their decisions.
Discuss with the class the extent to which the courses of action determined by the groups mirrors what the country actually did in July/August 1914
Repeat for phases two through seven, Serbia through Canada
Conclude with a summary discussion of the major themes outlined in the objectives

Option II

Divide the class into seven equal groups. Present each group with a different country profile—this is the country that they will represent for the duration of the exercise. Present the class with the situation outlined in Phase One of the exercise. Give all the groups 10-15 minutes to determine three courses of action. Any course of action requiring the cooperation of another country must be agreed to by that country. In other words, the groups are to practise diplomacy in determining their courses of action. The teacher must represent all powers not assigned, for example, the USA or the Ottoman Empire.

After the time limit is up, each group must present their courses of action.
The teacher will then summarise the situation as it stands after the first round.
Repeat these steps given the new situation.
Continue until a world war has erupted or peace has been achieved.
Conclude with a summary discussion of the major themes outlined in the objectives and why the class went to war or avoided a war.

EVALUATION

Formative evaluation techniques should be used with both Option I and Option II. Aspects to look for may include participation, the extent to which the course of action is consistent with the country profile, defense of action, and oral presentation skills.

About the Educator

David M. Smith teaches Canadian history in regular and International Baccalaureate programs. Position papers, debates, mock parliaments, expert testimonials, web selfstudy, directed reading, lectures, and presentations are assigned to lead students to experience Canadian history to its fullest. His class reviews primary documents to study Confederation and World War I. They role-play European powers in The Slippery Slope to Total War. Popular and unpopular views are examined as students witness history and determine their own positions on events.

OVERHEAD TRANSPARENCY PROFILES

Phase One Austria

Profile: You are one of the oldest empires in Europe. Your lands contain many nationalities—Slavs, Magyars, Hungarians, Gypsies, German-speaking peoples, etc. For the past sixty years your empire has been rocked by a series of nationalistic revolts—most of which you have shut down with your army. Your military is fairly well equipped, but many believe it is not large enough to protect your vast empire, especially against the threats of the Russian empire.

You are traditional enemies with the Russian empire whose national interest is generally opposed to your own. You want to stop Russian expansion toward the Mediterranean Sea. In order to make up for this deficiency, you have signed a mutual defense agreement with Germany and Italy called the Triple Alliance. Germany is the acknowledged head of this alliance and Italy has dropped out of the alliance. You have “issues” with Italy regarding territory on your southern border.

You have recently come into conflict with Serbia over your annexation of Bosnia. Nationalistic revolts are spreading in your southern territories. You suspect that Serbia is encouraging these revolts. As a nation you fear that you are losing influence in European affairs and wish for a return to the days when Austria was a major player on the continent. You see the rotting of the Ottoman Empire as a chance to expand in this region.

Situation: The heir to the Austrian throne, Arch Duke Francis Ferdinand, has been assassinated by a terrorist in the Bosnian city of Sarajevo. You suspect the Serbians may have been behind the murder.

List three courses of action that you as the leader of your country would take and the rationale for each.

Phase Two Serbia

Profile: You are a Slavic country, a sovereign country. You see yourself as the natural leader of the Slavic countries in the Balkans. The people in your country are feeling ever more nationalistic and support the idea of a “Greater Serbia.” You have unofficially supported organizations working toward Slav nationalism, even terrorist groups such as the Black Hand. You have a loose defence alliance with the Russian empire, but you are not part of the Triple Entente.

You are sympathetic to Slavic nationalistic groups within the Austrian empire that wish to join your country. You are traditional enemies with the Austro-Hungarian Empire—your national interests are generally in opposition to hers. You are extremely bitter about the Austrian annexation of Bosnia. You have recently gone to war with Bulgaria to assert land claims, but were only partly satisfied. Your recent expansion into Albania was frustrated.

Situation: The Black Hand has assassinated the heir to the Austrian throne. The Black Hand has been receiving unofficial aid from you for years. The Austrian government has demanded they be allowed to investigate the murder within your borders. They have issued you an ultimatum. If you don’t comply with their demands they will attack your country.

List three courses of action that you as the leader of your country would take and the rationale for each.

