World War II: A Global War 1939-1945 U.S.

History A

Following WWI, the Treaty of Versailles made Germany feel humiliated after having to take full
responsibility for the war. Defeated and disgraced, Adolf Hitler began to captivate the country and was
quickly able to mobilize Germany by working to restore past glory and pride among the German people.
By 1939, Hitler had complete control and began invading other countries, ​initiating World War II​. After
Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese in 1941, the United States entered the war and abandoned their
previous policy of isolationism. The war impacted Americans instantly. Rationing and recycling became
the norm, as Americans were asked to “​do your part​” and contribute anything they could to come out of
the war victorious. In the process, a shortage in labor provided women and African Americans with more
rights and employment opportunities. However, Japanese Americans were at the forefront of
discrimination and forcibly removed from their homes and into internment camps as a measure to protect
national security. Meanwhile, in Europe, Hitler gained more momentum by blaming the Jews for the
economic crisis that plagued Germany. This build up of anti-semitism over hundreds of years erupted in
mass murders and human rights violations which notoriously became known as the Holocaust. By 1945,
Americans were beginning to become aware of these atrocities and were also confronted with the question
of the atomic bomb. Would the United States use nuclear weapons against Japan at the price to win the
war? At what cost can war be morally justified by human suffering, genocide and violence?

​Great Depression Ends FDR signs Lend-Lease V-E Day U.S. Internment Camps Japan Surrenders
1939 1941 1945 ​→ ​ 1945 1945

1938 1941 1944 1945 ​→ 1945

​Night of Broken Glass Pearl Harbor FDR accepts 4th Term U.S. Drops A-Bombs Auschwitz Liberated

Guiding Questions:

1) What were the main causes of WWII?

2) Was WWII a “good war?” Why or why not, and for whom?
3) What was life like for Americans on the Homefront during WWII?
4) What role did the United States play in European and Asian affairs
during WWII?
5) How did popular culture and propaganda influence the public during
the war? What was the social impact of these medias?
6) What was Pearl Harbor? Why did the Japanese attack and what was the
United States response?
7) What was the Holocaust? What was United States public opinion
towards Jewish refugees?
8) Why did the U.S. emerge as the number one global power following the
end of the war?
9) What was the controversy surrounding the atomic bomb? Is it ever
justified to use a weapon of mass destruction?

Expectations:
1. Come to class prepared, and ready to actively participate with an open mind! :)
2. Continue to keep our classroom a safe space. Everyone will respect the responses and questions
from their peers.
 3. Students are responsible for any in class assignments, reading, completing reading notes,
homework assignments, guiding questions and the end of the unit test.
4. Reading Quiz​: There will be a reading quiz on ​April 21st​. The quiz will be on your assigned
textbook reading. The quiz will look similar to past quizzes; multiple choice, and one short
answer question. You may bring your reading notes (one-page). Everyone should bring a page of
notes as they are designed to help you. Please bring them! The quiz will be worth ​20 points.
5. Test​: On​ April 28th​, you will have your unit test. The test will cover material from World War
II. All guiding questions, class activities and homework readings are fair game. There will be
matching, multiple choice, short answer and paragraph responses.

Key Terms:
Franklin D. Roosevelt Anti-Semitism
Pearl Harbor Blitzkrieg VJ Day
Lend Lease Act The Big 3 Neutrality Acts
Manhattan Project Rationing War Bonds
Internment Camps Holocaust Hiroshima
Island Hopping Harry Truman Nagasaki
Appeasement Executive Order 9066 Genocide
War Refugee Board Rosie the Riveter
Night of Broken Glass Fascism

Unit Schedule:
4/17:​ ​Introduction, Road to Europe ​GQ #1, #4
~~​HW​:​ ​Read pages 687-690.
4/18:​ ​Pearl Harbor: A Day of Infamy ​GQ #6
~~​HW​: Read pages 691-”Holding the Line”
692, 695-697. Post GQ #6 on Moodle :)
4/19:​ ​War on the Homefront ​GQ #2, #3
~~​HW​: Read pages 691-”Holding the Line”
692, 695-697. Study for Reading Quiz!
4/21:​ ​***Quiz, Japanese Internment ​GQ #2, #3 #6
~~​HW​: Read pages 698-703.
4/24:​ ​Popular Culture ​GQ #3, #5
~~​HW​: Read pages 698-703. Post GQ #3 on
Moodle!
4/25:​ ​The Holocaust & American Action​ ​GQ #2, #7, #8
~~​HW​: Read pages 705-709.
4/26:​ ​The A-Bomb ​GQ #2, #8, #9
~~​HW​: Study for your unit test!
4/28:​ ***​Test!
~~​HW​: None! :)