Introduction

   Have two of your friends ever been in a fight with each other?  When each one came to tell you their story, were their stories exactly the same?  Probably not, because they each have a different perspective on the conflict.  The same thing happens when two (or more) countries are at war.  Often, both sides feel that they are in the right and that the other side is completely wrong.  War can be compared to a fight between friends because it permanently changes the relationship between the countries (friends), and it has devastating effects for those involved.

Image courtesy of WWII Photo Album, Harry O'Connor

   In this WebQuest you will be studying World War II, a conflict that affected the lives of millions of people.  Just like a fight between friends, though, the whole truth cannot be found in the actual conflict.  To know the whole truth, you must look at the important events leading up to the conflict.  The outbreak of World War II came about because of many factors; the Treaty of Versailles which ended World War I, the Great Depression, and a long history of imperial countries disrespecting the sovereignty of smaller nations led to a hostile international environment.  This WebQuest asks you to examine the countries of the United States, Germany and Japan as they endured the most destructive war in history.  By looking at the war through different perspectives, you will be able to understand the dispute and its effects more fully.