Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn about the First World War through the lens of its imperial dimension. They analyse the reasons for the outbreak of war and assess how it affected Britain at home and abroad.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain the contribution of colonial troops to the First World War and that war was fought across the British Empire.

Key Notes

• Fighting took place throughout European colonies in Africa.
• Colonial troops from across Britain's empire took part in fighting.
• The war in the colonies explains why 1914-1918 is called a world war.

Vocabulary To Learn

• empire: an empire is a group of countries or provinces ruled from another country by one person or a group of people
• colony: a colony is a country or area under the control of another country and occupied by settlers from that country
• siege: a siege is a military operation in which an army forces an area to surrender by cutting of access to essential supplies

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Historically the contribution of colonial troops to the war effort has been overlooked.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Growing international tension in the early 1900s Study Guide
• The impact of WW1 on the British Homefront Study Guide
• The impact of WWI across the Empire Study Guide
• The outbreak of war in 1914 Study Guide
• The Western Front in WW1 Study Guide