Causes of WWII - The Road to War

Students learn about how WWII slowly became inevitable in Europe in a gripping, interactive lesson that always gets students fired up about history's poor decision-making. They take guided notes from an engaging PowerPoint, then complete a reading and worksheet activity to cement their knowledge of the causes of WWII.

Content covered:

-Background of dictatorships in Europe

-Stalin and totalitarianism in the Soviet Union

-Economic depression in Germany and Italy

-Impact of the Treaty of Versailles in Germany

-Rise of Hitler and Mussolini

-Definition and analysis of fascism and Nazism

-German expansionism: Rhineland, Austria, Sudetenland

-Definition and analysis of appeasement

-Analysis of anti-Nazi Dr. Seuss cartoons

-Viewing and analysis of Chamberlain's "Last problem to be solved" speech

The lesson gives many opportunities for class discussion and student writing. It ends with a very brief student reading on long-term causes of WWII which is used to complete a worksheet. This activity may be completed in class or assigned for homework.

You may be interested in the following related resources:

"Perspectives on a Dictator" Activity: Intro to WWII

Rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany

Early WWII Axis Advances: Readings, Worksheet, and Map Diagramming

Pearl Harbor and the U.S. Entrance to WWII

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