Militarism: The Arms Race

Grade Level: 9th Grade

Duration: 60 minutes

Class Size: 25 students

Unit: Causes of World War 1 (Lesson 1 of 4)

Subject: Social Studies

Common Core Standards Alignment

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2: Determine the central ideas of a text and analyze their development.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.2: Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.2: Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media formats to make informed decisions.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson:

• Students will define militarism and explain its role in pre-WWI geopolitical tension.
• Students will analyze primary source documents concerning military expenditures from early 20th-century powers.
• Students will evaluate how militarism influenced national policies by participating in a structured group discussion.
• Students will compose a short reflective writing piece illustrating how militarism contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

Materials Needed

• Copies of primary source documents regarding military budgets and naval arms race data (e.g., excerpts from government reports, newspaper articles, charts comparing military spending in Britain, Germany, France).
• Projector or board for visuals/notes.
• Chart paper or digital whiteboard for note-taking during group discussion.
• Writing materials or laptops/tablets for quick write.

Lesson Timeline

1. Introduction & Hook (10 minutes)

• Begin by projecting or distributing a provocative question:
  "Why might countries race to build bigger armies and navies? What problems could this cause?"
• Brief whole-class brainstorm and jot ideas on board.
• Transition: Introduce the term Militarism with a clear, student-friendly definition:

  Militarism is the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests