Amazing PowerPoint on the Causes of World War II WWII

By using a dynamic PowerPoint presentation, you'll transform the way you teach your history class about the causes of World War II

With the use of modern technology and the advent of digital classrooms, history teachers can turn dry lectures into immersive experiences that students will love. A new arsenal of tools to make learning fun and interactive is at educators disposal. One such tool is PowerPoint presentations. While PowerPoints have been around for many years now, they're more intuitive and have more capabilities than ever before. For example, it's never been easier to animate or embed a video into your PowerPoint slides

Incorporating visuals, interactive elements, and key historical events, you'll bring history to life and help students gain a deeper understanding of the factors that led to this devastating conflict!

 Main Causes of World War II

There were a number of factors which contributed to the outbreak of WWII. The depth and breadth at which you should discuss and explore these causes with your students will depend on the grade level your teaching. With that in mind, I recommend teaching about each of the following main causes of WWII regardless of your grade level (for instance, if we take the first main cause listed below, the Treaty of Versailles, I wouldn't go as deeply into how that was a main factor with 5th graders as I would with say 8th, 9th, or 10th graders).

Treaty of Versailles

Signed on June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles ended World War I (WWI) and imposed heavy penalties on Germany, including the loss of territories, the payment of reparations, and Germany being forced into admitting they were at fault for the war. However, the treaty also set the stage for the causes of World War II. The punitive measures imposed on Germany contributed to their economic downfall, which coincided with the Great Depression afflicting much of the world at that time further amplifying the economic hardship Germany was facing. These factors contributed greatly to the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany which can be traced to the resentment of the German people towards the treaty.

To begin your PowerPoint presentation, start with an introduction to the Treaty of Versailles

You can use images and videos to make it visually appealing. You can also use interactive elements to get students involved in the learning process. For example, you can ask them to guess what the Treaty of Versailles was and what it entailed.

Failure of the League of Nations

Formed in the aftermath of World War I, the primary goal of the League of Nations was to prevent future wars, especially large-scale and devastating wars like WWI, from occurring. However, the League failed to stop the aggression of Nazi Germany, which led to the outbreak of World War II; a key factor in causing the outbreak of World War II. You can use this as a starting point to discuss the League of Nations and its failure. You can also use this as an opportunity to discuss how international organizations can prevent conflicts.

Rise of European Dictators

Next, move on to how Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler rose to power in their respective nations (Italy and Germany). Specifically, how they were able to first garner their power and political influence and then used that power and influence to quell any dissent and/or their political opponents. From there, you can transition to how these two brutal leaders applied those tyrannical methods elsewhere such as when it came to foreign relations, protecting their grip on power, and finally, their desire to conquer. For example, I encourage you to use images and videos to show the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party as you explain to your students the key factors that contributed to their rise. You may also use interactive elements to engage students such as making use of primary sources such as speeches, newspaper articles, propaganda posters, etc., to give students a deeper understanding of Mussolini's and Hitler's ideologies and how their reigns as dictators contributed to the outbreak of World War II.

Slides from two of my presentations about WWII - included as part of my 5th Grade Social Studies Curriculum!

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