Curriculum
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Unit Documents
Unit Guide, Unit Storyboard, Lesson Calendar
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson One
Where is Europe? Unit Launch
Students learn the map of modern Europe, and review the unit storyboard and unit guide.
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Two
European Rivals Raise Tensions (Q1)
Students learn the political geography of Europe in 1900, and the rising tensions between the German Empire and its rivals. Then they tell the story back using a 4-sentence story.
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Three
A War for Democracy? (Q1)
Students learn the story of the start of World War One, and how American entry into the war changed the Allies’ war aims. Then they tell the story back using “because – but – so” sentences.
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Four
David Lloyd George, "Message to the American People"(Q2)
Students interpret a 1917 statement from British Prime Minister David Lloyd George.
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Five
The Allies Re-Draw the Political Map of Europe (Q1)
Students learn the story of the end of World War One and the Versailles Treaty. They then tell the story back using a four-sentence story.
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Six
Democracy Fails in Germany (Q1)
Students learn the story of the failure of Germany’s first democracy. Then they tell the story back in a four box storyboard.
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Seven
A Nazi Campaign Poster (Q2)
Students interpret a Nazi campaign poster from the election of 1933.
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Eight
Explaining the Failure of Democracy in Germany (Q3)
Students identify a correlating factor to explain why the Nazi vote share increased so much from the 1920s to the 1930s. They then compare other cases, and write a generalized hypothesis about the failure of new democracies.
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Nine
World War Two and the Holocaust (Q1)
Students learn the story of World War Two in Europe and the holocaust. Then they tell the story back using “because, but, so” sentences.
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Ten
The Soviets Support Authoritarianism in Eastern Europe (Q1)
Students learn the story of the Soviet imposition of authoritarian communist regimes in Eastern Europe after World War Two. Then they tell the story back in a four-sentence story.
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Eleven
Stalin Justifies Imposing Communism in Eastern Europe (Q2)
Students interpret a Stalin interview in Soviet newspaper “Pravda.”
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Twelve
The United States Supports Democracy in Western Europe (Q1)
Students learn the story of American support for Democracies in Western Europe after World War Two. Then they tell the story back using “because, but, so” sentences.
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Thirteen
The Marshall Plan (Q2)
Students interpret the speech by Secretary of State George C. Marshall announcing the “Marshall Plan.”
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Fourteen
The Story of Europe in Maps, 1900 - 1950 (Formative Assessment)
Students use maps to tell the story of Europe between 1900 and 1950.
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Fifteen
Eastern Europe Rebels Against Communism (Q1)
Students learn the story of the Eastern European revolutions against communism. Then they tell the story back using a four box storyboard.
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Sixteen
Democratic Europe and the EU (Q1)
Students learn the story of the spread of democracy in Europe after 1989 and the growth of the European Union. Then they tell the story back using “because, but, so” sentences.
The Struggle for Democracy in Europe Lesson Seventeen
Banning Nazi Speech in Germany (Q4)
Students judge whether Germany is right to ban Nazi speech today. They then write principles about under what conditions democracies should ban political speech.