The primary legacy of the twentieth century is war. The rich industrial nations developed destructive technology and used it in ways that came close to destroying the world. The century included two global conflicts, World War I and World War II. It climaxed with the invention of the atomic bomb, a weapon first used in 1945 that killed more than one hundred thousand people and gave humanity the power to destroy itself.
The Lessons of the Twentieth Century
A global conflict is less likely in our time, but it is essential to understand how close the world once came to ruin and how the forces of the past century continue to shape our lives. Today there are organizations such as the United Nations to help keep peace, and instantaneous communication allows people to understand what is happening worldwide.
Understanding the World Wars
It is impossible to describe a topic as vast as the World Wars in a few short pages. The villains are more monstrous, the heroes more courageous, and the victims more tormented than most imaginations allow. Steven Spielberg’s films Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan are graphic and inappropriate for younger students, but they help demonstrate the evil, the daring, and the grief of global warfare.
Resources
Download this lesson as Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat file.
Listen as Mr. Dowling reads this lesson.
Mr. Donn has an excellent website that includes a section on
World War I and
World War II.