Century of Conflict
Teacher Resources
Lesson 8.1 Teaching Guide
Driving Question: What caused the global conflicts from 1914 to 1991, and how did people experience this period of global war?
Those witnessing the devastation of the First World War hoped that no country would ever want to go to war again. Many even called it “the war to end all wars.” At the time, it was the worst and most violent conflict in human history. But it would not hold that title for long. Just 20 years after the end of the first world war, the failure of internationalism and the rise of fascism led to a second, much deadlier world war. At the conclusion of the Second World War, the two most powerful victorious powers soon found themselves embroiled in a global Cold War. These global conflicts of the twentieth century were often a result of the massive changes that emerged during the long nineteenth century.
- Learn about the causes and consequences of this era of global conflict.
- Use close-reading skills to evaluate how the historical events and processes of the long nineteenth century contributed to global conflict in the century that followed.
- Practice informal writing skills by considering the Unit Problem statements.
Opener
Global Conflict (1914 to 1991 CE): Unit 8 Overview
Key Ideas
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Before you watch
Before you watch the video, it’s a good idea to open and skim the video transcript. And always read the questions below so you know what to look and listen for as you watch!
While you watch
- Who was Petr Ginz?
- What does “total war” mean?
- Why did people call World War I the “War to End All Wars”?
- In what ways was the Second World War worse than the First?
- How were the United States and the Soviet Union different during the Cold War? How were they similar?
- What does the term decolonization mean?
After you watch
- Who/what do you think Petr Ginz is talking about in the final quote in the video? Why?
Article
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Note: For more detailed directions on completing the three close reads below, refer to the Three Close Reads – Introduction activity.
Skim
Before you read, you should quickly skim the article, by looking at the headings of each section and the charts. Read the questions below as well, so you know what to look for when you read!
Key Ideas
- What are some possible causes of the First World War?
- What important events happened between the two world wars? What is this period called?
- Who do you think is responsible for starting the Second World War?
- What is decolonization?
Evaluate
- This article discusses decolonization as part of the global conflicts of the twentieth century. Based on what you’ve learned so far, when did the story of decolonization and colonial resistance begin?
Frames in Unit 8 (Part 1)
Key Ideas
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Before you watch
Before you watch the video, it’s a good idea to open and skim the video transcript. And always read the questions below so you know what to look and listen for as you watch!
While you watch
- The long nineteenth century saw nationalism emerge as a transformative force. How did that contribute to the start of World War I?
- How did new ideas about community that arose in the 1930s lead to the atrocities of World War II?
- How did World War I diminish global networks?
- How did production and distribution change during this period?
After you watch
- Knowing what you know about the world we live in today, what do you think are some answers to the questions posed at the end of the video? For example, is possible to have nationalism without extremism? Can international networks be built to avoid future wars? What kind of production and distributions system would allow the world to rebuild after a massive event like this?
Frames in Unit 8 (Part 2)
Key Ideas
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Before you watch
Before you watch the video, it’s a good idea to open and skim the video transcript. And always read the questions below so you know what to look and listen for as you watch!
While you watch
- What were the systems of production and distribution championed by the United States and the Soviet Union, respectively?
- What was a shared trait of capitalism and communism and how did it draw the United States and the Soviet Union into decolonization conflicts?
- How can we view decolonization through the lens of the communities frame?
- How did the Cold War and decolonization together give rise to networks of leaders, rebels, and states?
After you watch
- How does looking at the Cold War and decolonization through the three frames help you understand how the two trends were connected?
Activity