Post-War Presidents: Truman vs. Eisenhower

As we close the book on World War Two, we look ahead to the two men who would lead us during the pivotal post-war years into the turbulent 1960s.

Truman had to deal with the decision to use nuclear weapons, plummeting approval ratings and the Korean War.

Eisenhower, in stark contrast, was the conquering hero of Europe. The leader of D-Day, he enjoyed a fairly popular and prosperous presidency.

Using this website, read up on both of these men. Use the tools the website provides to compare their two presidencies.

For the comments, write 200 words on which president you think had the more successful administration. Be sure to back up your thoughts with evidence.

World War Two: Eyewitness Accounts

We'll spend two weeks on the blog looking at World War Two.

So much of World War Two seems larger-than-life (Hitler, Pearl Harbor, FDR, Stalin, Rosie the Riveter, D-Day etc.) but we need to remember normal people lived through those events.

While grateful we won this war and thankful for the sacrifices made, we should be careful to romanticize or glamorize those awful times.

For this week's blog, visit this website. Select any of the World War Two stories that intrigues you and read it carefully.

For the comment section, write 200 words on what your selection was about and what it taught you about this war.

The Holocaust: We Must Remember

For this week's blog, you will visit this website.

Here you will find accounts of various groups affected by the Holocaust.

For the comment section, please read at least two different sections. Summarize each section with at least 100 words each and be sure to include your reaction to what you read.

Steps Towards War: Events Leading to World War 2

Welcome back!

We begin this semester with an examination of how, exactly, did World War Two begin? Wasn't World War One supposed to be the "war to end all wars"?

For this week's blog, do some independent research on the beginnings of World War Two. Answer the following four questions, with at least 50 words each.

1) How did Hitler rise to power in Germany?
2) How did Germany, Italy and Japan become what we call the "Axis Powers"?
3) Why did America side with the Soviet Union, even though their leader (Stalin) was an evil dictator?
4) Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor and what did we do in response?

Great Depression: Causes & Facts

I'm going to let you do some independent research for this blog.

"The Great Depression" is one of the most famous eras in American History, but as with most things, it is more complicated than at first glance.

For this week's blog, research "The Great Depression" and answer the following four questions (50 words each).

1) What exactly does the 1929 "stock market crash" mean?

2) What role did banks play in the Great Depression?

3) What types of people did not suffer during the Great Depression?

4) Do a Google Image Search on "The Great Depression" and describe the photo/image that makes the greatest impact on you.

World War One: Two Perspectives

We are doing another blog on World War One this week because one week was not enough!

Last week you chose specialized articles relating to interesting subtopics of this war.

This week I want you to get the bigger picture.

You are going to watch two crash course episodes this week. One from "US History" and one from "World History". 

For the comment sections, write a 100 word summary for EACH video. Be sure to write about both perspectives of this war-the American side (US History video) and the "world side" (World History video).

Crash Course World History Video-World War One

Crash Course US History Video-World War One

Note-Some information in both videos may be the same, considering the overall topic is the same. But...there should be a different focus from each video. Certainly enough to write two separate summaries.

World War One: The War To End All Wars...

As this week's title suggests, after World War One was completed people across the globe thought we would never have a conflict of that magnitude again. In fact, maybe somewhat obviously, World War One was not called that until we had World War Two. Up until that point, it was referred to as "The Great War".

There are so many different directions the blog can take this week. This is what I've decided...

At this website you'll find twenty-four different "eye witness accounts" of various aspects of World War One. Read the titles to find what sounds interesting and then read the article. You only have to choose ONE for this week's blog.

For the comment section, simply discuss the article you chose. What was the main point? What did you learn about World War One that you did not know? What was interesting/scary/funny/sad etc. about your article. (Make sure your comments are at least 200 words)