This interactive chant from the will help students remember the four main causes of World War I.

       MAIN is a mnemonic device where
       M stands for "militarism,
       A for "alliances",
       I for "imperialism" and
       N for "nationalism."

       After several repetitions of the chant pattern, room is provided for students to fill in the blanks and, by the end of the song, to complete the chant themselves.

Suggested Activities from the Teacher's Guide

1) Classroom Call and Response
        Students may work on the chant individually, but this learning song is most effective when it is chanted by the whole class. Play "MAIN Causes of World War I" and get students to join in for the interactive parts. See the introduction to the Resource Book for suggestions about ways to maximize class participation.

2) Summary of the Causes of WW I
        Using their own words, students should define the four causes of World War I and explain how each one increased tension before the War. For a more creative approach, ask students to imagine that they are American travelers in Europe sending home a postcard or telegram to explain the reasons for the outbreak of War. Make sure they concentrate on the long term causes.

3) Role Play: European Nations before WW I
        Assign each participating student a European nation. Ask questions in class that require them to re-position themselves physically according to several criteria: as the nations are arranged geographically (France next to Germany for example), as they were related as allies (England near Russia), and in terms of their military or economic strength (Germany and France as strong powers). Include your own criteria for European relations and have them move about to demonstrate their understanding of the geopolitical climate before the War. Play "MAIN Causes of World War I" as closure for this activity.

4) Interrelatedness of Causes
        The interrelated effects of what may appear to be separate causes is an important subject raised by this learning song. Explain the interrelated nature of militarism, the alliance system, imperialism and nationalism as they fueled the tension that led to War. Although these factors are usually considered separately, in reality they were interwoven, often reinforcing each other to generate greater impact than they would have had in isolation. Nationalism, for example, fed the imperialistic desire to acquire colonies, which led to clashes with European rivals and greater militarism. All countries wanted alliances in this atmosphere of competition and mistrust. This example will help students to understand how apparently separate factors may be related in any historical situation.