Post WWII America

Class begins with students drafting a list of questions that historians might ask themselves when determining how war might shape a country’s future. Next, students read Source A in pairs using the cause, effect, and connection reading strategy to list as many impacts from World War II on the United States as possible. Impacts of World War II should go in the “Effects” column. Encourage students to read the text as many times as needed to compile a long list of impacts. 

Students then sort their impacts into political, social, economic, and international impacts. Student pairs then compare their charts with at least one other pair group to discuss similarities and differences using the protocol. Next, students will predict how World War II shaped the future of the United States using the organizer. In their predictions, students should use evidence from their lists of impacts. In addition, students have space to ask questions about impacts of World War II in their predictions. To further the relevance of this exercise, teachers could use student predictions and questions to frame future lessons.