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Global Conflict

Driving Question: What caused the global conflicts from 1914 to 1945, and how did people experience this period of global war?

In this lesson, you will investigate how long-term changes such as nationalism, imperialism, and industrialization set the stage for the two world wars. You will also examine how people around the world experienced these massive conflicts and how global war reshaped societies between 1914 and 1945.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Use the historical thinking practice of causation to understand how the events of the long nineteenth century contributed to global conflict in the twentieth century.
  2. Identify major changes and continuities in communities, networks, and production and distribution during this era of global conflict.
STEP 1

Opener: Global Conflict

Begin learning about the global conflicts of the twentieth century by looking back at the long nineteenth century. You will examine how political, economic, and social changes from earlier eras helped create the tensions that led to World War I.

STEP 2

Looking Ahead

Begin exploring how global tensions led to World War I and World War II, and consider how earlier transformations shaped what came next for people and societies worldwide.

STEP 3

World Wars

This video and article introduce the major themes of global conflict from 1914 to 1945. You’ll explore how two world wars reshaped international systems, devastated societies, and transformed the global balance of power.

Unit 7 Overview External link

The long nineteenth century came to a violent end in 1914 with the beginning of a 30-year period of global conflict that launched new ideologies and two world wars.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 4

Framing Unit 7

Use the frames—communities, networks, and production and distribution—to organize your thinking about global conflict. This video and timeline activity will help you connect causes and consequences of the world wars across time and place.

Unit 7 Frames External link

What were the causes, and effects, of both world wars? Let’s see how our three frames can help us understand this question.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 5

Closer: Global Conflict

Extension Materials
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Revise a sample student essay and give suggestions for how to build a strong argument with clear organization and effective use of language—this will help build your own understanding of quality writing.
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Reviewing for Organization and Language/Style

By suggesting revisions to someone else’s writing, you’ll get much better at identifying what makes strong writing. Make suggestions for improving organization and language/style—and then keep those suggestions in mind the next time you write.