Fascism and Internationalism
Teacher Resources
Lesson Guide
Find lesson vocabulary, teaching tips and rationales, guiding questions, and more in the Lesson Guide.
Teaching Sensitive Topics in Social Studies
While war is a common topic in a social studies classroom, it’s challenging, nonetheless. Think about how to approach this and other potentially charged topics with your students by taking a look at Teaching Sensitive Topics in Social Studies.
Driving Question: Why did extremist ideologies like fascism emerge during the interwar period?
In the shadow of World War I, some nations pushed for peace and cooperation while others promised strength through control. Examine the factors that drove these decisions, and the consequences that followed.
Learning Objectives:
- Evaluate the characteristics and origins of authoritarian ideologies such as fascism.
- Use causal and comparative thinking to analyze the rise of authoritarian governments in various regions of the world.
- Use a graphic biography to support, extend, or challenge the overarching narratives of this period.
Did you know: Italian fascists wanted to ban spaghetti. Fascists were obsessed with declaring things “too weak.” For example, in 1930, Italian fascist and futurist Filippo Tommaso Emilio Marinetti wrote a whole book—Manifesto of Futurist Cooking—in which he argued that pasta was archaic and weak. He believed that pasta made Italians lethargic and dependent on foreign wheat imports. To no one’s surprise, the Italian public was not convinced.
As you get ready to examine extremist ideologies, step into the shoes of a citizen watching their nation fall to pieces.
What did he know?: Appeasement
The scenario: Students role-play Neville Chamberlain as he made five crucial decisions about how to respond to Hitler in the lead-up to World War II:
- Anschluss (annexation of Austria), March 1938
- Munich Agreement, September 1938
- Occupation of Czechoslovakia, March 1939
- Anglo-Polish Guarantee, March 1939
- Invasion of Poland, September 1939
Prompt AI to provide students with a list of what Chamberlain knew at each step (military strength, public opinion, alliances, and Hitler’s demands). Using answers to these questions—and carefully fact-checking—students then generate arguments for and against appeasement, defending their decisions in a class discussion.
Why this is genius: By stepping into the shoes of a historical actor, students practice historical empathy. AI supports their research, but students must determine what evidence mattered most at the time.
As fascist leaders rose to power, democratic nations faced difficult choices. Discover how efforts to keep peace through compromise shaped the path to another war.
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Guiding Questions
This introduction works best if you can help students understand that fascism, communism, and authoritarianism are not synonyms. A simple chart comparing who gets power, how they justify it, and what they promise in return can keep the distinctions clear. The Internationalism Between the Wars video is especially useful because it reminds students that the 1920s and 1930s were not only about the rise of extremism. There were serious people across the world attempting to build peace.
Fascism emerged as a powerful force in the interwar period, but it wasn’t the only path forward. Compare how different ideologies competed to shape the future in a time of crisis.
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Guiding Questions
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Guiding Questions
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Guiding Questions
Still looking for support for students in reading graphic biographies? Decode a Graphic Biography is a great video tutorial that’s led by Trevor Getz.
Phibunsongkhram’s leadership in Thailand shows how authoritarianism during the interwar period wasn’t limited to Europe. His use of fascist ideas—adapted to local goals—challenges simple definitions and expands our understanding of global authoritarianism.
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Guiding Questions
While fascist ideologies spread across the globe, some people imagined a future built on peace and cooperation. Using these materials, you’ll examine how internationalist thinkers responded to growing authoritarianism, and practice key sourcing skills in the process.
