why is world war I not a point of much focus in US History classes?

Answer 1

You ask a very good question!

The U.S.A. entered World War One in April 1917, with the First War concluding in November 1918. The United States was involved in the conflict for about 18 months.

World War Two overshadows WWI:

The total (worldwide) estimated human loss of life caused by World War II, was roughly 72 million people.

However, in my view, it is the shear fact that many educators see WWI as the prelude to WWII. The late entry of the United States in WWI is a major factor, while the United States fought in WWII for about 48 months. The Second War was on a much larger scale; it involved more nations; and the United States suffered greater casualties compared to its involvement in WWI.

Please view:
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/commit/c650/Downloads/AmWars.pdf

Answer 2

Great question.

It is a mistake studying WW2 without studying WW1. I think the big reason is TV. we have become a TV watching nation and the black & white footage of WW1 appears too distant. My grandfather fought in WW2, my Great Grand father WW1, both have passed. But I spent more time with my grandfather than with my great grandfather.


To study WW2 without studding WW1 gives a different twist to the history of WW2.

How did the war began? Why did the Germans follow Hitler? Why did the Japanese attack the US? Why did the Germans hate the Jews?

There are other questions that have presence today. How was Isreal & Plastine formed and when? How did the countries of the middleast form?

The answer to many WW2 questions are found in WW1. Germans were upset about Germany being broken up.
Germany assumes that Wilson's 14 points plan is to be the frame work of an armistice sends the Kaisers into exile, fromed a Republic and the German Army marched home. A year later they are forced to sign a treaty, admitting responsibilty for the war and agreeing to pay for the cost of the war plus having the German Empire broken up into new countries.

Japan began it's Empire building with the authorization and request of the British Empire, by starting out with the Germany's Chinese & Pacific possesions. The Ottoman Empire fell and became part of the British & French Empires.

It is a mistake to study or teach WW2 without covering WW1.

Answer 3

I think there are many reasons, but I can only guess at best.
One reason why World War I is "not a point of much focus" in U.S. History classes is the length of America's involvement.
From the declaration of war on April 6, 1917, until the end of hostilities, November 11, 1918 - 1 year and 7 months.
Another reason is that WW I is overshadowed by WW II.
Ultimately, it may be that it was largely a European conflict.

Answer 4

The U.S.A. entered World War One in April 1917, the first American troops arrived in June but didn't see fighting until 21st October of the same year and it wasn't before April 1918 that the troops started to come in great numbers in Europe, changing the balance of power. So from the U.S.A. point of view it was a small conflict. Most of the effort was financial as they lent money to the countries fighting it out and they got a lot of that money back after the war.
The U.S.A. were much more involved in WW2, for longer, suffered much more and came out of it as the most powerful country in the world.
As well, WW1 has now gone from a conflict with still plenty of survivors to an old war nearly a century ago.

Answer 5

World War One or The Great War was a World War minus the United States until nearly the end. Other answers have the dates.
The country prefered to profit from, rather than participate in the Great War.

Answer 6

I agree. We need to make the first world war a foucs in history class. Most of the world problems come back to the first world war. It set up WWII and the Cold war. It is the main cause of the Arab nations (besides the Crusades) to be mad at us. The Brits said they can have the Middle East for their own country. The Brits and French then took the land for themselves. Then they added Isreal to the mix. Also it drew up the teams for the next war. Italy and Japan were on the Allied Powers side but after the Paris Peace Confrence, They were ticked that the big three short changed them. To understand the modern world, we have to understand what set the way things are. The BIG one was WWI

Answer 7

Because the American role in WW1 was not nearly as heroic as in WW2.
They stayed neutral for nearly all of the war - that is, they were at peace with Germany.
The president at the time (Woodrow Wilson Smith) tried to broker peace, turned the other cheek when Americans were killed on a sunk British ship, but eventually had to change his mind.
They started fighting only when it was revealed that Mexico was about to invade.

All of which is frankly embarrassing, especially when compared with being the liberator of Europe and saviour of the Jews in WW2.

Answer 8

WW1 was never that famous after the roaring 20's. I mean, who cared about the Battle of the Somme and the Lusitania? Who'd even heard of them? I agree, it's ridiculous, in middle school they don't even teach WW2! I'm outraged! and besides, WW1, at least to me, does not ellicit the same response as WW2. I mean, okay, Woodrow Wilson, Treaty of Versailles, humdy-dum. but MacArthur, Pearl harbor, the Bismarck, man, those get my blood rushing!

Answer 9

i individually took AP US history this college three hundred and sixty 5 days and it exchange into extremely some homework (my instructor exchange into very strict and he exchange into very strict on reading homework, etc). you would be reading plenty and taking extremely some notes out of the textbook. you will finally end up reading and taking notes on your total textbook from the 1st to the final financial disaster. This classification has extremely some reading, yet while your instructor is sturdy and provides sturdy lectures, you will not could study some chapters two times interior the textbook.

Answer 10

World War II was way better