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This lesson examines the short-term cause of World War I: the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Students will explore the events leading up to the assassination, the key figures involved, and the immediate consequences. Activities include note-taking, video analysis, writing a newspaper report, and sorting events chronologically. The lesson concludes with a discussion on how this event acted as a spark in an already tense Europe.

Lesson Content and Activities:

Introduction:

Overview of the significance of Franz Ferdinand’s assassination as a short-term cause of WWI.
Major Events and People:

Talk through slides 1-14 detailing the key events and figures. Students make notes using the provided worksheet.
Video Analysis:

Watch a video on the assassination and answer guiding questions.
Background:

Discuss the political situation in 1908 with Bosnia’s annexation and the resulting tensions with Serbia.
The Visit:

Explain Franz Ferdinand’s visit to Sarajevo and the Black Hand Gang’s plan.
First Attack:

Describe the failed bomb attempt by the Black Hand Gang.
Assassination:

Detail Gavrilo Princip’s successful assassination of Franz Ferdinand and his wife.
Princip’s Capture:

Discuss the capture and arrest of Gavrilo Princip.
Newspaper Report:

Students write a newspaper report based on first-hand accounts and quotes from witnesses.
Sorting Activity:

Sort timeline cards of events leading to the outbreak of war in chronological order.
Path to War:

Discuss whether the assassination alone would have been enough to start the war and the idea of long-term issues as the ‘soil’ and short-term triggers as the ‘spark’.
Resources:

Worksheet for note-taking
Video link
Printable timeline cards
Quotes for newspaper report
Taken from a series of over 30 First World War lessons made by Wolsey Academy. They provide a thorough foundation of knowledge in this vital period of 20th Century History and each lesson looks to focus on a range of historical skills and exam techniques to equip students with knowledge and transferable research, analysis and study skills.

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