Curriculum: Modern World (1688-Present)

Social Studies Department – Chicopee Public Schools

Overview: In Modern World, students study the rise of the nation state in Europe and the economic and political roots of the modern world, including the Industrial Revolution, 19th century political reform in Western Europe, and European imperialism in Africa, Asia, and South America. They also examine the causes and consequences of the great military and economic events of the past century, including World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Russian and Chinese revolutions, the rise of nationalism, and the continuing persistence of political, ethnic, and religious conflict in many parts of the world.

Curriculum goals: Grade 9-12 key skills and concepts

The students should be able to:

History and geography

1. Apply the skills of pre-kindergarten through grade seven.

2. Identify multiple ways to express time relationships and dates (for example, 1066 AD is the same as 1066 CE, and both refer to a date in the eleventh or 11^th century, which is the same as the 1000s). Identify countries that use a different calendar from the one used in the U.S. and explain the basis for the difference. (H)

3. Interpret and construct timelines that show how events and eras in various parts of the world are related to one another. (H)

4. Interpret and construct charts and graphs that show quantitative information. (H, C, G, E)

5. Explain how a cause and effect relationship is different from a sequence or correlation of events. (H, C, E)

6. Distinguish between long-term and short-term cause and effect relationships. (H, G, C, E)

7. Show connections, causal and otherwise, between particular historical events and ideas and larger social, economic, and political trends and developments. (H, G, C, E)

8. Interpret the past within its own historical context rather than in terms of present-day norms and values. (H, E, C)

9. Distinguish intended from unintended consequences. (H, E, C)
10. Distinguish historical fact from opinion. (H, E, C)

Using historical maps, locate the boundaries of the major empires of world history at the height of their powers. (H, G)

Civics and government

Define and use correctly the following words and terms: Magna Carta, parliament, habeas corpus, monarchy, and absolutism. (C)

General economics skills

Define and use correctly mercantilism, feudalism, economic growth, and entrepreneur. (E)
Explain how people or communities examine and weigh the benefits of each alternative when making a choice and that opportunity costs are those benefits that are given up once an alternative is chosen. (E)
Explain how financial markets, such as the stock market, channel funds from savers to investors. (E)
Define and use correctly gross domestic product, economic growth, recession, depression, unemployment, inflation, and deflation. (E)
Explain how opportunity costs and tradeoffs can be evaluated through an analysis of marginal costs and benefits. (E)
Explain how competition among sellers lowers costs and prices, and encourages producers to produce more. (E)
Describe the role of buyers and sellers in determining the equilibrium price, and use supply and demand to explain and predict changes in quantity and price. (E)
Describe how the earnings of workers are affected by the market value of the product produced and worker skills. (E)

20. Identify the causes of inflation and explain who benefits from inflation and who suffers from inflation. (E)

21. Define and distinguish between absolute and comparative advantage, and explain how most trade occurs because of comparative advantage in the production of a particular good or service. (E)

22. Explain how changes in exchange rates affect balance of trade and the purchasing power of people in the United States and other countries. (E)

23. Differentiate between fiscal and monetary policy. (E)

Explain the basic economic functions of the government in the economy of the United States. (E)
Examine the development of the banking system in the United States, and describe the organization and functions of the Federal Reserve System. (E)
Identify and describe laws and regulations adopted in the United States to promote economic competition. (E, H)
Analyze how federal tax and spending policies affect the national budget and the national debt. (E)

WEEK 1

Strands: WHII.1, WHII.2

1. The causes and essential events of the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution of 1688

The rise of the French monarchy including the policies and influence of Louis XIV
The growing power of the Russian Tsars including the attempts of westernization by Peter the Great

Open-ended Question:

Why did England’s Parliament pass several laws during the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution? Be detailed and specific?

WEEK 2

Strands: WHII.2, WHII.3

Summarize the important causes and events of the French Revolution
Effect of the Enlightenment on political thought
The influence of the American Revolution
Economic troubles and the rising influence of the middle class
Government corruption and incompetence

Open-ended Question:

In what ways did Benjamin Franklin demonstrate the ideas of the Enlightenment? Give reasons to support your answer.

WEEK 3

Strands: WHII.4

Role of the Estates General and the National Assembly
The storming of the Bastille
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the citizen
The Reign of Terror
Rise and fall of Napoleon

Open-ended Question:

In the early 1800s, why did Napoleon abandon his vision of an empire in America? Be detailed and specific.

WEEK 4

Strands: WHII.5, WHII.6

Identify the Causes of the Industrial Revolution
The rise of Agricultural Revolution
Transportation and improvements such as canals and railroads
New sources of energy
Urban growth and population

Open-ended Question:

On the basis of the descriptions of workers’ lives in the mid-1800s, what similarities and differences can you see among the workers in different industries?

WEEK 5

Strands: WHII.7, WHII.8, WHII.9

Describe the rise of Unions and Socialism
Explain the impact of various political and social reforms and reform movements

Open-ended Question:

Why was the formation of the National Trades” Union important?

WEEK 6

Strands: WHII.10

1. Summarize the causes, course and consequences of the unification of Italy and Germany

The role of Cavour and Bismarck in the unification of Italy and Germany

Open-ended Question:

In your opinion, what impact did the reunification of Italy and Germany have on global security in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries?

