WS/FCS
Unit Planning Organizer
Subject(s)
Grade/Course
Unit of Study
Unit Title
Pacing
Social Studies
American History 2
Unit 5: World War II (6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3)
World War II
6 Days



Conceptual Lenses
Foreign Policy
War
Change
Unit Overview
The fifth unit of American History 2 examines World War II through the lenses of Foreign Policy, War,
and Change.
U.S. Foreign Policy 1920-1940
World War I left Europe in economic turmoil. The Great Depression further complicated the situation.
Desperate to seek an end to economic troubles, European citizens looked for new leaders to bring
about change. For some countries, new leadership would come in the form of dictators who promised
to usher in a new age of prosperity and power.
After World War I, the United States moved to a policy of isolationism. Though there was economic
growth in the 1920s, the United States faced its worst economic crisis in the 1930s. The importation
of foreign goods was limited by tariffs as a measure to boost the economy, which furthered the
economic crisis in Europe.
The authoritarian leaders of Germany, Italy, and Japan used the weak economies of Europe to gain
territory. Still trying to recover from the damage of World War I, and dealing with weakening
economies, European nations used appeasement to deal with the aggressive actions of Germany
and Italy. Unfortunately, war was inevitable.
At the start of World War II, the United States continued its isolationist policies. As the war waged on,
it became clear that United States allies needed assistance. Still sticking with a neutral stance, the
United States developed a lend-lease policy to provide the Allied Powers with weapons and other
supplies.
U.S. Involvement in World War II
The United States adherence to neutrality would end when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on
December 7, 1941. This action brought the United States into a war that it desperately tried to avoid.
This attack would permanently change the role the United States would play in international affairs.
Americans quickly strapped on their patriotic boots in support of the war effort. Men from all
racial/ethnic backgrounds enlisted to fight on the front and made significant contributions to the
success of the Allied forces. Production of non-essential war products was halted and food and
supplies were rationed in order to ensure troops had necessary supplies. Women took on nontraditional work roles and volunteered for non-combat positions in the military.
Even though Americans were united in their efforts to fight the Axis Powers, they were not united
regarding rights and equality. African Americans moved to the Midwest for better jobs. Their arrival in
already crowded cities led to increased racial tensions and discrimination. Mexican Americans faced
similar problems in California. Due to the fear that Japanese Americans might be working for the
enemy, they were sent to live on internment camps.
Ending World War II
As the Axis Power began to weaken in Europe, the leaders of Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the
United States met in Yalta, Crimea in the early part of 1945 to discuss how to rebuild post-war Europe
and administer Germany. Once the war in Europe had ended, the United States was able to focus on
ending the war in the Pacific. The sudden death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt left new President
Harry Truman in charge of ending the war with Japan and bringing the troops home.
Another meeting between the leaders of Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States was
held in the summer of 1945 in Potsdam, Germany. The continued discussion of war reparations, land
settlements, and land governing magnified the already tense relations between the United States and
the Soviet Union.
With his sights set on ending the war with Japan as quickly as possible, President Truman made the
decision to utilize a new weapon: the atomic bomb. Though President Truman felt confident in making
this decision, citing it would prevent over a million Allied casualties, it was a controversial decision at
the time and is still debated today. Regardless of the controversy, the use of the atomic bombs on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought World War II to an end.
Unit Enduring Understanding(s)
1. Foreign policy can influence decisions
regarding war.
2. War can impact the authority of political
leaders.
3. Traditional roles of people and nations can
change as a result of war.
Unit Essential Question(s)
1. How can a nation’s foreign policy influence its
response to war?
2. How does war affect the authority of political
leaders?
3. How can war lead to changes in the
established roles of people and nations?
Essential State Standards
Priority Objectives
AH2.H.6.1 Explain how national economic and
political interests helped set the direction of
United States foreign policy since Reconstruction.
AH2.H.6.2 Explain the reasons for United States
involvement in global wars and the influence each
involvement had on international affairs.
AH2.H.7.1 Explain the impact of wars on
American politics since Reconstruction.
Supporting Objectives
AH2.H.8.3 Evaluate the extent to which a variety
of groups and individuals have had opportunity to
attain their perception of the “American Dream”
since Reconstruction.
AH2.H.7.2 Explain the impact of wars on the
American economy since Reconstruction.
AH2.H.7.3 Explain the impact of wars on
American society and culture since
Reconstruction.
“Unpacked” Concepts
(students need to know)
“Unpacked” Skills
(students need to be able to do)
COGNITION
(RBT Level)
AH2.H.3.1
 how economic, political,
social, military and religious
factors influenced United
States imperialism
AH2.H.3.1
 Analyze (influence)
AH2.H.3.1
 Analyzing
AH2.H.6.1
 how national economic and
political interests helped set
the direction of United States
foreign policy
AH2.H.6.1
 Explain (interests)
AH2.H.6.1
 Understanding
AH2.H.6.2
 reasons for United States
involvement in global wars
and the influence each
involvement had on
international affairs
AH2.H.6.2
 Explain (reasons and
influence)
AH2.H.6.2
 Understanding
AH2.H.7.1
 impact of wars on American
politics
AH2.H.7.1
 Explain (impact)
AH2.H.7.1
 Understanding
AH2.H.7.2
 Explain (impact)
AH2.H.7.2
 Understanding
AH2.H.7.3
 Explain (impact)
AH2.H.7.3
 Understanding
AH2.H.7.2
 impact of wars on the
American economy
AH2.H.7.3
 impact of wars on
American society and culture
Standard(s)
AH2.H.6.1
Explain how
national
economic and
political
interests helped
set the direction
of United States
foreign policy
since
Reconstruction.
