How WWI Changed America: The Influenza Epidemic

Occurring against the backdrop of World War I, one of history’s most deadly pandemics added to the horrors and devastation brought on by the conflict. The 1918–1919 Influenza Pandemic (also known, erroneously, as the "Spanish Flu") was one of the deadliest pandemics in world history, infecting hundreds of millions of people and killing approximately 50 million people worldwide.

This video is made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and is a partnership of the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission, the Doughboy Foundation and the National WWI Museum and Memorial as part of the teaching and learning resources of “How WWI Changed America.”

[NationalWWIMuseum]

Classroom Discussion and Enrichment Questions:
1) During WWI, what was the role of media in encouraging or discouraging the spread of influenza? In your opinion, should this be known as the “Spanish Flu?”
2) How did WWI encourage the spread of the virus?
3) According to the video, who were most likely to succumb to the disease?
4) After watching this video, and citing three source of reliable information, compare and contrast the Great Influenza Epidemic of 1918-19 and the current COVID-19 pandemic  in either an a)Venn Diagram or b) short essay.

[WildBillCox]

Liked and shared. This is valuable context for our troubled times. Thanks for posting!

[spacemonkeyjon]

Great video! Hope to visit the museum again soon.

[stephaniespear]

We always should remember the past to guide us through our future.

[zennamaste]

How many eras of survivors have I’ve served .

[davidwhitney]

Spain was the only major European country which, by immediately declaring neutrality as hostilities began in August 1914, had the good sense not to get involved in the insanity and mass slaughter which became "The Great War, " later World War I...

[juliaholzschuher]

When they said that India was hit the hardest immediately my brain went to how India is being effected by covid the worst

[rosmery]

Most of these people were from online school lol

[ryanautry]

We are in year two! one more to go! I bet people still wont stay home....

[scottbivins]

Imagine just to survive a world war just to be taken out by a flu damn.