Big Era Eight: Landscape Unit 8.5


		Complete Teaching Unit in PDF format

The Causes and Consequences of World War II
1939 – 1945 CE

Why This Unit?

This landscape unit gives students the opportunity to debate the causes of the global conflict using historians’ rather than politicians’ tools. Students will practice analyzing primary sources, mostly photographs, posters, and speeches. Moreover, students will analyze secondary source data on national military preparedness and a timeline of the creation and use of military technology during World War II. Finally, students will debate the consequences of aerial attacks on civilian populations during World War II.

Unit Objectives

Upon completing this unit, students will be able to:

1. Analyze statistical data and speeches to compare military expenditures and role of nationalism as causes of the Second World War.

2. Analyze textbook presentations of starting and ending dates for the Second World War to discuss periodization of the first half of the twentieth century.

3. Compare propaganda posters used by combatant countries during the war to identify similar techniques used to demonize enemies.

Time and Materials

This unit can be completed in five class periods.

The only materials required in this unit are index cards, poster board, and pencils.

Table of Contents

Why this unit?	2
Unit objectives	2
Time and materials	3
Author	3
The historical context	3
This unit in the Big Era time line	5
Lesson 1: Who was Prepared for War?	6
Lesson 2: Periodization Debate: When did World War II Begin and End?	13
Lesson 3: War Propaganda: Messages and Media used to Promote Nationalism	15
Lesson 4: Military Technology	25
Lesson 5: Turning Point in Global Warfare Debate: Attacks on Civilians	30
Assessment	33
This unit and the Three Essential Questions	34
This unit and the Seven Key Themes	34
This unit and the Standards in Historical Thinking	35
Resources	35
Correlations to National and State Standards	36
Conceptual links to other lessons	37

Complete Teaching Unit in PDF Format

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