Activity 2: Geolocation of The Great War.

Nations all across the globe have dedicated memorials to the Great War. The map at the top of this page is an excerpt of a larger map. This activity focuses on the geography of the United States and Great Britain. The United States is geographically separate from mainland Europe by the Atlantic Ocean. The war was always said to be "over there" and distant from American life. Great Britain, separated from Western Europe by the English Channel, entered the war in 1914.

The larger map is a compilation of select WWI memorials and museums across various continents. There are perhaps tens of thousands of memorials to the Great War and it is nearly impossible to list them all within one specific project. Therefore I have selected specific memorials across various nations to convey how countries commemorate the war. 

Begin with the United States and Great Britain. Think about how each nation's geography and proximity to the conflict influenced their respective experiences?

This activity is best as a take-home assignment. 

Directions for students:

  1. Navigate to the map through the "Map" tab.
  2. Pay attention to a nation's geography. How did their geography shape their actions fighting in the Great War? Consider how their geography shaped their perspectives on the war and what they chose to memorialize? Great Britain is an island nation separated from Europe by the English Channel and the United States is separated from Europe by the Atlantic Ocean. 
  3. Where is each museum located? What might this tell us about ideas that went into memorialization? Compare the geographical location of the National World War I Museum & Memorial in Kansas City, MO within the United States with the Imperial War Museum, London in the United Kingdom. How does the location of each memorial convey more about the work the memorial is doing? 
  4. The Liberty Memorial is part of the larger National World War I Museum & Memorial in Kansas City, MO. Have students read about the Liberty Memorial construction below and consider the memorial's purpose:

“It [The Liberty Memorial] has not been raised to commemorate war and victory, but rather the results of war and victory which are embodied in peace and liberty…. Today I return in order that I may place the official sanction of the national government upon one of the most elaborate and impressive memorials that adorn our country. The magnitude of this memorial, and the broad base of popular support on which it rests, can scarcely fail to excite national wonder and admiration.” -President Calvin Coolidge. November 11, 1926. 

The memorial's history can be located here. How does Coolidge's speech highlight the ideas behind the memorial's construction?

5. How is the National World War I Museum and Memorial conveyed differently than the Imperial War Museum in London? The Imperial War Museum was founded on March 5, 1917, during the First World War. Its history can be found here.

Activity 2: Geolocation of The Great War.