Lesson: Empire At All Costs, 1932-1945
Grade Level: SecondarySubject Area: Social Studies
In retrospect, the decision for war clearly led to disaster for Japan. Through the use of maps, diaries, and photographs, this lesson helps students understand why Japan pursued this course towards destruction, consider alternatives Japan could have followed, and understand the cost of the war for the Japanese populace.
Lesson: Building “Greater” Japan, 1890-1905
Grade Level: SecondarySubject Area: Social Studies
Focusing on the Russo-Japanese War, this lesson utilizes source documents and provocative questions to explore the significance of early Japanese imperialism.
Lesson: Constructing Imperial Japan, 1868-1890
Grade Level: SecondarySubject Area: Social Studies
Using Japan during its period of rapid modernization as a base, this lesson asks students to reflect on what it means to be “modern” and how and why Japan embraced this concept.
Lesson: Empire And Imperial Democracy, 1918-1932
Grade Level: SecondarySubject Area: Social Studies
Utilizing role playing, debate, and primary source analysis, this lesson explores Japanese history during this period in the context of larger issues such as the relationship between imperialism and democracy.
Lesson: Striving For Imperial Democracy, 1905-1918
Grade Level: SecondarySubject Area: Social Studies
Using the death of the Meiji Emperor as a key turning point, this lesson analyzes how and why “democracy” grew in Japan during this period. Using the perspective of global history, the lesson contextualizes the complex role of the emperor in Japan.
