World War II
Webquest
Causes of World War II
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Introduction
Task
Process
Evaluation
Conclusion
Credits
Introduction
 The WebQuest will
explore the multiple
causes for World War II
from the perspective of
key policies, leaders, and
early events leading to
war. The lead-up to the
war was fueled by strict
dictators and worldwide
depression. The
WebQuest will explore
how these elements led
the world into total war
once again.
Introduction
 World War I, the Great Depression, and the rise of
dictators around the world -- we have now reached the
moment in history when World War II begins. How did
we get from a world of post-war destruction and
economic crisis to a world yet again engulfed in violence
and battles? This WebQuest will guide you through an
exploration of the major causes of World War II, the key
leaders that led throughout the war, and the key events
that brought the world into war. Use the WebQuest guide
provided in the "Task" section of this website to follow
through the process, step-by-step, gathering information
that will lead you from the end of World War I to
September 3, 1939, the day World War II begins.
Task
 This WebQuest is designed to provide an
introduction to World War II. We have discussed
the major events and outcomes of World War I
and explored how that war affected the world
after its conclusion. With the completion of the
test on the Interwar Period and a foundational
understanding of world politics as they stand in
1939, we can begin to learn how the world was
launched into another world war after such
efforts were taken to avoid that very thing.
Task
 The WebQuest will walk you through the details
of how each of the following events, policies, and
leaders contributed to the start of World War
II. Before you begin your research, click on the
link below "WebQuest Product." This link will
open a Microsoft Word document that includes
an outline for your final product. The outline
follows the structure of the WebQuest as you go
in order from Task 1 to Task 2 to Task 3. Fill
this outline in as you research and when
completed, print the document to the
lab printer. This will be the product you turn in
as your completed assignment.
Task
 Find this link below now and open it. Once you
have opened it, type your name into the space
for it on the document -- do not forget this!! If
you do not put your name on it, I cannot go by
handwriting to determine whose is whose. Let's
get started!
 Document: Webquest Guide
Process
 Main Causes of World War II
Use the links from each cause to follow to the website
that will describe the details of each event or policy and
how it contributed to the start of World War
II. Remember to fill in your answers on the Word
Document that outlines the activity for you!
 Treaty of Versailles
 Worldwide depression
 Totalitarian governments
– Germany
– Japan
– Italy
– Soviet Union
Process
 Expansionist policies
 Policy of appeasement
 Continued German
aggression:
 Breaking the Treaty of
Versailles
 Threatening the peace of
Europe
Process
 Leaders of World War II
For the first eight leaders, use the link
from eHistory.com to follow to a
biography on each leader that will describe
basic facts about the leader and their
involvement in World War II.
eHistory.com
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Harry Truman
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Douglas MacArthur
Winston Churchill
Joseph Stalin
Adolf Hitler
Hirohito
Process
 Key Events Leading Up to World War II
 Click on the following link to the "Eight Steps to World
War II." On this website, the following eight key events
are described briefly. Use this site to complete the first
part of the "Key Events" portion of the WebQuest guide.
Process
 Once you are done with that part, follow the links below for each
individual event to complete the questions in the WebQuest guide on
this information.
 Saar plebiscite
 Conscription and re-armament
 Rhineland
 Austria
 Munich
 Czechoslovakia
 USSR/Nazi Pact
 Poland
Process
 For the last two leaders, use the link
provided for a biography on each leader
that will describe basic facts about the
leader and their involvement in World War
II
 George Marshall
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/macarthur/peopleevents/
pandeAMEX105.html
 Hideki
Tojo http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/598171
/Tojo-Hideki
Evaluation
 Once you have completed all the parts of the
"process" section of the WebQuest, complete the
final question in the WebQuest guide
individually. Print your completed product to the
computer lab printer, making sure your NAME
is on it and turn in to Mr. Lane. The guide will
be graded on completion and accuracy of
answers. The final question will be evaluated for
creativity and detailed support.
Conclusion
 By now, you have reached the end of your WebQuest guide. Locate
the final question: Imagine you are living in Germany in 1939. Your
sister immigrated to the United States four years ago. When she left,
she asked you to keep her informed about everything going on in
Germany. Write a letter to your sister in America about political life
in Germany in 1939 -- be sure to include at least two major causes for
the war supported by examples of recent events that illustrate those
causes and two key political leaders. Be sure to explain what each
event means! Remember, she hasn't been to Germany in four
years. She doesn't know what's going on there. Your letter will be
evaluated based on creativity and accuracy of information.
Credits
 Permissions
We all benefit by being generous with our work.
Permission is granted for others to use and
modify this WebQuest for educational, noncommercial purposes as long as the original
authorship is credited. The modified WebQuest
may be shared only under the same conditions.
See the Creative Commons Attribution • NonCommercial • Share-Alike license for details.