AH2.H.6.2
Explain the
reasons for
United States
involvement in
global wars and
the influence
each
involvement
had on
international
affairs.
AH2.H.7.2
Explain the
impact of wars
on the
American
economy since
Reconstruction.
Unit
“Chunking” &
Enduring
Understandings
U.S. Foreign
Policy 19201940
A country may
provide
economic
support to allies
that are at war.
Suggested
Lesson
Essential
Questions
Possible Factual
Content
(Bold Found in
Standards)
Example(s)
From
Unpacked
Standard
How and why
economic and
political
conditions in
Europe after
World War I
led to the rise
of authoritarian
 Europe
rulers and the
- political and
economic conditions onset of World
War II.
* authoritarian rule
 US Foreign Policy
Why did the
- isolationism
United States shift
How and why
* practices
its foreign policy
American
* withdraw to aid
from isolationism
foreign policy
Allied Powers
to aid the Allied
shifted from
- neutrality to
Powers at the
neutrality to
Interventionism
start of World War
- Hawley-Smoot Tariff interventionism
II?
at the
- Four Freedoms
beginning of
- lend-lease policy
World War II.
How, why, and
to what extent
Americans
mobilized and
economically
sacrificed on
behalf of allied
and national
efforts in world
wars.
*Though most unit
plans count each LEQ
as a one day topic, it
would be suggested
that the first two
questions in this
section be combined
into one day and
spend two days on the
third question.
AH2.H.7.1
Explain the
impact of wars
on American
politics since
Reconstruction.
AH2.H.7.2
Explain the
impact of wars
on the
American
economy since
Reconstruction.
U.S. Involvement
in World War II
Foreign attacks
on a nation often
result in political
and cultural
support in
defense of the
nation.
AH2.H.7.3
How did the
attack at Pearl
Harbor impact the
political and
cultural support
for U.S.
involvement in
World War II?
 US Prepare and
Request for War
- Pearl Harbor
How did the
actions of
American soldiers
contribute to the
Allies success in
World War II?
 War Effort on the
Front
- soldiers
* fight for freedom
and democracy
- ethnic groups
* Tuskegee Airmen
* bracero program
* American Indian
“code talkers”
- intelligence services
Explain the
impact of wars
on American
society and
culture since
Reconstruction.
Soldiers put
aside cultural
disparities to
contribute to the
defense of their
nation.
How did
Citizens may take America’s
 Home Front
- politics
* propaganda
~ appeal to
patriotism
~ sell war effort
~ use of media
+ newspaper,
radio, film
* restrict civil
How American
political
leaders used
foreign
aggression as
opportunities
to prepare for
and request
war.
How various
ethnic groups
within the
United States
contributed to
American war
efforts.
How, why, and
to what extent
Americans
mobilized and
economically
sacrificed on
behalf of allied
and national
efforts in world
wars.
on new roles in
society and be
forced to give up
rights during a
time of war.
AH2.H.6.1
Explain the
reasons for
United States
involvement in
liberties
- economics
How and why
* rationing
United States
* war bonds
involvement in
* war industry
world wars and
* farming gains
the
* labor unrest and
contributions
strikes
of women
- people
during times of
* sacrifice for war
war impacted
~ “Wheatless
the
Wednesdays”
perceptions
* African Americans and roles of
~ Great Migration
women in
~ Congress of
American
Racial Equality
society.
(CORE)
* Japanese Americans How, why and
~ Japaneseto what extent
American
the federal
internment camps government
* women
restricted the
~ WAVES
civil liberties of
~ Rosie the Riveter various groups
~ perception
of Americans
change
during times of
- literature, art, music, war.
pop culture
Ending World
War II
Explain how
national
economic and
political
interests helped
set the direction
of United States
foreign policy
since
Reconstruction.
AH2.H.6.2
involvement in
World War II
politically,
economically, and
socially impact
Americans at
home?
Nations that win
global conflicts
often take on
leadership roles
in global affairs.
How did the
 Allied Conferences
United States
 Truman
involvement in
 Atomic Bomb
ending World War
- rationalization
II affect its future
- impact foreign policy
involvement in
foreign affairs?
How President
Truman and
his
administration
rationalized
using the
atomic bomb
to end World
War II and how
that decision
affected United
States foreign
policy.
How and why
World War II
ended and
how a series of
Allied
global wars and
the influence
each
involvement
had on
international
affairs.
HISTORY
Alliances
Conflict
Leadership
conferences
would help
initiate the
Cold War.
GEOGRAPHY
CIVICS &
GOVERNMENT
ECONOMICS
Trade
Individual Rights
National Identity
Politics
Power
CULTURE
Culture
Values and
Beliefs
Language Objective EXAMPLES
Historical Thinking and Geography Skill Resources
○ “Straight Ahead”
□“Uphill”
∆“Mountainous”
Historical Thinking
Geography Skills
.
General Unit Resources
○ “Straight Ahead”
□“Uphill”
∆ “Mountainous”
○
□
∆
Text differentiation symbols: Texts will be categorized in teacher resource documents as Straight
Ahead (less challenging for struggling readers), Uphill (having some challenging words and more
complex sentence structure that is appropriate for on-grade level readers), or Mountainous
(containing challenging vocabulary, complex sentences, and more abstract ideas).