The Second World War was the product of both long-term trends—like nationalism and racism—and recent events such as the First World War.

The Second World War was an era of slaughter and terror. What were its causes, and what did it resolve?

What were the causes and consequences of the Second World War? Let’s see how our three frames can help answer this question.

Orient yourself in time and space as you begin Unit 7, by using maps to make predictions about the scale and devastation of the Second World War.

A black and white version of the world in 1945 CE, that can be cropped to specific regions and easily printed.

An individualized tracker for new words encountered in Unit 7. Add to it as the unit progresses.

In Unit 7, continue the routine of building a class word wall, an important visual cue and literacy support.

This vocab guide provides a summary of the key vocabulary for the unit.

Vocab cards for each of the key words in this unit.

Here’s the new Unit Problem! Respond to this based on what you currently know… don’t worry if it’s not much—you’re going to learn a lot more!

The past was not peaceful. Is there more violent conflict today than in the past? Is war becoming deadlier? The data is more complicated than you might think.

Students select their final project topic. Students identify a topic with world-historical significance that’s meaningful to them.

Students will investigate the context for the Great Depression, which will deepen their understanding of how both capitalism and globalization played a role in the depression.

The Great Depression was a global catastrophe that affected the lives of billions around the world. It brought authoritarians to power and helped cause the Second World War.

After World War I, many people had dreams of peace and international cooperation. But these dreams were not realized as the world grew more isolationist and combative.

How successful was internationalism in unifying nations around the world? Use the Quick-Sourcing Tool to assess the sources in this collection to find out!

How successful was internationalism in unifying nations around the world? The primary sources in this collection will help you respond to this question.

Fascism is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot. But it is a definable concept describing a repressive form of government that helped cause the Second World War.

The 1920s and 1930s were politically unstable, and fascist regimes gained power. How did they use race, gender, and other categories of difference to divide communities?

We constantly hear messages from politicians, advertisers, and influencers. Why is it so important to critically analyze these messages?

How was Hitler able to take over so much territory before other countries declared war? Avoid the trap of presentism by thinking critically about this difficult question.

The Great Depression was about as fun as it sounds. Like most difficult historical events, this economic disaster changed how people lived, and how they wanted to live.

The Nazis were not the only fascists in Europe. But Nazism’s racist ideology and persecution of Jews distinguished it from other varieties of fascism.

Fascist Italy was the first state of its kind in Europe. Under Mussolini, the Fascists aspired to a totalitarian, authoritarian dictatorship.

This examination of the totalitarian features of the Soviet state under Stalin is a great way to learn the differences between two rival ideologies: communism and fascism.

Communism and fascism are words that are used often in political and historical discussions, but not always correctly. Time to get it straight!

Japanese militarism built the foundation of state-centered authoritarianism during the interwar period.

Communism and fascism are words that are used often in political and historical discussions, but not always correctly. Time to get it straight!

As authoritarian leaders came to power in many countries, a few people might have realized the horrors to come, but most people barely recognized the danger.

Appeasement. It sounds nice. But the failed attempts to appease Adolf Hitler in the lead up to World War II have become a historical punchline, with some serious consequences.

World War II was an epic conflict between two great alliances. It was a grueling war with no predictable outcome. For those involved, it was also a very personal experience.

World War II was a total war which devastated many parts of the world on a massive scale. John Green thinks through important questions about this tragic global conflict.

Plaek Phibunsongkhram was an authoritarian Prime Minister of Thailand. He forged his own version of fascism and allied with Japan during the Second World War.

Wars are expensive, but WW II took it to another level. Here’s a look at how many nations in this devastating conflict came to embrace the idea of a “total war” economy.

What changed as governments waged war from 1914 to 1945? Use the Quick-Sourcing Tool to assess the primary sources in this collection to find out!

What changed as governments waged war from 1914 to 1945? The primary sources in this collection will help you formulate a response to this question.

Rarely do historical events have a single cause. World War II is no exception. In this activity, you will examine and evaluate the complex and entangled causes of war.

World War II was incredibly destructive. This video uses interactive data to examine the cost of the war in lives, comparing its casualties to other conflicts in history.

The Holocaust was the murder of millions of Jews and other persecuted groups across Nazi-occupied Europe during the Second World War.

Manuel Quezon was the leader of the Philippines during the Second World War. He took in victims of the Holocaust, against critics who saw Jews as a threat to the country.

The Holocaust was a tragedy of such scale that it defies comprehension. This collection of primary sources provides windows into the brutality—and banality—of the atrocities.

When learning about horrific events, how do we grapple with who shares responsibility?

How has your understanding changed since the beginning of the unit? Time to revisit the Unit Notebook!

In 1945, the United States killed hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians with a new, powerful weapon. People have long debated if the use of the atom bomb was necessary.

The year is 2050 and rising sea levels due to climate change are forcing people to flee their homes. How should the nations of the world respond?

In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws showed what can happen when rulers do whatever they want. After World War II, the Allies put Nazi leaders on trial for crimes against humanity.

What’s worse than having another world war only 20 years after the first one? How about 30 years of continuous war?

A lot of people make a lot of claims about the world wars. Here, it’s your job to evaluate some of these statements and the evidence behind them.

It’s time review the map predictions you made at the beginning of the unit, as you examine a series of new maps to help you think about the unit problem.

A full-color thematic map of First World War Casualties and Alliance in 1914 CE, meant to help you support, extend, and challenge the frame narratives.

A full-color thematic map of the Second World War (November, 1942 CE), meant to help you support, extend, and challenge the frame narratives.

It’s another opportunity to analyze the Organization and Language and Style of a sample essay. Get out your red pen!

Analyze the documents in this DBQ to respond to an important question: how—and why—was the Nazi Party able to come to power in prewar Germany?

These DBQ writing samples provide example essays to help support writing instruction in different ways—use as you see fit in your classroom!

If art is a mirror held to society, what did people see in the era of the world wars, and how did it shape what they created?

The First World War began with plans for rapid victories. It degenerated into a stalemate of mud and blood that lasted four long years.