Daniel Mahler Lesson Plan The Slow Refocus Grade Level: 11 Subject: US History Prepared By: Daniel Mahler Overview & Purpose This lesson addresses the issues on the world stage between 1933 and 1940, principally those related to the rise of fascism and militarism in Italy, Germany, and Japan. The lesson asks students to consider whether these events warranted a refocus of American attention from the domestic struggle of the Depression to the worrisome expansion of militaristic countries. Education Standards Addressed - Delaware Economics Standard Four 9-12a: Students will analyze and interpret the influence of the distribution of the world s resources, political stability, national efforts to encourage or discourage trade, and the flow of investment on patterns of international trade. History Standard One: Students will analyze historical materials to trace the development of an idea or trend across space or over a prolonged period of time in order to explain patterns of historical continuity and change. History Standard Two 9-12b: Students will examine and analyze primary and secondary sources in order to differentiate between historical facts and historical interpretations. History Standard Four: Students will develop historical knowledge of major events and phenomena in world, United States, and Delaware history. Teacher Guide
Objectives (Specify skills/information that will be learned.) Information (Give and/or demonstrate necessary information) Verification (Steps to check for student understanding) Activity (Describe the independent activity to reinforce this lesson) Summary SWBAT describe the rise of fascism and militarism in the 1930s. SWBAT evaluate whether Americans should have been concerned about this rise. Introduce definitions of fascism and militarism, analyze elements of fascism, provide short background on rise of Mussolini, Hitler, Hirohito. Students watch Inside Nazi Germany newsreel clip from 1938 March of Time. Must identify examples of elements of fascism viewed in the movie. Go over as a class. Introduce the question Do you think what you have seen here warranted American attention or action? Students will review documents (attached: maps of expansion, trade statistics, newspaper articles, diplomatic correspondences) to elicit meaning. Provided questions drive toward linking these with American ideological, political, or economic interests. Students assume the role of a cabinet member and write a letter to FDR. The letter is to address where the student believes that, based on the evidence at hand, the US needs to take action. Materials Needed Internet access Digital projector Method of playing video with audio Other Resources (e.g. Web, books, etc.) "Inside Nazi Germany. March of Time. Time. 21 Jan. 1938. Newsreel. See attached documents and accompanying citations. Additional Notes
Questions for Inside Nazi Germany. Fascism in the March of Time. Germany Dictator(s)? Glorification of the Race? Suppression of Dissent? Economic Control? Militarism? Japan
Questions for independent document analysis. Document Title Questions Questions What is Fascism? - Benito Mussolini, 1932 A 1. With what does Mussolini associate pacifism? With what does he associate warfare? 2. Based on Mussolini s words in the second paragraph, does he believe fascism and democracy are compatible? Why? Will Hitler Bring Another War? - H.R. Knickerbocker, 1933 B 1. What reasons does the author give for why there was not much attention left for Germany s change in government? 2. According to the article, how did Hitler come to power? 3. The author compares the rise of the Nazis to a fake scenario about the KKK coming to power in the US. What does he say this is helpful? 4. The KKK is not a political party. Why do you think Knickerbocker chose to compare the Nazis to the KKK as opposed to American political parties? The Consul at Berlin Raymond Geist, American diplomat in Germany, 1934. C 1. Describe two pieces of evidence of Germany s militarism from this letter. 2. Based on this letter, how eager for war do the German people seem?
Exports and General Imports 1. In 1934, what was the total value of merchandise exported to Northwestern and Central Europe? 4. Based on these statistics, why would the rise of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini be an economic concern to the U.S.? Why? D 2. In 1934, with what three nations was the value of American exports highest? What was their value? 3. What country s exports TO the United States were most valuable in 1934? 5. The alliances formed in World War One were rekindled as friction began to mount in Europe. The United Kingdom and France generally unified in opposition to Germany during this period. Based on these statistics, where would US economic sympathies lie during the 1930s? Why? Japanese Expansion prior to World War II E Natural Resources by Country from the CIA World Factbook, 2012. F 1. By 1940, what countries had faced Japanese aggression? 2. Based on this map, was there cause for Americans to be concerned about Japanese expansion? Why or why not? 1. What is the state of Japanese natural resources? 2. What fuel sources and metals can be found in China? 3. Based on this information, why might militarism have become appealing to some Japanese in the first half of the 20 th century?
Documents for document analysis. from The Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1935. Domestic Natural Resources by Country China Japan coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, negligible mineral resources, fish note: with virtually no energy natural resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil
French Troops Rush to Border; String of Forts Along Rhineland Are Reinforced. 23 March, 1935. Found with Google- News.
What is Fascism? Benito Mussolini, 1932 Fascism... believes neither in the possibility nor the utility of perpetual peace. It thus repudiates the doctrine of Pacifism -- an act of cowardice in the face of sacrifice. War alone brings up to its highest tension all human energy and puts the stamp of nobility upon the peoples who have courage to meet it. Fascism denies that the majority... can direct human society; [Fascism] affirms the beneficial and fruitful inequality of mankind... http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/mussolini- fascism.html Geist, Raymond H. The Consul at Berlin (Geist) to the Chief of the Division of Western European Affairs (Moffat), Department of State. September 15, 1934. I am convinced that the German rearmament is concentrating upon two points; first, power in the air, and second, motorization of any attacking forces. There is nothing conservative or traditional in their present policy. Many of the young Nazis are enthusiastic with regard to the military prospects. Their ideas of Germany's invincibility and Germany's power in "the next war" are really phantastic they are really thrilled in contemplating Germany's future tremendous victory over her enemies. it is very difficult to foresee how the bellicose spirit here can be restrained and directed into peace. http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/interwar/geist.htm Knickerbocker, H.R. Will Hitler Bring Another War? That s the Question of Hour in the Reich. Pittsburgh Post- Gazette, 3 April, 1933. Found with Google- News.
Philippines American Territories Hawaii Guam Fascism in the March of Time. Germany Dictator(s)? Glorification of the Race? Suppression of Dissent? Economic Control? Militarism? Japan