Western Front

The First World War, and specifically the conditions of the Western Front, ended the philosophy of the Glory of War... What does this mean?

International Tensions

We discussed 4 main tensions that were present in the world prior to the start of the First World War.  These tensions were Nationalism, Arms Race, Economic Rivalry and Alliances.  You also did research on examples of these that exist today.  What tension do you think was most prominent back at the start of the 20th century?  What tension do you think is most prominent today?  Give a brief explanation.

Tragedies of War

There's an old expression "All's fair in love and war".  We discussed several tragedies that occurred during WWII that seem to go far beyond that, on both sides.  Give a couple of examples of when war went too far and it was no longer "fair".

Dr. Seuss: Political Analyst

What do the following cartoons tell about Dr. Seuss's attitude towards Hitler and the Nazi Party and the way in which other countries (specifically America) reacted?

The Rise of Totalitarianism

Although Stalin may have fallen on the opposite side of the political spectrum from Hitler and Mussolini, they had several similar characteristics and practices.  What were a few of these similarities?

Extreme Leaders

There is an old adage, "extreme conditions require extreme measures".  Some say the extreme conditions that occurred after the First World War opened society up to the extreme leaders such as Mussolini, Stalin & Hitler.  After watching The Wave, what do extreme leaders offer so that otherwise good people follow someone blindly?

The Eastern Front

In reality, Russia really fought 2 wars during 1914-1917.  They fought an international war against the Central Powers but they also had an internal (civil) war within their own nations.  The Russian Revolution outlasted their international war.  Why would Russia change their focus from the World War to their internal struggles?