IBDP History Year 1

In this unit, we explore the complex web of causes that led to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. We'll begin by unpacking the long-term factors—including militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism—that created rising tensions across Europe throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. From there, we'll analyze the short-term spark: the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo and the cascading series of events that followed. You'll learn how these causes interacted, why war became inevitable, and who bears responsibility. By the end of the unit, you'll be able to explain not just what caused the war, but why it erupted when it did.

In this unit, we explore the major military, political, and social developments that defined the fighting of the First World War. We begin with an in-depth look at trench warfare, new military technologies, and the brutal conditions soldiers faced on the Western and Eastern Fronts. From there, we examine the global nature of the war, including campaigns in Africa, the Middle East, and at sea.

A key focus will be the Russian Revolution of 1917, a turning point that not only removed Russia from the war but also reshaped the global balance of power and laid the foundation for the Soviet Union. We’ll analyze how internal unrest, military failure, and political upheaval culminated in the collapse of the Tsarist regime.

The entry of the United States into the war in 1917 marks another crucial shift. We'll investigate the causes of U.S. involvement, including unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram, and assess how American troops and resources helped to tip the scales in favor of the Allies.

Finally, we trace the final stages of the conflict, leading to the German military collapse and the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918. This unit helps students understand not just how the war was fought, but how its outcomes began shaping the modern world.

In this unit, we explore the monumental aftermath of the First World War, focusing on the 1919 Paris Peace Conference. Students will examine the goals and motivations of the "Big Three" — Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George, and Georges Clemenceau — and how their competing visions shaped the Treaty of Versailles and the other peace settlements. We'll analyze the key terms imposed on Germany and the Central Powers, including reparations, territorial changes, and the creation of the League of Nations. The unit also encourages students to assess the global implications of the peace treaties, including the impact on colonies, the seeds of future conflict, and the controversial "War Guilt Clause." By the end of the unit, students will understand how the efforts to establish peace unintentionally paved the way for future tensions and resentment, particularly in Germany and the wider international order.

In this unit, we explore the ambitious but ultimately limited efforts to preserve peace in the aftermath of World War I through the creation of the League of Nations. Students will examine the structure of the League, including its key bodies like the Assembly and the Council, and evaluate the extent of its power—particularly in comparison to its founding ideals. We will look at major agreements and diplomatic efforts brokered through the League, including the Washington Naval Conference, the Locarno Treaties, and the Kellogg-Briand Pact. Through case studies and primary sources, we will assess both the successes and failures of the League, as well as its long-term impact on international relations and the road toward World War II.

This unit examines Japan’s transformation from a relatively peaceful imperial power in the early 20th century to an aggressive expansionist state by the early 1930s. Students will analyze the domestic, economic, political, and military factors that contributed to this shift, focusing particularly on the rise of militarism, ultranationalism, and the weakening of democratic institutions. The unit explores Japan’s foreign policy goals, internal pressures following the Great Depression, and the breakdown of international cooperation.

A central case study is the Manchurian Crisis (1931–1933), which marks the beginning of Japan’s open defiance of the League of Nations and reveals the limitations of collective security. Through this lens, students will evaluate how and why Japan abandoned diplomacy in favor of military aggression, setting the stage for further conflict in Asia and the Pacific.

This unit investigates Italy’s path from post-World War I instability to aggressive imperial expansion under Benito Mussolini. Students will explore the internal and external factors that shaped Italy’s move toward authoritarianism, including economic hardship, disillusionment with the Treaty of Versailles, and the rise of fascism.

Key areas of focus include the consolidation of Mussolini’s power, the ideological underpinnings of Italian fascism, and the role of propaganda and repression in reshaping Italian society. The unit culminates in a detailed case study of the Abyssinian Crisis (1935–1936), a pivotal moment when Italy defied the League of Nations and pursued imperial conquest in Africa. This event reveals the failures of collective security and the shifting dynamics of global power in the interwar period.

