The compelling question “Can peace lead to war?” offers students an opportunity to explore the historic controversy surrounding the extent to which the Treaty of Versailles caused World War II. Students consider not only the stipulations of the peace treaty but also the nature of historical interpretation by following the voices of historians throughout the inquiry. While progressing through the inquiry, students consider the original vision of the Treaty of Versailles, the conditions of the treaty itself, and the reactions to the treaty both at the time and by modern-day historians.
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About the inquiry
Compelling Question
Can Peace Lead to War?
Staging Question
Read the Christian Science Monitor article “Germany Finishes Paying WWI Reparations, Ending Century of 'Guilt'” and discuss why some historians claim World War I did not end until 2010.
1
Supporting QuestionWhat did President Woodrow Wilson mean by “peace without victory”?
Formative TasksWrite a definition for the term “peace without victory” and explain why President Wilson saw this as a necessary component of the Treaty of Versailles.
SourcesSource A: Excerpts from “Peace without Victory”
Source B: Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Source C: Woodrow Wilson—The Fourteen Points
Source D: Photograph: “The Big Four”
2
Supporting QuestionWhat did Germany lose by signing the Treaty of Versailles?
Formative TasksList Germany’s losses of territory and armed forces, and write one or two sentences explaining why these losses would have upset most Germans.
SourcesSource A: Excerpts from the Treaty of Versailles
Source B: Map of German territorial losses
3
Supporting QuestionWhy was Germany blamed for World War I?
Formative TasksWrite a paragraph explaining how the Treaty of Versailles blamed Germany for World War I and how most Germans reacted to the treaty.
SourcesSource A: War Guilt Clause (Article 231), Treaty of Versailles
Source B: Excerpts from von Brockdorff-Rantzau's letter to Clemenceau, president of the Paris Peace Conference
4
Supporting QuestionDid the German reparation payments stipulated in the Treaty of Versailles set the stage for World War II?
Formative TasksDevelop a claim supported by evidence that answers the supporting question.
SourcesSource A: Excerpts from the Treaty of Versailles
Source B: Excerpts from The Economic Consequences of the Peace
Source C: Excerpts from “Ending the War to End All Wars”
Summative Performance Task
Argument: Did peace lead to war? Construct an argument (e.g., detailed outline, poster, or essay) that addresses the compelling question using specific claims and relevant evidence from historical sources while acknowledging competing views.
Extension: Participate in a class debate on whether or not the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh on Germany or whether the treaty failed to go far enough to protect peace in Europe.
Taking Informed Action
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