The entire 10th grade class gathered on Herrick Quad last week to discuss foreign policy and employ diplomacy as they navigated peace and war amongst the nations they were representing for a World War I simulation, building on their learning in Crisis and Courage in Global History. The nations in question—Andros, Atweena, Galbion, Bismania, Bontus, Nurovia, and Egrama—simulated the advantages and disadvantages ("attributes") held by the actual European nations on the brink of June 28th, 1914. (For example, the two most powerful were Bismania [Germany] and Galbion [Great Britain] while Atweena [land-locked Austria] had no navy but the most powerful army.) The attributes considered in the simulation included army, navy, and morale factor (a.k.a. patriotism), which were all calculated by points for the purpose of the simulation.

"We wanted them to understand how the consequences of industrialization resulted in a global arms race,” said Upper School History Teacher Jennifer Cutler. Having the students critically and analytically think about their decisions as they participated in the simulation, Cutler had students consider how the alliance system worked in the lead up to World War I.

In the scenario painted for the students, a state of war existed between Nurovia (Serbia and the Slavic Balkan region) and Atweena with all possibility of peace exhausted. Based on allotted points (army, navy, and nationalism combined), Atweena would conquer Nurovia unless the latter was able to bring in allies to her side (therefore, Atweena must do the same). Rulers sent out ambassadors secretly on their behalf to secure allies, using tactics of negotiation and trade to do so.

As the simulation progressed, students participated and observed in real time as the map of their nations changed based on the victors of war. At the end, the victors were charged with creating terms of peace and a post-war foreign policy to prevent another war from happening. See photos from the simulation here!