World War II
Unit description: In this unit, students will study the aggression of the Axis powers that threatened United States security and led to its entry into World War II. Students will explore the nature and consequences of warfare during World War II and how it transformed the United States and the global community. In addition, students will investigate the damage from total warfare and atrocities such as the Holocaust and how they led to a call for international efforts to protect human rights and prevent future wars.
Download the complete Social Studies Grade 8 Unit 6 framework to customize for your own planning.
Standards
Standards: 1, 2, 3; Themes: TCC, GOV, TECH, EXCH
Essential Questions and Big Ideas
Big idea of the unit: The aggression of the Axis powers threatened United States security and led to its entry into World War II.
What issues contributed to the outbreak of war in Europe and Asia?
- Worldwide economic depression, militant nationalism, the rise of totalitarian rule, and the unsuccessful efforts of the League of Nations to preserve peace contributed to the outbreak of war in Europe and Asia.
How did the United States try to maintain neutrality during this time in history?
- From 1939 to 1941, the United States government tried to maintain neutrality while providing aid to Britain but was drawn into the war by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
What were the effects of the war on the American economy and day-to-day life?
- The United States fought a war on multiple fronts. At home, the economy was converted to war production, and essential resources were rationed to ensure adequate supplies for military use.
What was the role of New Yorkers in World War II?
- New York contributed in many ways to World War II, such as hosting refugees at Fort Ontario Refugee Center and by building ships and aircraft carriers at the Brooklyn Navy Yard., among others.
What events during World War II led to a call for an international organization to prevent future wars and the protection of human rights?
- The nature and consequences of warfare during World War II transformed the United States and the global community. The damage from total warfare and human atrocities, including the Holocaust, led to a call for an international organization to prevent future wars and the protection of human rights.