World History

Free resources that align with your World History curriculum

CFR Education offers a range of free resources that can supplement your World History curriculum. Browse articles, timelines, videos, and simulations covering three major eras that have shaped the world from 1900 to the present. Wondering about standards alignment? Search for your state standards at the bottom of this page.

Global Conflict

Why Did World War I Happen? Reading	In this free resource on World War I, explore the causes and effects of the Great War to understand how the conflict shaped world history.
Explosion of the USS Maine in 1898 Mini Simulation	How should the United States intervene against Spanish colonial rule in Cuba? Explore this historical simulation set in 1898.
Why Did World War II Happen? Reading	In this free resource on World War II, understand the causes of World War II and why these issues drove countries back to battle just two decades after World War I.
The Zimmerman Telegram in 1917 Mini Simulation	Should the United States take action against Germany? Explore this historical simulation set in 1917.
How Do Countries Decide Whether to Go to War? Video	Learn how balances and imbalances of power contributed to World Wars I and II in this historical video.
Understanding the Constructive and Destructive Natures of Nationalism Reading	Nationalism can unify diverse societies. But when taken to extremes, it can also fuel violence, division, and global disorder.
How Did the United States Become a Global Power? Reading	Learn how domestic expansion and three wars—the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II—transformed the United States’ standing in the world.
What Is Sovereignty? Video	Understand the principle that has underpinned world order for the past four hundred years.
What Are the Origins of Communism? Reading	Explore the different ways Marx, Lenin, and Stalin interpreted communism and dive into the history of translating an ideology into policy.
What Is the UN Security Council? Reading	In this free resource, learn more about the United Nations’ most powerful body working to maintain international peace and security. Explore the security council’s failures and successes, and why the UN Security Council’s veto power is so controversial.
Essential Events Between 1900 and 1945 Timeline	Learn how two world wars and other major historical developments from the Spanish-American War to World War II reshaped global affairs in the first half of the twentieth century.
The Civilian Consequences of Conflict Reading	From World War II to Syria’s civil war, understand the deadly consequences of war and what that means about the changing nature of conflict.
What Is Fascism? Reading	In this free resource, learn how Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler rose to power and the lessons their political journeys hold for today.
How Is Conflict Changing? Video	What is conflict? Explore the reasons why tensions, violence, and war break out and what the consequences are for the world in this video.
What Tools Do Foreign Policy-Makers Have at Their Disposal? Video	In this foreign policy video, learn how leaders further their countries’ interests with political, economic, and military tools such as diplomacy, trade, and intelligence.
What Is Interstate Conflict? Reading	Bombs and bullets are not always required for countries to come into conflict. From Russia’s war in Ukraine to a U.S. trade war with China, explore the different ways countries come into tension.
How Do Countries Select Their Foreign Policy Tools? Video	In this educational video on foreign policy, explore how U.S. relations with Japan have changed over the past century, from Pearl Harbor to a peaceful alliance.
Understanding Intrastate Conflict Reading	From civil war to terrorist violence, explore the types, causes, and consequences of conflicts within countries that are increasingly threatening world order.
U.S. Foreign Policy: Europe Reading	In his 1796 farewell address, President George Washington cautioned the United States to steer clear of foreign entanglements.
NATO: The World’s Largest Alliance Timeline	What is NATO? Trace NATO’s history and learn how the organization’s mission has evolved over seventy-five years, from the end of World War II to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Modern History: Europe Reading	For the past seventy-five-odd years, Europe has largely been at peace.

Cold War and Decolonization

How Does History Inform the Chinese Communist Party’s Domestic and Foreign Policy Goals? Reading	Learn how China’s transformation from a state of economic and political collapse to its rise as a global power shapes the motivations of its leaders today.
Soft Power Mini Simulation	Should the United States use soft power to enhance its standing in the world? Explore this hypothetical simulation.
How Did Mass Production and Mass Consumption Take Off After World War II? Reading	Discover how consumer goods have become cheap and ubiquitous in the global era.
Russia and NATO in the Baltics in 2016 (NSC) Simulation
How Did Decolonization Reshape the World? Reading	From India and the Palestinian Territories to Vietnam and Sudan, learn how former colonies sought independence—and how the shadow of colonialism still affects many regions today.
Trusting Security Assurances Mini Simulation	How should a country under threat by a nuclear-armed power decide its future nuclear plans? Explore this hypothetical simulation.
The History of Nuclear Proliferation Timeline	What are the most significant attempts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, and have they succeeded? Explore this timeline, from the first atomic bomb to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
How Did the Cold War Stay Cold? Video	Learn how the world’s superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR), avoided nuclear war.
NATO Enlargement in 1994 (NSC) Simulation
The Marshall Plan Video	Understand how the Marshall Plan, one of the first large foreign aid programs, helped Europe rebuild after World War II, but also served the foreign policy interests of the United States.
Essential Events Since 1945 Timeline	From the Cold War and decolonization to globalization, learn how recent historical developments shaped today’s world.
Korean War in 1950 (NSC) Simulation
How Self-Determination Shaped the Modern World Reading	Learn how the world’s nearly two hundred countries came to be, and whether the map is set in stone.
Modern History and U.S. Foreign Policy: Middle East and North Africa Reading	From the fall of the Ottoman Empire to U.S. efforts to advance Arab-Israeli partnerships, learn how history and foreign influence have shaped the region.
Korean War in 1950 (UNSC) Simulation
Understanding the Constructive and Destructive Natures of Nationalism Reading	Nationalism can unify diverse societies. But when taken to extremes, it can also fuel violence, division, and global disorder.
Modern History: Sub-Saharan Africa Reading	For centuries, sub-Saharan Africa was home to prosperous empires that made groundbreaking advances in architecture, mathematics, and metalworking.
Negotiating Ukrainian Security in 1993 Mini Simulation	How should the United States manage dismantling Ukraine's nuclear arsenal while safeguarding against renewed conflict in Europe? Explore this historical simulation set in 1993.
Tanks, Sanctions, and Separatists: The Various Challenges to Sovereignty Reading	A government’s authority within its borders gets challenged all the time. Here is how.
Eight “Hot Wars” During the Cold War Reading	The United States and the Soviet Union never directly clashed, but the Cold War was far from bloodless. From Cuba to Korea, explore the proxy wars these superpowers fueled in this historical resource.
Understanding Revolutions Reading	Explore the powerful political movements that can reshape forms of government.
Two Koreas, Two Development Policies Reading	How did North Korea and South Korea turn out so differently? Learn about the history of Korea after World War II and how economic policies shaped the region.
NATO: The World’s Largest Alliance Timeline	What is NATO? Trace NATO’s history and learn how the organization’s mission has evolved over seventy-five years, from the end of World War II to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Arms Control Mini Simulation	Should the United States use arms control to reduce the threat of a new type of weapon? Explore this hypothetical simulation.
What Is Colonialism and How Did It Arise? Reading	Explore how colonialism enriched empires and fundamentally reshaped countries such as India.
Deterrence Mini Simulation	How should the United States use deterrence to block threats against itself and its allies? Explore this hypothetical simulation.

