WWI Home Front: Political, Economic, and Social Impact
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WWI Home Front: Political, Economic, and Social Impact

Grade 11Social StudiesHistory5 days
This project delves into the multifaceted impact of World War I on American society, examining its effects on civil liberties, the economy, and social dynamics. Students will analyze primary sources, investigate economic transformations, and explore the changing roles of women and minorities. The project culminates in presentations and essays that connect the long-term consequences of WWI to contemporary issues, fostering a deeper understanding of the war's lasting legacy. Students will evaluate the role of propaganda in shaping public opinion and analyze the restrictions on civil liberties during the war.
World War IHome FrontCivil LibertiesEconomic ImpactSocial ChangePropagandaLong-Term Consequences
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.To what extent did World War I reshape American society, considering its lasting effects on civil liberties, the economy, and social roles?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How did World War I impact civil liberties and dissent at home?
  • What economic changes occurred on the home front during World War I?
  • In what ways did World War I transform the social roles and expectations of women and minorities?
  • How did government propaganda influence public opinion and participation in the war effort?
  • What were the long-term consequences of World War I on American society?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will analyze the impact of World War I on civil liberties in the United States.
  • Students will evaluate the economic transformations that occurred in the U.S. during World War I.
  • Students will investigate the changing social roles and expectations of women and minorities during World War I.
  • Students will assess the role and impact of government propaganda on public opinion and participation in the war effort.
  • Students will determine the long-term consequences of World War I on American society.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

"A Letter from the Past"

Students receive a fictionalized letter from a young person living in the US during WWI detailing their experiences. The letter will highlight the challenges and changes occurring at home, prompting students to investigate the broader ramifications of the war.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Civil Liberties Under Fire: Analyzing Primary Source Confiscations

Students will examine primary source documents (letters, newspapers, speeches) from the WWI era to identify instances where civil liberties were compromised due to wartime measures. They will analyze how the government and societal pressures curtailed freedoms of speech, assembly, and expression.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research the Espionage Act and Sedition Act of 1918. Understand their purpose and scope.
2. Examine provided primary source documents (or locate your own) such as letters confiscated by the government, newspaper articles censored by the Committee on Public Information, or speeches by individuals persecuted for anti-war sentiments.
3. Identify specific instances in the documents where civil liberties were potentially violated. Quote relevant passages.
4. Analyze the context surrounding each instance. What was the government trying to prevent? What were the potential consequences of the expression?
5. Write a short paragraph for each document, summarizing the potential civil liberties violation and the justification (or lack thereof) for the government's actions.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA collection of analyzed primary source excerpts, each with a paragraph explaining the potential civil liberties violation and its context. This collection will serve as evidence for understanding the impact of WWI on civil liberties.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will analyze the impact of World War I on civil liberties in the United States. Connects to the essential question: How did World War I impact civil liberties and dissent at home?
Activity 2

Rosie's Rivets: Mapping Economic Transformation on the Home Front

Students will investigate the economic changes that occurred in the U.S. during WWI, focusing on shifts in production, labor force participation, and government economic policies. They will create a visual representation (e.g., infographic, interactive map) illustrating these changes and their consequences.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research the economic state of the U.S. before WWI. What were the major industries? What was the unemployment rate?
2. Investigate how wartime demand impacted industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation.
3. Examine the role of women and minorities in filling labor shortages. Collect data on their participation rates and wages.
4. Research government economic policies during the war, such as war bonds, price controls, and the creation of new agencies.
5. Create a visual representation (infographic, map, etc.) that illustrates these economic changes. Include data, images, and concise explanations.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA visual representation (infographic, interactive map, etc.) illustrating the economic transformations that occurred in the U.S. during WWI. This visual should clearly depict the shifts in production, labor, and government policies.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will evaluate the economic transformations that occurred in the U.S. during World War I. Connects to the essential question: What economic changes occurred on the home front during World War I?
Activity 3

Beyond the Battlefield: Voices of Social Change

Students will research and present on the changing social roles and expectations of women and minorities during WWI. They will focus on individual stories and movements that emerged during this period, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that arose.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose a specific group to research: women in the workforce, African American soldiers, or another minority group impacted by WWI.
2. Research the social conditions and expectations for that group before WWI.
3. Investigate how WWI created new opportunities or exacerbated existing challenges for the chosen group.
4. Find personal stories, letters, or accounts that illustrate the experiences of individuals within the group during this time.
5. Prepare a presentation (oral, visual, or written) that highlights the changing social roles and expectations of the chosen group, using personal stories to illustrate your points.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA presentation (oral, visual, or written) that explores the changing social roles and expectations of women and minorities during WWI, using personal stories and historical context to support your claims.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will investigate the changing social roles and expectations of women and minorities during World War I. Connects to the essential question: In what ways did World War I transform the social roles and expectations of women and minorities?
Activity 4

