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Global Conflict

Driving Question: What were the causes of global conflict from 1900 to the present?

The first half of the twentieth century was unlike anything that came before. Nations around the world became embroiled in conflict. Two world wars, one from 1914 to 1918, and the other from 1939 to 1945, unleashed unprecedented amounts of devastation and wrought havoc upon nations, their people, and their economies. In this unit, you will explore how this era of conflict unraveled, as well as the grave consequences of that conflict.

Learning Objectives

  1. Explain how historical, internal, and global factors led to changes in various states after 1900 CE.
  2. Understand how different factors, both internal and external, led to global shifts in power after 1900.

Vocab Terms:

  • antisemitism
  • authoritarianism
  • communism
  • fascism
  • ideology
  • militarism
  • total war
STEP 1

Opener: Global Conflict

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 7.0 Teaching Guide Locked .

From authoritarianism to redistribution, preview Unit 7 through this vocabulary exercise.

STEP 2

Unit 7 Overview

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 7.0 Teaching Guide Locked .

Want to make sure students are engaging academically with videos? Take a look at OER Project Video Guide for some great ideas on how to do this!

The first half of the twentieth century saw two devastating world wars that involved nations, colonies, and economies in total conflict. This video explores how these wars began, the attempts to prevent them, and how the failures after World War I led to an even more destructive World War II.

Unit 7 Overview: Global Conflict External link

The tensions of the long nineteenth century produced two world wars and made the early twentieth century an era of global conflict.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 3

Unit 7 Introduction: Global Conflict, 1900–Present

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 4 of the Lesson 7.0 Teaching Guide Locked .

Use the Three-Step Reading Worksheet to help evaluate what kinds of supports students need in unpacking texts.

Should World War I and World War II be seen as parts one and two of the same conflict? This article examines the factors for both conflicts.

STEP 4

Closer: Global Conflict

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 6 of the Lesson 7.0 Teaching Guide Locked .

Check out the our Openers and Closers Guide to find out more about why these important activities bookend our lessons.