World War One soldiers marching
Course

To Hell and Back: From One World War to Another

Self-paced

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Full course description

Course Description:

This course explores the events surrounding the world wars that took place in the 20th century. It will examine the causes of each war along with what took place globally during the interwar period. It will also discuss the greater consequences of these global wars that have shaped our world today. Participants will learn about the world worlds through a global perspective and gain an understanding of  not only an understanding of the wars, but also their lasting effects on us today. 

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the WWI section, participants will...

  1. Analyze the causes of WWI 
  2. Evaluate the key events and strategies of WWI
  3. Examine the global and domestic impacts of WWI
  4. Explain the failures and consequences of the Treaty of Versailles

At the end of the Interwar Period section, participants will...

  1. Analyze the effects of WWI and the ensuing Peace Settlement of 1919. 
  2. Evaluate the key events of the 1920s and early 1930s, specifically the problems faced by Europe and the causes and effects of the Great Depression. 
  3. Explain the actions of Western Democracies in response to various crises. 
  4. Analyze the demise of democracies and the rise of autocratic dictatorships. 
  5. Analyze the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party in Germany.

At the end of the WWII in Europe section, participants will...

  1. Describe the relationship between WWI and WWII and how the way in which the wars were fought was different.
  2. Analyze the origins of WWII
  3. Examine the key events and battles of the War in Europe. 
  4. Identify major turning points of the European Campaign.
  5. Evaluate what made WWII different than others in history.
  6. Explain how the Allies defeated the Axis powers.

At the end of the WWII in the Pacific section, participants will...

  1. Analyze the origins and the background of the War in the Pacific.
  2. Discuss how the nature of war in the Pacific was different than that in Europe.
  3. Evaluate key events and strategies of the Japanese and Allied forces. 
  4. Explain how the war ended and the Allies were able to win. 
  5. Discuss the impacts of the atomic bombings.

Course Topics:

This course will explore three distinct time periods over the course of the two world wars. Part one will examine WWI, part two will discuss the interwar period, and part three will discuss WWII. At the end of the course Clemson professors discuss the legacies of Clemson University in WWII as it had the second highest number of commissioned officers from a university outside the academies. 

Part I: WWI

  • Origins, roots, and causes
  • War on the Western & Eastern Fronts
  • The war's end and the significant effects it had on geopolitics going forward.

Part II: Interwar period

  • Summary of WWI and the significance of the Paris Peace Settlement & Treaty of Versailles
  • Global economic collapse and the rise of authoritarian governments around the world
  • Early signs of the coming of WWII

Part III: WWII

  • European - Early stages, Germany's expansion, & the Holocaust, Turning point & the war's end
  • Pacific Theater - Japan's early aggressions in Asia, Pearl Harbor & Japanese expansion, US involvement, Nuclear Weapons, and the war's end

Course Requirements:

There are no requirements or pre-requisites for this course.

Technical Requirements:

To participate fully in this course, you will need:

  • An active email address for the individual participating in the course.
  • A desktop computer or laptop (recommended): Canvas is available on mobile devices, but some content may appear differently.
  • Access to a high-speed internet connection.
  • A web browser compatible with Canvas: Chrome and Firefox are recommended.
  • Headphones or speakers (closed captioning also available).
  • Computer skills including Internet browsing, using email, typing, downloading files, and basic troubleshooting.

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