Manufacturing Patriotism: Deconstructing WWI Propaganda

Students will analyze examples of WWI-era propaganda to understand how the government influenced public opinion and participation in the war effort. They will deconstruct the messages, identify persuasive techniques, and assess the effectiveness of the propaganda.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research the Committee on Public Information and its role in shaping public opinion during WWI.
2. Collect examples of WWI propaganda posters, films, songs, and speeches.
3. For each example, identify the target audience and the message being conveyed.
4. Analyze the persuasive techniques used (e.g., emotional appeals, demonization of the enemy, appeals to patriotism). Provide specific examples.
5. Write a short analysis for each propaganda piece, assessing its potential effectiveness in influencing public opinion.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA collection of analyzed propaganda examples, each with a short analysis identifying the target audience, message, persuasive techniques, and potential effectiveness. This collection will demonstrate an understanding of how government propaganda influenced public opinion during WWI.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will assess the role and impact of government propaganda on public opinion and participation in the war effort. Connects to the essential question: How did government propaganda influence public opinion and participation in the war effort?
Activity 5

Echoes of the Great War: Legacy and Long-Term Consequences

Students will explore the long-term consequences of WWI on American society, examining its impact on foreign policy, economic structures, and social movements. They will connect these consequences to contemporary issues and debates.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research the major long-term consequences of WWI on American society (e.g., the rise of isolationism, the Red Scare, the growth of government power).
2. Investigate how WWI influenced American foreign policy in the interwar period.
3. Examine the economic legacies of WWI, such as the changing role of the U.S. in the global economy.
4. Analyze how WWI contributed to the rise of social movements, such as the women's suffrage movement and the civil rights movement.
5. Write an essay connecting the long-term consequences of WWI to contemporary issues and debates in American society. Provide specific examples.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn essay exploring the long-term consequences of WWI on American society, connecting these consequences to contemporary issues and debates. The essay should demonstrate an understanding of the lasting impact of the war.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will determine the long-term consequences of World War I on American society. Connects to the essential question: What were the long-term consequences of World War I on American society?
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

World War I Ramifications Assessment Rubric

Category 1

Historical Understanding

Evaluates the student’s ability to comprehend and analyze historical events and their impacts.
Criterion 1

Comprehension of historical context

Assesses how well the student understands the historical events of WWI and their effects on American society.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates an in-depth understanding of WWI events and thoroughly explains their impacts with comprehensive details.

Proficient
3 Points

Demonstrates a solid understanding of WWI events and describes their impacts with specific details.

Developing
2 Points

Shows a basic understanding of WWI events and provides limited explanation of their impacts.

Beginning
1 Points

Shows minimal understanding of WWI events with little to no explanation of their impacts.

Criterion 2

Analysis of civil liberties impact

Evaluates the student's ability to analyze the impact of WWI on civil liberties using primary sources.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides a thorough analysis of primary sources and connects them to specific instances of civil liberty impacts with detailed justification.

Proficient
3 Points

Provides a clear analysis of primary sources related to civil liberties and supports with appropriate justification.

Developing
2 Points

Analyzes primary sources with basic connections to civil liberties impacts and limited support.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to analyze primary sources with little connection to civil liberties impacts.

Category 2

Critical Thinking and Synthesis

Assesses the student's ability to apply critical thinking to synthesize information and draw conclusions about the WWI impacts.
Criterion 1

Synthesis of economic changes

Evaluates the synthesis and presentation of economic changes during WWI.

Exemplary
4 Points

Comprehensively synthesizes economic data and clearly represents changes with impactful visual representation.

Proficient
3 Points

Effectively synthesizes economic data and presents changes through clear visual representation.

Developing
2 Points

Synthesis of economic data is basic with a clear but limited visual representation.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to synthesize economic data; visual representation is unclear or incomplete.

Category 3

Communication and Presentation

Evaluates the quality and clarity of the student's communication and presentation skills.
Criterion 1

Clarity of presentation on social changes

Assesses the clarity and impact of presentations on the changing social roles during WWI.

Exemplary
4 Points

Delivers a presentation with exceptional clarity, supported by compelling stories and well-articulated arguments about social changes.

Proficient
3 Points

Presents clearly with strong support from stories and well-reasoned arguments about social changes.

Developing
2 Points

Presentation offers clear information with some support but lacks depth in argumentation on social changes.

Beginning
1 Points

Presentation lacks clarity and depth; struggles to articulate social changes.

Category 4

Connection to Contemporary Issues

Assesses the student's ability to relate historical consequences to current issues.
Criterion 1

Connecting past and present

Evaluates how well the student connects WWI legacies to contemporary American issues.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides insightful connections between historical impacts of WWI and relevant contemporary issues with clarity and depth.

Proficient
3 Points

Makes clear connections between historical impacts of WWI and contemporary issues.

Developing
2 Points

Attempts to connect historical impacts of WWI to contemporary issues with limited success.

Beginning
1 Points

Minimal connection between historical impacts of WWI and contemporary issues.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

How has your understanding of the complexities and consequences of war evolved as a result of this project?

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