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Lesson Plans
The American Journey: A History of the United States ©2000
by David Goldfield, Carl Abbott, Virginia DeJohn Anderson, Jo Ann E. Argersinger, Peter H. Argersinger, William L. Barney, Robert M. Weir
Focus Lesson 22
Chapter 28: "World War II, 1939–1945"
AP* Course Description
- The Second World War
- Organizing for war
- Mobilizing
- Propaganda
- Internment of Japanese Americans
- The war in Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean: D-Day
- The war in the Pacific: Hiroshima, Nagasaki
- Diplomacy
- Postwar atmosphere; the United Nations
- Organizing for war
Key Components
- Instructor's Manual: pp. 186–193
- Study Guide, Vol. II Since 1877: pp. 87–94
- Test Item File: pp. 319–331
Key Web Sites
Given the changing nature of the Internet, you may wish to preview these sites. Always check PHSchool.com for updated links to U.S. history sites.
Key Words and Terms
- Axis Powers
- America First Committee
- Manhattan Project
- Atlantic Charter
- Executive Order 9066
- Operation OVERLORD
- Yalta Conference
- Potsdam Declaration
- United Nations
- J. Robert Oppenheimer
Suggested Pacing
The major theme for the study of this chapter should be the causes and effects of the war. Allow three 90-minute sessions on a block schedule or six 45-minute classes on a traditional bell schedule.
Test Strategy
The multiple-choice section of the U.S. history AP* exam is divided into clusters of 6 to 10 or 12 questions that move through U.S. history from the earliest to the most recent time periods. One way for students to eliminate answer choices in the multiple-choice section is to first determine the time frame to which the question and each of the possible answer choices given refers. For example, if a question shows a map of the United States and asks students to identify a shaded area, students should determine the time frame of the preceding question and of the following question to determine what time frame the map might be showing. If the previous question is about the War of 1812 and the subsequent question is about the election of 1828, then the map might be showing the area involved in the Missouri Compromise (1820).
Key Concepts
- The influence of World War I
It is important that students make the connection between the backlash from World War I and its effect on the nation's response to events in Europe in the 1930s. By the 1930s, many Americans had concluded that the nation's participation in World War I had been a mistake. Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts limiting the sale of munitions to warring countries. These actions were in part taken as a result of the findings of the Nye Committee, which laid much of the blame for World War I on international bankers and arms makers. Some Americans started a campaign known as "America First" and attempted to turn the country toward a policy of isolationism. It was against this background that Roosevelt endeavored to help the nation's allies. - The significance of events during World War II
The AP* exam will not ask questions about how battles were fought and who won what battle. The test writers may ask about significant battlefield strategy such as the conflict among the Allies over opening a second front in Europe, the reason why Stalin agreed to attack Japan, or the issues involved in deciding to drop the atomic bomb over Japan. The test assesses how well students understand significant events, not details.
Summing Up Student Understanding
Have students do a research project to evaluate the effects of the war on the home front. The following are some topics that students might consider: the role of women, Japanese internment camps including a map of the location of the camps, African Americans in defense work, civil rights, Hollywood and the war, and the popular culture of the 1940s. Students should give a brief class presentation of no more than 100 words and include a visual in their presentation.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
You might also find these additional readings useful in developing students' background knowledge or for DBQ activities:
- American Issues: Vol. II Since 1865, edited by Unger and Tomes—Chapter 10
- The Power of Words: Vol. II From 1865, edited by Breen—Chapter 9
- Constructing the American Past, Vol. II, edited by Gorn, Roberts, and Bilhartz—Chapter 10
- American Experiences: Vol. II From 1877, edited by Roberts and Olson (secondary source readings)—Part Five