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World War I Dbq

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Before World War I, also known as the Great War, countries were looking into colonize more of Africa. This was because they intended to use the indigenous people from Africa as troops in the war everyone knew was coming. While this may be true, many people in the 20th century know little to nothing about African people in World War I. When we think about World War I, most people who have not taken an in depth course about World War I would say that it was a bunch of white guys fighting because some archduke was assassinated. In reality, many different groups people took part in World War I. Africans were one of these groups of people. In order to better understand this, my students will be reading Document 6 by Charles Mason called The Black …show more content…

This document primarily focuses on the problem of equal pay for women during and after World War I. Like we all hear about in World War II, women were essential during World War I on the home front when it came to fulfilling the jobs the men had to leave in order to go fight for their countries. Also like World War II, when the war was over and men returned from war, the women were reluctant to give the men their jobs back. The cycle repeated itself. Women were finally working jobs that earned them a wage. This wage was less than a man’s wage, and the women fought to change that. The slogan “Equal Pay for Equal Work” was coined for the women who fought for equal wages for jobs that men did but got paid more to do. For example, a female factory worker that was doing the same exact job as a male factory worker would receive a lower wage than him. This is true today as well since the wage gap in America is still present, but the fight to end this sparked during World War I when women were working the men’s jobs. In the document, a British employer said, “Man is, and always will be, regarded as the bread-winner and woman as the mother” (144). This misogynistic view of society was normal during World War I, but with women protesters asking to be paid the same as their male counterparts, how can you …show more content…

This view of World War I needs to change! Black troops were essential in the fight during World War I. The tactics in which countries got most of their black troops is horrible, but the part in which they played for these countries should not be kicked under the rug. African people were taken from their homes by white countries so they could fight a war they knew nothing about. Their turmoil and hardships are often overshadowed by minnial things like trenches, shell shock syndrome, and No Man’s Land. While these aspects are essential in learning about World War I, learning about the many black troops that were essential in the Allied victory over the Central Powers. On top of the black troops, women were essential in the victory of the Allies during World War I. Not only did women help out on the battlefront as nurses, but they also fought from the homefront in which they fought against food shortages, for equal political rights for everyone, and helped their countries by taking jobs that men left. Nurses are one of the most important parts of any battle. Small wounds can turn deadly if not treated properly. If a soldier dies because of a small infected cut, that’s one less soldier that can fight. This one soldier may be the tipping point between victory and defeat. On the home front, fighting against things like food shortages and non equal political rights was a daily

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