an empire is a group of countries or provinces ruled from another country by one person or a group of people

a colony is a country or area under the control of another country and occupied by settlers from that country

a siege is a military operation in which an army forces an area to surrender by cutting of access to essential supplies

The First World War in the colonies

History

This will contextualise the global political situation in the inter-war period and the eventual outcome of the Second World War (Y9), which will also prepare them for their studies of the Second World War (Y9). Finally, pupils will be able to apply their knowledge to post-war Russia, to aid their understanding of the context of the Russian Revolution (Y9).

Over the course of the entire Key Stage 3 curriculum, pupils will have developed strong knowledge of a range of global conquests and know that the imperial expansion of European powers gave wars in the modern period an increasingly global dimension.

World War One: how 'total' was it for people in the British Empire?

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

What was the name of the first German colony to surrender to British forces?

How many days after Britain declared war on Germany did British forces invade German Togoland?

Which country led the siege of Tsingtao, in support of the British army?

Many European countries had built empires across South America, Africa and Asia.

The 'July Crisis' means Russia, Germany, France and Britain join the war.

The Gold Coast Regiment, a British colonial army, invades German Togoland.

Japanese forces lead the siege of Tsingtao.

The East African campaign ends, with 300 000 civilian deaths.

Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into the order in which they happened

European countries wanted to weaken their opponents by attacking their colonies.

European countries did not want to fight in Europe.

Colonies were not targeted in the First World War.

Which **one** of the following statements is the best explanation for why European colonies were targeted in the First World War?

The battle conditions were different from those of the Western Front.

The battles were much less brutal than those of the Western Front.

The high proportion of losses were similar to those of the Western Front.

The battle conditions were very similar to the Western Front.

We do not know much about the East African Campaign.

Which **two** of the following statements best describe the East Africa Campaign from 1914 to 1918?

a country or area under the control of another country

a group of countries or provinces ruled from another country

Which **one** of the following is the best definition of 'empire'?

What term best describes a country that is under the control of another country, and often occupied by settlers from that country?

Which **one** of the following countries was an ally of Britain in the First World War?

many European countries had built empires across South America, Africa and Asia

Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated

Russia, Germany and France all declare war in July

European nations begin to recruit soldiers from their colonies

Which **one** of the following countries failed to carry out its Schlieffen Plan, triggering British entry into the First World War?

Lots of people around the world heard about the war.

Every single country was involved in the war.

The war involved and impacted a large number of people all around the world.

Millions of Europeans died as a result of the war.

Which **one** of the following statements best explains why the conflict of 1914-1918 became known as a world war?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

The First World War in the colonies

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.