Marching to War: Can You Stop World War 2
In this 6 day course, the learners will play a boardgame where they make policy decisions for the government of the major world powers in 1936, as we play a game of diplomacy while learning about the causes for world war 2.
Mikael Hellstrom, Ph.D.
Average rating:
5.0
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What's included
6 live meetings
12 in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
In this class, we will learn about the causes for World War 2, while playing the game Days of Decision. In this boardgame, the learners play the government of the major powers in 1936: USA, the Commonwealth, France, China, or the USSR, for example. As we play the game, the learners will make choose which policies their nations should choose, guiding them through the turbulent times, like the Spanish Civil War. The learners will have to think about: * The national economy - can they afford military spending? * International politics - will they try to sway minor countries to their side? Will they focus on trade or be more isolationist? * The Spanish Civil War - will they try to intervene? Maybe the democracies can help the Republic win against the Franco's Falangist Nationalists? * What would have happened if the Chinese government was capable of resisting the Japanese attacks in 1937? * What would have happened if the Soviet Union had gone to war against the Japanese Empire in the late 1930s? Week of Sep 5th: The class discusses the situation in the world 1936, focusing particularly on how the colonial empires of Europe were still largely intact, as well as the multi-polar international order, with the Soviet Union and its Communism on the one hand, rising Fascism in Europe on the other, and democracies in the third. Week of Sep 12th: We continue discussing the world of 1936, including the significance of the Berlin Olympics, the start of the Great Purge in Stalin's USSR, the start of the Spanish Civil War, the significance of the US Presidential Elections and the abdication of Edvard VII in the United Kingdom. Week of Sep 19th: The class discusses the situation in the world 1937. Of particular note - the increased international interventions into the Spanish Civil War, resulting in the terror-bombing of Guernica. Week of Sep 26th: The class discusses the situation in the world 1937, including the break-out of hostilities between Japan and China following the Marco Polo Bridge incident. Week of Oct 3rd: The class discusses the situation in the world 1938 - events like Anschluss and the Sudeten-land crisis and the eventual annexation of Czechoslovakia will be covered. Week of Oct 10th: The class discusses the situation in the world 1939, including the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, paving the way for the German war against Poland.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This class discusses political developments in international relations in the late 1930s. This involves discussing the actions of autocratic and totalitarian dictatorships in the world, including Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, the militaristic Japanese Empire and Communist USSR, as well as the behaviour of colonial powers like France and the United Kingdom.
Learners play the game by picking political actions from a set list for governments like France, the United Kingdom or the USA, drawn from the game Days of Decision. These actions involve foreign policy choices, for example, signing trade agreements, or mutual defense treaties with minor powers, increasing military spending, or getting involved in the Spanish Civil War. Other what-if scenarios include an early war between the USSR and Finland, or Italy and France, or early war between Japan and China, and many others. Learners will also have a chance to decide the outcome of the Spanish Civil War, to see its effect on international relations post-1938.
No account is needed for Foundry.
Wikipedia and YouTube will be referred using screensharing from my computer.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
Baylis, et al, 2020, The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, 8th Ed.
Between 2 Wars - YouTube
Merriman, J, 2009, A History of Modern Europe, Vol 2, Yale UP.
Joined March, 2021
5.0
96reviews
Star Educator
Teacher expertise and credentials
Doctoral Degree from University of Alberta
I have taught International Relations, including the lead up to World War 2, at St. Thomas University.Reviews
Live Group Class
$33
weekly or $195 for 6 classes1x per week, 6 weeks
120 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
3-5 learners per class
