Causation: World War II
WORLD HISTORY PROJECTAP/ LESSON 7.6ACTIVITYCAUSATION: WORLD WAR IIUnless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Causation: World War II”, OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/1PurposeIn this activity, you will evaluate the causes of World War II. In doing so, you’ll see how there can be multiple causes for a historical event. Some of these causes might occur long before the actual event takes place, while others are more immediate. Youwill see how historians often disagree on the most important causes for an event, and how they often focus on particular causes to shape people’s understanding of those events. This will continue to sharpen your causation skills, enabling you to look at different accounts in history and make your own viable historical explanations and causal arguments to explain historical events from your own perspectives.ProcessIn this activity, you will complete the Causation Tool, create a causal map, and write a two-paragraph response to a causal prompt.First, your teacher will either hand out or have you download the Causation—World War II worksheet, which includes the Causation Tool, along with the articles “The Second World War” and “Economics in the Second World War.” Review these two articles and pull out any information that will help you complete the Causation Tool as well as details that will help you write a response that answers this causal prompt:What were two of the most significant causes AND two of the most significant consequences of World War II?Next, use your list of causes and consequences from reviewing the articles to complete the Causation Tool, following all of the directions. Then, categorize your causes by time (long term, intermediate term, and short term); then, by type, using the tool’slegend; and finally, by role (necessary, relevant, triggering event).Now, use your causes and consequences from the tool to create a causal map. Remember that you did this for the Black Death inUnit 2. Your causal maps should have World War II in the center circle/box with the causes leading to the war as well as any consequences that stemmed from this war.Once everyone has completed their causal maps, return to the causal prompt and individually write a two-paragraph response to the prompt. Remember that you can use your completed tools, the articles, and your causal maps to help you compose your paragraphs. Make sure to explain your reasoning for why the causes and consequences you chose are the most significant ones and remember to use the acronym ADE to help determine historical significance. Your teacher will collect your worksheet and paragraphs at the end of class and use them to assess your understanding of this historical event and the historical thinking practice of causation.
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT AP / LESSON 7.6ACTIVITYCAUSATION: WORLD WAR II2Causation ToolDirections: First, add the event you are analyzing (in the middle of the page). Be sure to include dates, location, and a brief description of the event. Then, list your causes (at the top of the page) and use the legend to help you label type and role. Finally, list the effects of the event (bottom of page), and again use the legend to help you label type and role. If your teacher asks you to create a causal map, use your answers here to help construct that causal representation.Causes:Long-TermIntermediate-TermShort-TermEvent(includethe name,dates, location,and abrief description)EffectsLegendType: (P) Political (I) Innovation ($) Economic (C) Cultural (E) Environmental (S) SocialRole: (*) Triggering Event Necessary Relevant
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT AP / LESSON 7.6ACTIVITYCAUSATION: WORLD WAR II3Causal Map