1. Which of the following do you believe was the most influential cause of World War I?     • Nationalism     • Militarism     • Military Alliances     • Assassination of Archduke FerdinandExplain why you feel that this was the most influential cause. Use details to support your response. 2. Read the poem by Wilfred Owen, an English soldier and poet who wrote about his experiences will fighting during World War I.Dulce Et Decorum Estby Wilfred OwenBent double, like old beggars under sacks,Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,Till on the haunting flares we turned our backsAnd towards our distant rest began to trudge.Men marched asleep. Many had lost their bootsBut limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hootsOf disappointed shells that dropped behind.GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling,Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;But someone still was yelling out and stumblingAnd floundering like a man in fire or lime.--Dim, through the misty panes and thick green lightAs under a green sea, I saw him drowning.In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.If in some smothering dreams you too could paceBehind the wagon that we flung him in,And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;If you could hear, at every jolt, the bloodCome gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cudOf vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--My friend, you would not tell with such high zestTo children ardent for some desperate glory,The old Lie: Dulce et decorum estPro patria mori.11 "It is sweet and right to die for your country."  Using the poem and your knowledge of World War I, write an essay that addresses the following:           • Explain the aspects of fighting during World War I that Wilfred Owen discusses in his poem.           • How do you think experiencing these things impacted Wilfred Owen?           • Why do you think Wilfred Owen decided to write this poem?           • How did reading this poem help you better understand the impacts of World War I?Use details to support your response. 3. The events of World War I raised significant questions regarding human rights and international justice. In a well written essay, identify what actions of the Ottoman Turks led to these questions, and what the world community's response was. 4. Look at the three propaganda pieces below.        Choose one propaganda piece and write an essay that answers the following:     • Which propaganda piece did you choose?     • What is the message this piece is trying to convey?     • Explain why you believe the piece was successful or unsuccessful at conveying this message.     • How do you believe this piece impacted World War I?Use details to support your response.

1. Among the given causes of World War I, I believe that military alliances were the most influential. The intricate web of alliances created a situation where a conflict between two countries could quickly escalate into a full-scale war involving multiple nations. For instance, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, while a significant event, might not have led to a world war if not for the existing alliances. Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia activated a chain reaction: Russia mobilized to support Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia, and France and Britain were drawn in due to their alliances with Russia. This interconnectedness made it nearly impossible for the conflict to remain localized, thus making military alliances a critical factor in the outbreak of World War I.

2. Wilfred Owen's poem "Dulce Et Decorum Est" vividly describes the harrowing experiences of soldiers during World War I. He discusses the physical and mental exhaustion of the soldiers, the horrific effects of gas attacks, and the gruesome reality of death on the battlefield. The imagery of soldiers "bent double, like old beggars under sacks" and "coughing like hags" highlights their dire condition. The panic and chaos during a gas attack are captured in lines like "An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time."

Experiencing these horrors likely had a profound impact on Owen, leading to a sense of disillusionment and a desire to convey the brutal truth of war. He wrote this poem to counter the romanticized notion of war as noble and glorious, encapsulated in the phrase "Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori" (It is sweet and right to die for your country). By exposing the grim reality, Owen aimed to prevent future generations from being misled by such propaganda.

Reading this poem deepens our understanding of the impacts of World War I by providing a personal and visceral account of the suffering endured by soldiers. It challenges the glorified image of war and underscores the physical and psychological toll it takes on individuals.

3. The actions of the Ottoman Turks during World War I, particularly the Armenian Genocide, raised significant questions regarding human rights and international justice. The systematic extermination of 1.5 million Armenians through mass killings, forced marches, and starvation was a blatant violation of human rights. The world community's response was mixed; while there was widespread condemnation, concrete actions were limited. The lack of immediate and effective intervention highlighted the challenges of enforcing international justice and protecting human rights during wartime. This event underscored the need for a more robust international framework to prevent and respond to such atrocities, eventually contributing to the establishment of institutions like the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.

4. I chose the propaganda piece depicting a soldier pointing directly at the viewer with the caption "Your Country Needs YOU." The message of this piece is a direct call to action, urging individuals to enlist in the military and support the war effort. The use of a commanding figure and direct address creates a sense of personal responsibility and urgency.

I believe this piece was successful in conveying its message because it effectively appealed to the viewer's sense of duty and patriotism. The authoritative and engaging imagery, combined with the clear and concise text, made it a powerful tool for recruitment.

This propaganda piece likely had a significant impact on World War I by encouraging enlistment and bolstering public support for the war. By appealing to individual citizens' sense of duty, it helped to mobilize a large number of volunteers, thereby strengthening the military forces and contributing to the overall war effort.