OPVL on "A Report on Mesopotamia"

Noah Senzel

10/06/08

Period F

HW 19

Origin: Written by Ex.-Lieut.-Col. T. E. Lawrence. Published in the Sunday Times on the 22nd of August, 1920. Retrieved from <http://www.gwpda.org/1918p/mesopo.html> on 10/5/08, site updated on 08/15/08.

Purpose: To provide an opinion on the policy of the British government towards their Middle-Eastern Allies, and to attempt to convince the government to change their policy.

Value: This document shows the opinion of one man, who had experience with the subject at hand (served with the Arabs and the British and saw both sides' reactions), on the treatment of the Arabs by the British (unkept promises, occupying cities, etc.).

It also shows his idea of who is to blame (the government) , why they are to blame (they send drafts without reinforcing them), and how they are worse compared to the Turks who held the Arabs previously (more civilians killed, more military equipment, more occupying men, etc.).

Limitations: Only the opinion of one man, which was altered by the newspaper editor, in 1920, in Britain, who was loyal to both Britain and the Arabs. He comments on why the government is failing although he has no government experience.  

HW11

Noah Senzel

10/2/08

Period F

HW 11

1. What is Stoessinger's thesis? 

His thesis is that if you started a war, you can stop it. No country is incapable of recovering from mistakes. 

2. What did the Kaiser do wrong that caused the war?

He assumed that Austria's leaders wouldn't turn to war. He also assummed that in the rare case that they did, Russia would support them in order to keep their pride, rather than support Serbia.

3. Why did Austria feel the need to go to war with Serbia, according to Stoessinger?

According to Stoessinger, Austria felt the need to go to war with Serbia because if it did not, than Serbia would destroy the Austrian monarchy. This final insult would turn the duel monarchy into "a worm-eaten museum piece," according to Saravejo.

4.What are a couple examples of poor leadership that may have led to war, according to Stoessinger?

One example of poor leadership was the Kaiser and his "blank cheque" to Austria. 

Another was his decision to strike first. 

10/1/08 In-Class HW

10/1/08

Noah Senzel

In-Class HW

-3marks 1) breifly discuss three things you can learn about life on the western front during WWI

-2 marks 2)breifly discuss two things you can't learn about life on the western front during WWI

1) One thing you can learn about life on the Western front during WWI from Source A is that many, many British men were mowed down by machine gun fire in an attempt to cross “no-mans land” and defeat the enemy. The source says, “The first line appeared with no end from left to right. It was quickly followed by second, then a third and a fourth...” Another thing you can learn is the men were hurrying: “the machine guns were pulled out of dugouts and hurriedly placed in position.” Third, they had to be always ready.

2) One thing you can't learn is how their life is not battling. Another is you don't know the British perspective.

HW14

Noah Senzel

9/24/08

Period F

HW 14

1.a. Germany was the first to use submarines for direct warfare, other countries used them to protect harbors or not at all.

b. Britain readied certain passenger ships, such as the Lusitania, to become battle cruisers and would pay the captains for the upgrades; they simultaneously loaded some ships with contraband (war supplies), and the Lusitania was designed to hold these.

2. The Germans saw the Lusitania as a battle cruiser, and therefore thought it was ok to sink it. They saw the passengers as people who ignored their printed warning as chose their own fate.

3. The Americans saw the sinking of the Lusitania as a killing of innocents—the Lusitania was a passenger ship, and the Germans had no right to sink it. They saw the giving of the medals to the Germans responsible as showing their inhumane, demonic side.

HW18

Noah Senzel

10/1/08

Period F

HW18

The Germans' plan was to mobilize, and mobilize quickly, as dictated by the Schlieffen Plan. They wanted to destroy them quickly in order to move on to France. They did this by taking the French supplies and using them for themselves. They also sunk ships carrying weapons to prevent the French and the British from using them.  

HW9

Sorry, meant to send this on Friday.

Noah Senzel

9/11/08

Period F

HW9

1. Which theory for the cause of WWI do you most agree with?

I agree the most with (h), “A 'tragedy of miscalculation',” because the countries made miscalculations:

• Austria didn't think Russia would back Serbia.

• Germany miscalculated the recklessness of the Austrians once they got the blank check.

• German and Russians thought mobilization wouldn't mean/cause war.

• The generals thought their plans would provide a quick&decisive victory.

2. Which theory for the cause of WWI do you least agree with?

I agree the least with (a), “The alliance system or 'armed camps' made war inevitable,” because:

• These alliances were not so binding—French didn't help Russia in the war against Japan, Austria did nothing to help Germany in its unsuccessful attempts to invade Morocco, etc.

• Germany was had suspiciousness before these alliances; the alliance system did not cause them

• The countries could have avoided these crises—crises had been dealt with before.

9/2/08 notes: WWI video documentary

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000168 EndHTML:0000002114 StartFragment:0000000495 EndFragment:0000002097

WW1 video clip

Noah Senzel

9/2/08

Period F

alliance system

arch duke ferdinand's assassanation

chain reactions caused 3 main powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire

Allied: France, GB, Russia, Serbia

new technology destroyed more people than ever before

“Total War”

trench warfare

posion gas

first war w/airplanes, great number of u-boats

Lusatania sunk: 100 americans dead

note to mexico: kill America!

More sub attacks: wilson can't take it, declares war

With America's support, germany surrenders on november 11, 1918

50K americans dead

6.5mil civilans killed

Values of the Video:

disscusses key points

explains all technology

contains live footage of WW1

Limitations:

Skips through most of the details

Made by an American company that does TV shows