Semester B begins with a view of continued imperialism and expanding capitalism as global trade further helps countries develop their empires in the 19th and 20th centuries. The review of the -isms that caused WWI, the global depression of the 20s and 30s, and its lead-in to rising nationalism in Germany, Japan, and Italy shifts power structures and politics towards a second World War. The course looks at the rise of communism and its satellite nations in the void left after WWII, then the change in ideologies and nuclear buildup of arsenals in the Cold War aftermath. Students will note the rise of communist and democratic tensions in varied parts of the world as it leads to the examination of geopolitics, globalization, and the rise of technology in the 21st century.
Each unit’s background and task information and activities will attempt to connect the past to the present through a series of current event “quick writes” and engaging tasks. Through this interactive component, students should gain a better understanding of how countries’ past decisions/actions have led to present situational accomplishments and crises around the world.Ultimately, World History B’s multimedia project will be a topic concerning a world problem/issue (student choice) and its proposed solutions. The research, writing, and audio-visual components of the project will be scaffolded throughout the course. Its presentation in Unit 10 will be offered in a variety of modalities to best suit each student.