World History Honors is an inclusive and culturally responsive course offered to all 9th graders at CRLS. Key questions that guide the course are connected to what causes conflicts between groups and nations and when, if ever, is violence justified. The course begins with a study of the causes and consequences of imperialism by examining case studies in Africa and Asia. Students will then explore significant military and economic events of the past century including World War I, the Interwar period, and World War II. Lastly, students will analyze the impact and legacies of the Cold War on nations around the world. Throughout the course, students will collaborate in inclusive and respectful ways, and will develop critical thinking skills to challenge assumptions and make connections between today and the past.
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Year-Long Essential Questions |
Introduction: Building Community, Norms, and Common Language
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- What causes conflict between groups and nations?
- How did individuals or groups of people resist oppression or imperialism?
- When, if ever, is violence justified?
- What is justice? How do you achieve justice in unjust systems?
- How can we prevent atrocities moving forward?
- How do systems of power impact my life and the lives of other people?
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Unit 1: Democracy Around The World
- Rise of Nation States, 1500-1800
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Unit 2: Imperialism and Resistance
- Industrialization
- Global Imperialism and Its Impact
- Apartheid in South Africa
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Unit 3: Rising Nationalism and World Wars
- World War I
- Armenian Genocide
- Weimar Republic
- World War II
- Holocaust
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Unit 4: The Cold War and Its Legacies
- Containment
- Cuba and the United States
- US - Vietnam War
- Decline of the USSR
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All 9th graders complete two common document based question (DBQ) essays, as well as a research paper with multiple sources and MLA citations.