AC9HH9K08 Year 9 Humanities and Social Sciences

Content descriptor the causes of the First World War and the reasons why Australians enlisted to fight in the war

Elaborations

• • Elaboration identifying and describing the long-term causes of the First World War, such as militarism, the alliance system among European countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, imperialism and nationalism
• • Elaboration identifying and describing the short-term triggers of the First World War, such as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, the “July Crisis” between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, and the invasion of Belgium by Germany
• • Elaboration explaining the different perspectives towards war at the turn of the 20th century, such as notions of war as noble and heroic or as an adventure
• • Elaboration examining the responses of Australia’s political leaders to the outbreak of war such as prime minister Andrew Fisher’s pledge to back Britain “to the last man and the last shilling”
• • Elaboration listing the reasons why Australian men enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force; for example, the challenges of living on the land and a need for a regular pay; adventure; to do their duty for the British Empire; impact of persuasive propaganda posters, pamphlets and leaflets; peer and community pressure
• • Elaboration examining the stories of First Nations Australian men who enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force