Virginia SOL USII.4.c
The Standard
analyzing the major causes and consequences of World War I and examining the roles of key leaders and groups
Virginia Standards of Learning for History and Social Science
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students connect militarism, alliances, imperialism, nationalism, and the assassination at Sarajevo to the outbreak of war. They explain American entry, describe the roles of Woodrow Wilson, soldiers, women, and Black Americans, and trace major results of the war.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students can distinguish long-term causes from the event that triggered the fighting. They can use evidence to explain how a leader or group affected the war and connect the conflict to the Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may treat the assassination as the only cause or think the United States fought from the beginning. They may confuse the Allies with the Central Powers or assume all Americans had equal wartime opportunities.
How to Assess It
- Give students six terms: alliances, assassination, Woodrow Wilson, American Expeditionary Forces, Treaty of Versailles, and League of Nations. Ask them to label each cause, role, or consequence and explain two choices.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Build an alliance web with yarn and country cards, then add an assassination card and trace how the conflict spread.
Write and discuss: Was the assassination the main cause of the war, or only the trigger? Use three facts.
Sort cause, wartime role, and consequence cards, then race to correct another team's misplaced cards using evidence.
Compare a World War I propaganda poster with a modern public service message, noting audience, symbols, and intended action.
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Related Standards
- USI.6.e
examining the causes, course, and consequences of key events and battles of the era
- USII.6.e
explaining and evaluating the role of key political and military leaders of the Allies and Axis powers, including, but not limited to the United States, Germany...
- USII.4
The student will apply history and social science skills to explain the changing role of the United States from the late 19th century through World War I by
- USII.6
The student will apply history and social science skills to understand the major causes and events of World War II and the effects of America’s role by
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