WEEK 7

Strands: WHII.13

Identify major developments in Chinese History in the 19^th and 20^th century
Growing Western Influence
The Boxer Rebellion
Sun Yat Sen and the 1911 nationalist revolution

Open-ended Question:

What three key beliefs about America’s industrial capitalist economy were reflected in the Open Door Policy? Be detailed and specific.

WEEK 8

Strands: WHII.15

Identify major developments of African history during the 19^th and 20^th centuries
African interaction with imperialism
The origins of African nationalism

Open-ended Question:

What impact did European countries have on Africans during the height of imperialism? Do you think Africans benefited from imperialism? Why or why not?

WEEK 9

Strands: WHII.16

Identify the major developments of Latin American History to the early 20^th century
The Wars for Independence
The growing influence of the United States
The Mexican Revolution

Open-ended Question:

Would Cuba have won its independence in the late 19^th century if the United States had not intervened there at the time? Support your opinion from your readings.

WEEK 10

Strands: WHII.17, WWII.18

Causes of World War I
Major Events of the War
Physical and Economic Destruction
Peace Treaty of Versailles and its impact

Open-ended Question:

In your opinion, what was the major domestic effect on World War I? Support your opinion with specific details from your reading.

WEEK 11

Strands: WHII.21, WH.23

1. Describe the rise and goals of totalitarianism in Italy, Germany and the Soviet Union

Describe the German, Italian and Japanese drive for an empire

Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia, Japanese invasion of China and German expansion in Europe

Open-ended Question:

What similarities and differences do you see between the terrorism of Stalin’s Great Purge of the 1930s and Hitler’s policy of genocide? Support your answer with details from your readings.

WEEK 12

Strands: WHII.24, WHII25

Summarize the Key Battles and events of WWII
Battles of Britain, Pearl Harbor, El Alamein, Midway, Stalingrad, D-Day, Iwo Jima
Identify the goals, leadership and post war plans of Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin

Open-ended Question:

What geographic features might have slowed expansion by the Axis powers? What features – or lack of features – emphasize the significance of the Soviet defense of Stalingrad?

WEEK 13

Strands: WHII.27, WHII28,

Explain the Consequences of WWII
Physical and economic destruction
Loss of Life
Support for political reform and decolonization
Emergence of the United States and The Soviet Union as the world’s superpowers

Open-ended Question:

Why did President Truman decide to use atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Do you agree with his assessment? Why or why not?

WEEK 14

Strands WHII.30, WHII.31, WHII32

Summarize the factor that contributed to the Cold War, including Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe and the differences between Democracy and Communism
Describe the policy of Containment including the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and NATO
Describe the development of the arms race and the key events of the Cold War Era

Open-ended Question:

How did the spy case of the Rosenbergs feed anti-Communist sentiment in America? Do you believe the United States treated the Rosenbergs fairly? Why or why not?

WEEK 15

Strands: WHII.32

Korean Conflict
Emergence of China as a major power
Conflicts in Cuba and Berlin
Vietnam Conflict

Open-ended Question:

Do you agree with the United States’ foreign policy in dealing with the Vietnam Conflict? Why or why not? Be detailed and specific.

WEEK 16

Strands: WHII. 33, WHII.34

Describe the Chinese Civil War, the Rise of Mao Tse Tung and the triumph of the revolution in China
Identify the political and economic upheavals in China after the Revolution
Communist Party attempts to eliminate internal opposition
The Great Leap forward
The Cultural Revolution
The 1989 Tiananmen Square Demonstration

Open-ended Question:

Compare the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations with the Peace demonstrations of the 1960s and 1970s in the United States. In your opinion, do you agree or disagree with either set of demonstrators? Give details to support your answer.

WEEK 17

Strands: WHII.38

1. Describe the goals of nationalist movements in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East

Describe the ideas of leaders such as Fidel Castro, Ho Chi Minh, Nasser and Nehru

Open-ended Question:

Summarize the U.S. response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Do you believe the United States had cause to intervene in this conflict? Why or why not?

WEEK 18

Strands: WHII.39

1. Explain the background for the establishment of the modern state of Israel and the subsequent military and political conflicts between Israel and the Arab World

The growth of Zionism
Anti-Semitism and the Holocaust
The United Nations vote to partition the Western part of Palestine into two independent countries and its rejection by the Arab world

Open-ended Question:

Do you agree with the United Nations decision to create new boundaries in Palestine to create a Jewish state? Why or why not?

WEEK 19

Strands: WHII.40, WHII.47

1. Identify the causes for the decline and collapse of the Soviet Union and the communist regimes of Eastern Europe

The weakness and fragility of the oil-rich Persian Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and others
The origins of the Persian Gulf War and the post-war actions of Saddam Hussein
The financial support of radical and terrorist organizations by Middle Eastern countries
The increase terror attacks against Israel and the United States
America’s response to and the wider consequences of 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington

Open-ended Question:

Do you agree or disagree with the consequences given to Iraq and Saddam Hussein following the Persian Gulf War in the early 1990s? Do you think America and its allies went too far or not far enough with the treatment and sanctions placed upon Iraq and Hussein? Be detailed and specific.

WEEK 20

Strands: WEEKS 1 -19

Review
Final Exam

Suggested Primary Source Documents: Modern World