Facing History and Ourselves
The Nazi Party Platform
Not all party platforms stay democratic. A resource covers many political issues in Germany during the time of World War II, and teaches pupils about the Nazi party platform and what went wrong. Individuals participate in a warm-up...
Curated OER
Rome: Republic to Empire
Sixth graders discuss the rise of Rome from a republic to a dictatorship. In small groups, they role-play as congress people debating whether or not to give the president more powers. In another activity, 6th graders produce television...
Curated OER
Saddam Hussein and Modern Iraq
Take your class through a moment in modern history in this presentation, which details the rise of Saddam Hussein and the dynamics between Iraq and its neighbors during the Persian Gulf War and the current Iraq war. Though slightly...
Curated OER
Beginning of World War II
Ninth graders explore how the rise of dictators led to the start of World War II. They identify and explain the main causes for World War II and they explain the causes for the rise of dictators during the 1920's.
Facing History and Ourselves
Life for German Youth in the 1930s: Education, Propaganda, Conformity, and Obedience
The German youth faced an onslaught of propaganda when they went to school, thanks to the Nazi regime led by Hitler during World War II. Pupils relate their education experiences to German youth by analyzing primary source readings,...
Beverly Hills High School
Napoleon: What Would You Do?
Begin a study of Napoleon Bonaparte and the French Revolution by presenting class members with 10 situations that Napoleon would face as he rose to power. Individuals select one of three options for each scenario that represents what...
Facing History and Ourselves
Laws and the National Community
When it comes to the law, is justice always served? Teach scholars about how law sometimes enables prejudice of entire groups of people with a unit on World War II that includes a warm-up activity, analysis of primary sources,...
Curated OER
Governing National Socialist Germany
Young scholars spend a month discovering the role of the Nazi Dictatorship during the Holocaust. Using the internet, they research the history of the Nazi party and the decline of the Weimar Republic. They examine how Hitler rose to...
Curated OER
Research Activity: Grades 10-12
Students discuss the war in Iraq, Adam Michnik's essay "We, the Traitors," and the notion that we bear a collective responsibility to rise up against oppression, within a modern geo-political context. They each write a research report on...
Curated OER
Rome Comes to Third Grade
Students explore the world of Ancient Rome in this thirteen lessons unit. the rise and fall of the Roman Empire is probed. The ideals that inspired the people's sense of purpose are developed in these lessons.
Curated OER
What Fostered the Axis?
Ninth graders present the major cultural, economic and political forces in Germany, Italy & Japan that allowed for the rise and dominance of totalitarian regimes in that country. They discuss how the above listed forces brought the...
Facing History and Ourselves
Do You Take the Oath?
Why did so many go along with Nazi policies during World War II? An investigatory unit includes four handouts, reading analyses, classroom discussion topics, and intriguing philosophical questions, helping learners understand the...
Curated OER
Post-WWII De-Colonization
The end of WWII brought big changes around the world, not the least of which occur in the increasingly decolonized continent of Africa. This slideshow details the developing countries of Ghana, Kenya, Congo, Nigeria, and South Africa, to...
Curated OER
The Reichstag Fire
Students examine the implications of the burning of the Reichstag in 1933. Using the Weimer Constitution as a guide, they identify issues that allowed for Hitler and the Nazi party to gain power. In groups, they create a web of the...
Curated OER
Vladimir Lenin
In this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about Vladimir Lenin. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive worksheet.
Curated OER
Joseph Stalin
In this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about the accomplishments of Joseph Stalin. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive worksheet.
Curated OER
It's a Grand Ol' Government!
Students discuss the three branches of government and the different levels. They talk about the purpose of laws and use the Internet to locate information about governments. They watch the video, "United States Constitution" and look up...
Curated OER
Studies of the Ancient World
Sixth graders, after taking a pretest, write a paragraph describing the difference between Athens and Sparta and write an article about the ancient Phoenicians, describing their contributions to world history. They compare democracy in...
Tom Richey
Tom Richey: Dictatorships and World War Ii
World War II was a direct result of the rise of dictators in some European nations. Enhance study with these detailed videos, lessons, and slide shows.
Yad Vashem, The World Holocaust Remembrance Center
Yad Vashem: The Holocaust Resource Center the "Legal" Dictatorship
Yad Vashem has the largest collection of Holocaust resources than anywhere else in the world. Their main objective is preserving all the stories of this time period so it is not forgotten or repeated. They have broken down the Holocaust...
The History Place
The History Place: The Rise of Adolf Hitler: Hitler Becomes Dictator
Describes the measures taken by the Nazis who used Hitler's Emergency Decree as a pretence to brutally remove all elected officials who were not sympathizers. The result was an end of democracy and Hitler was established as a dictator....
Steven Kreis, PhD
The History Guide: Totalitarianism: Stalin and Hitler
An account of the rise of totalitarianism with the despotic, brutal leadership of both Stalin and Hitler depicted.
Tom Richey
Tom Richey: Totalitarianism in Interwar Europe
Identify those nations where totalitarianism reigned following World War I. Follow the political systems of Russia, Germany, and Italy from 1919-1939 through this illustrated slideshow.