Lesson 6.02  - Origins of War
World War II Webquest

  

OBJECTIVE

You will be able to explain how, why, and when America changed from a policy of isolationism post W.W.I to  a declared two front war in Europe and the Pacific.

GUIDING QUESTION
What were the causes of World War II?

DISCUSSION 

The Second World War profoundly changed the landscape of civilization.  No other war in human history has proven as costly, in terms of life and resources.  Beyond that, however, World War Two (WWII) altered the dynamics of both domestic and global politics.  Entire nations were destroyed and new nations were created.  No country was left completely untouched by this great conflict.  Nationalism and militarism (two terms you will come to know) fed the ambitions of certain nations to dominate the world around them.  Certain countries still felt betrayed by treaties left over from the First Great War (WWI).  Some historians actually see WWII as a continuation of WWI, at least in terms of conflicts that were not fully resolved the first time around.  Volumes of literature and cinematic thrillers have been devoted to certain themes in this conflict.  It is important to get a good picture of the scene that set up all the nations of the world for sustained hostility.

Visit the following link, which provides an engaging yet brief account of the causes of World War II.  When you are finished reading, return here.  Make sure you read the entire content of the page, as it contains much useful information that will help you through the rest of this module:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_World_War_II. 

Now that you have a little background, it is time for you to complete the World War II Webquest:

  • You’ll need to do the project in a group of 3.
  • You will take on two different roles. (One person will be the summary/conclusion person).
  • You will receive two grades for this assignment: one for the project and one for your group participation.

Assignment 6.02 - World War II Webquest

Complete the World War II Webquest.

  • You’ll need to do the project in a group of 3.
  • You will take on two different roles.
  • You will receive two grades for this assignment: one for the project and one for your group participation.

When you have finished the Webquest:

  1. One person from the group should e-mail the completed project to the instructor.  Make sure all group member names are included.
  2. History Journal HJ6.2 - World War II ~ A Personal Voice.  Write a two-paragraph description of how one of your specific roles relates to the War – describe the affect of the war on you.  In addition, write one paragraph that describes what you learned about World War II by doing this project.
  3. Discussion Board DB6.1 – Effects of World War II.  Post a new thread to the Discussion Board stating the affect the war had on you. 2-3 sentences is sufficient.  Post a response to another classmates thread (1-2 sentences) from the perspective of the person you researched.  Remember you can earn Extra Credit for responding to additional threads (up to 5 times).

© 2002 Clovis Unified School District - CAL Online, All rights reserved.