Lesson 5: World War II

How did unresolved tensions from World War I contribute to World War II?
How do global alliances shape military conflict?
What factors allowed the war to expand globally?

Expansionism
Alliance warfare
Global conflict

HIS.9-12.3 Analyze complex relationships among multiple causes and effects of historical events.
HIS.9-12.4 Analyze the causes and consequences of historical events on a global scale.

Students evaluate historical explanations and synthesize information from multiple sources.

Students analyze the causes and expansion of World War II and evaluate how global alliances shaped the conflict. Primary DOK level: 4.

Connections to modern international alliances and global security challenges.

Students may assume World War II began suddenly rather than developing from earlier tensions.

Map-based conflict analysis.
Guided reading supports.

Short analytical explanation describing causes of World War II.

War maps, speeches, military timelines.