Enduring Understanding

In times of crisis, decisions are often made in the name of the common good. In order to evaluate historical decisions, the common good of the time must be understood. In this case, the causes, course, and consequences of U.S. involvement in WWII and its aftermath provide the framework for evaluating the difficult decisions of leaders, individuals, and groups during crisis.

Today, the common good is difficult to determine in a pluralistic society that is not in immediate crisis and appears prosperous and secure.

Possible Essential Questions

1. What is the common good?

2. Who determines the common good?

3. What contributions should a citizen make towards the common good?

4. How do decisions made for the common good affect different people?

5. How are alliances among nations part of the common good?

6. What are appropriate citizen responses when a government pursues immoral courses of action?

7. What effects can scientific and technological advancements have on humans?

OBJECTIVES

A. Students demonstrate understanding of the cause, course, and consequences of World War II, including the character of the war at home.

1. explain the reasons the United States moved from a policy of isolationism to involvement with emphasis on the events that precipitated the attack on Pearl Harbor (US 2.2.1, US 2.2.2)

2. analyze Allied war aims, strategies, and major turning points of the war and evaluate the decision to drop the atomic bomb (US 2.2.2 )

3. describe the impact of events on people at the home front, including the internment of Japanese Americans, the role of women in military production, and the role and growing political demands of African Americans (US 1.1.8, US 2.1.2)

Homefront BCR

4. describe the role and sacrifices of members of the American armed forces (US 2.2.2, US 2.1.2)

5. explain the economic and military mobilization on the home front including the resulting innovations in aviation, weaponry, communications, and medicine (US 2.2.2, US 2.1.2)

6. assess the impact of World War II on the United States’ foreign policy (US 2.2.2, 2.2.3)

B. Students demonstrate understanding of the economic boom, social transformation, and technological development of postwar United States to the present.

1. describe the growth of service sector, white collar, and professional sector jobs in government and business

2. explain the effects of technological developments on the nation’s economic strength, daily life, and the world economy, such as the computer revolution, changes in communication, and advances in medicine (US 3.1.4)

 

Links
Axis of Evil Article
Awesome World War II interactive
Battles
Lecture from the University of Wisc.
Commom Good Review PowerPoint
Events timeline
BBC WWII resources
Dr. Suess Went to War
Enola Gay webpage
Latino's in WWII
Battle Maps Battle Maps 2
WWII information from Encyclopedia.com
WWII information from About.com
WWII Quotes
Propaganda posters #1 , #2, #3

Clickable war story map