By analyzing Italy’s foreign policy, students assess the motivations behind Mussolini’s expansionism and the broader consequences for international peace and diplomacy.

This unit explores Germany's turbulent interwar period, starting with the aftermath of World War I and the Treaty of Versailles, which left Germany politically, economically, and socially crippled. The Weimar Republic, established in 1919, struggled to stabilize the country amidst these hardships, facing challenges such as political extremism, hyperinflation, and a lack of confidence in democratic governance.

In the early 1920s, Germany faced extreme hyperinflation, a result of war reparations and economic instability, which wiped out savings and created widespread suffering. However, the mid-1920s brought a period of relative stability known as the "Golden Age" of the Weimar Republic. During this time, Germany's economy recovered, and the country became more integrated into the international community through agreements like the Dawes Plan and the Locarno Treaties.

Despite these advancements, political instability and resentment over the Treaty of Versailles continued to simmer, providing fertile ground for extremist ideologies. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the economic collapse of the Great Depression exacerbated existing social unrest, contributing to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Hitler capitalized on public discontent, promoting nationalist, anti-Semitic, and anti-communist rhetoric, and ultimately leading to his appointment as Chancellor in 1933. This marked the end of the Weimar Republic and the beginning of Nazi control over Germany, setting the stage for the path to global war.

This unit covers the key political, social, and economic factors that shaped Germany during this period and culminated in the rise of Nazi totalitarianism.

This unit explores the transformation of Germany from a fragile democracy to a totalitarian regime under Adolf Hitler. Students will examine the political, social, and economic conditions that allowed the Nazi Party to consolidate power, the strategies and tools Hitler used to maintain control over the German state and society, and the domestic policies implemented to align Germany with Nazi ideology. Key themes include propaganda, suppression of dissent, the role of terror, and the reshaping of German identity. Through analysis of primary sources, historical interpretations, and critical discussion, students will gain a deeper understanding of how authoritarian regimes rise and sustain themselves.

This unit investigates the immediate causes that led to the outbreak of World War II, with a focus on the actions and ambitions of Japan, Italy, and Germany in the late 1930s. Students will examine how aggressive expansionism, militarism, and the failure of collective security destabilized global peace. Special attention is given to the policy of appeasement pursued by Britain and France, analyzing why democratic powers allowed totalitarian regimes to violate international agreements without direct confrontation. The unit concludes with an in-depth look at the invasion of Poland in 1939 and the final collapse of peace in Europe. Through primary sources, historical debates, and critical reflection, students will understand how short-term decisions and inaction contributed to a global conflict.

This unit focuses on the global military campaigns of World War II, tracing the major battles and turning points in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific. Students will explore the strategies, technologies, and conditions that defined the fighting in each theater of war, from the Blitzkrieg in Poland and the Battle of Britain, to the desert warfare in North Africa and the island-hopping campaigns in the Pacific. The unit also examines the contributions of Allied and Axis forces, the impact of total war on civilian populations, and the role of geography and logistics in shaping outcomes. Through maps, eyewitness accounts, and primary source analysis, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how World War II unfolded on a global scale and why certain moments proved decisive in the conflict’s eventual outcome

This unit investigates the causes and consequences of the Great Depression in the United States, with a focus on economic, political, and social dimensions. Students will explore the factors that led to the 1929 stock market crash, including over-speculation, weak banking systems, and income inequality. The unit then shifts to analyzing President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s response through the New Deal—examining its goals, major programs, opposition, and long-term impact on American government and society. Through primary sources and historical interpretations, students will assess how this era reshaped the role of the federal government in times of crisis.

This unit explores the multifaceted role of the United States in the Second World War, both at home and abroad. Students will examine how the U.S. mobilized its economy, reshaped society, and contributed militarily to the Allied victory. Key topics include the political and economic preparations for war, the transformative role of women and minority groups on the homefront, and the major military campaigns involving U.S. forces in both the European and Pacific theaters. Through primary sources, case studies, and comparative analysis, students will assess how WWII shaped America's identity and its position as a global power.