What Students Need To Know About World War 1 Summary

After reading Michael Neiberg’s article on “What Students Need to Know about World War I” there is one major point he addresses about Americans studying World War I. He states that it is difficult for teachers to teach due to an “absence of an easy and straight forward narrative”.1 He also stresses that Americans are not as attached to studying World War I due to the nations limited involvement and the fact the battles scars left behind are not present on American soil unlike that of Europe, whose land is scared to this day and is an everyday reminder of the events of World War I.2 Neiberg does not neglect the sacrifice of the American people during the war and acknowledges that Americans died on the battlefield with British and French troops, but not at the same numerical level as its European counterparts. He states that America was deeply effected by World War I and that modern day students may not be looking at the political aspect of the war. Prior to World War I, America was an isolationist nation …show more content…
The lack of physical attachment through family involvement too no battles being fought on American soil adds to the detachment even though it altered the future of America's involvement in foreign affairs. Both the Revolutionary War and Civil War have there place in current studies due there obvious social importance in America's history from independence to the reported ending of slavery, which was not the initial reason for the Civil War, but a socially accepted reason. Even World War II holds a personal attachment with students today due to many of our close relatives were involved in the war and America played a even larger role thanks to President Wilsons change in foreign policy. I personally have family who fought for both the axis and allies during World War II, so naturally I am drawn to its studies because I can personally identify with