Phase Three Russia

Profile: You are the largest country in Europe. Although your country is huge, you lag behind the western European powers in terms of industrialization. Most of your population is made up of poor peasants. You have recently suffered a series of foreign policy/military setbacks including:

an embarrassing loss to Japan in a 1905 war
an internal revolt in 1905
backing down over Austrian annexation of Bosnia
failing to back Serbia in its claim to Albania

Your military is huge but ill equipped and poorly led. It takes a great deal of time to get it moving (mobilization). If you plan to go to war, you must get a head start. Your major foreign policy aim is to expand into the Balkans. You desire warm water ports along the Mediterranean for your navy.

You see yourself as the natural ally of the Serbs for nationalistic reasons. Austro- Hungary is your traditional enemy. You share a long border with Germany who is allied with Austria. You fear the German military because it is so strong, well equipped and well-led. Your royal house—the Romanovs—is related to the royal houses of both Great Britain and Germany. You are part of a loose defence alliance with France and Great Britain (Triple Entente). Although you know you can depend on France for assistance you are unsure of whether Great Britain would come to your aid in case of war.

Situation: Serbia has asked you for unconditional military support in her conflict with Austria. These are in fact the terms of your alliance with Serbia. List three courses of action that you as the leader of your country would take and the rationale for each.

Phase Four Germany

Profile: You have the most advanced army in Europe. The only navy that can rival you is that of Great Britain. Your country is highly industrialized and very well organized. Its system of railroads is the most advanced in Europe. You desire an expanded empire, both overseas and in Europe. You see yourself as the natural leader in Europe.

You are traditional enemies with France—you have controlled two French provinces since the Franco-Prussian war of 1871. Your biggest fear is that you will have to fight a two-front war against both France (in the west) and Russia (in the east) and this means you will have to divide your army in two. You are unsure if Great Britain will come to the aid of Russia and France. Your king is related to the British king. You are the leader of the Triple Alliance and have pledged unconditional support to Austria in her dispute with Serbia and Russia. You believe that it will take Russia a long time to mobilize her army.

Situation: In response to your unconditional support of Austria, the Russia army has begun its cumbersome mobilization against both Austria and Germany. List three courses of action which you as the leader of your country would take.

Phase Five France

Profile: You see yourself as a traditional leader in the affairs of Western Europe. You are traditional enemies with Germany and have hated it for its occupation of Alsace- Lorraine since 1871. Your military still suffers from the humiliating defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. You have a large military, but it has been rocked with scandals over the past fifteen years. There is a general desire to re-establish yourself as a military power.

Your colonial empire has been rocked by nationalistic movements. Germany has challenged your claims to some of your colonial holdings. You are a member of the Triple Entente and have pledged your support to Russia in case they are attacked by Germany or Austria. Your defences are concentrated against Germany and not in the north of the country. You feel confident that Great Britain would come to your aid if you were attacked.

Situation: Germany has invaded Belgium to the north and mobilized its whole army in the west. List three courses of action that you as the leader of your country would take and the rationale for each.

Phase Six Great Britain

Profile: You have the largest empire on earth. You depend on this empire to supply your country with the necessities of life. You have the largest navy on earth and depend on it to defend your empire and ensure you can import all the goods you need. This is especially important considering that you are an island. You have a loose agreement with Russia and France to come to their aid if they are attacked by Germany or Austria. You have a more solid agreement with Belgium guaranteeing her neutrality (you will use your military to help ensure it). You are particularly wary of a hostile power gaining control of the territory directly opposite your eastern shores. Your king is related to the kaiser in Germany.

Situation: Germany has invaded Belgium in an attempt to outflank the French army. Belgium, France and Russia have all asked for your assistance. List three courses of action that you as the leader of your country would take and the rationale for each.

Phase Seven Canada

Profile: Your country gained a measure of independence from Britain in 1867. The majority of your population are first- or second-generation Canadians from Great Britain who retain a great deal of loyalty to her. The large Francophone population is at best ambivalent about the war, at worst opposed to it.

Your foreign policy is dictated by Great Britain and thus as soon as she is at war, so are you. During the last war in which Britain was involved, the Anglo-Boer War of 1899, Canada sent a contingent of volunteers to fight in South Africa, funded and led by the British. You have a very small army (3,000 soldiers) and two ships in your navy. Agriculture is your largest economic sector. The population of your country in 1914 is 8,000,000.

Situation: The moment that Great Britain declared war on the central powers, Canada was also at war. It is up to you, though, to determine exactly how Canada will contribute to the British war effort—military, economic, financial, or some combination thereof. Also, it is up to you as to the size of the contribution. List three courses of action that you as the leader of your country would take and the rationale for each.