Globalization

What Is Globalization? Video	Explore examples of globalization to understand the benefits and challenges of our increasingly interconnected world in this video.
The Rising Tide of Diabetes in Mexico Video	As noncommunicable diseases become more prevalent, Mexico is coming up with innovative ideas to fight the problem.
Humanitarian Intervention in South Sudan in 2014 (NSC) Simulation
The Paris Agreement Reading	What is the Paris Agreement? In this free resource, learn what actions countries are taking to address the global threat of climate change.
Human Trafficking in the Global Era Reading	Understand the various forms of human trafficking, including forced labor, forced marriage, and forced organ removal.
The History of Terrorism and U.S. Counterterrorism Since 1945 Timeline	From the creation of the CIA to the “War on Terror,” learn about the evolution of U.S. counterterrorism policies in this terrorism timeline.
Internally Displaced Persons: Migrants Who Do Not Cross a National Border Reading	Who are IDPs and how are they different from refugees? Understand what happens to people who are forced from their homes but remain inside their own country through country case studies.
How Can AI Combat Climate Change? Reading	In this free climate change resource, learn how AI is helping countries reduce carbon emissions, but some innovations could ultimately contribute to a warming planet.
Climate Change Adaptations Reading	Explore how eleven countries are adapting to the effects of climate change in this free resource.
Noncommunicable Diseases and How They Are Measured Reading	How to track and understand the world’s leading causes of death.
Humanitarian Intervention in South Sudan in 2014 (UNSC) Simulation
What the World’s Terrorist Groups Have in Common Reading	From the KKK to al-Qaeda, learn how strong ideology motivates terrorist groups to commit violence, no matter their goals.
How Did Mass Production and Mass Consumption Take Off After World War II? Reading	Discover how consumer goods have become cheap and ubiquitous in the global era.
Who Counts As a Terrorist? Reading	What are the major types of terrorism? From foreign groups to domestic threats, learn how the U.S. government defines terrorism and its legal consequences.
The Origins of the Internet Timeline	The internet evolved from a niche government tool to a nearly universal platform for communications and entertainment.
The Inflation Reduction Act Reading	What is the IRA? In this free resource, learn what the United States' largest-ever climate change legislation does.
Two Hundred Years of Global Communications Timeline	From the printing press to Instagram, technological advances shape how people communicate.
How Health Care Works Around the World Reading	Experts agree that access to quality health care is the best way to improve global health. But health-care options vary greatly depending on where you are in the world.
The Greenhouse Effect Reading	How do greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global warming? Learn why the world is getting warmer in this free climate change resource.
Eleven Global Issues That Will Shape the Future Reading	Understand the challenges that will define our lifetime.
The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Reading	What is the NPT and how has the treaty influenced the spread of nuclear weapons?
The Internet by the Numbers Reading	In a world where internet access is increasing, digital divides remain.
A Global Semiconductor Shortage Reading	Expensive cars? Phone order delays? Learn how today’s globalized supply chain can affect our daily lives by exploring the global semiconductor shortage.
Big in China: The Global Market for Hollywood Movies Reading	Hollywood’s relationship with the Chinese market—and its gatekeepers, Chinese government censors—is changing the way movies are made and promoted.
The Changing Response to AIDS Timeline	A neglected global health crisis ultimately became a top priority for policymakers, donors, and doctors.
Sources of Energy: A Comparison Reading	Learn how turning toward cleaner energy sources means factoring in economic and energy needs alongside environmental ones.
Essential Events Since 1945 Timeline	From the Cold War and decolonization to globalization, learn how recent historical developments shaped today’s world.
What Is Nuclear Proliferation? Video	In this video on nuclear proliferation, learn why countries develop nuclear weapons—and what is being done to prevent the spread of these weapons and the possibility of nuclear war.
Should the Internet Respect National Borders? Video	The United States supports internet freedom. China, a proponent of cyber sovereignty, disagrees.
Economic Sanctions Mini Simulation	How should the United States apply sanctions to influence a crisis abroad? Explore this hypothetical simulation.
What Is Climate Change? Video	In this educational video, learn why the climate is changing, how it affects us, and what we can do about it.
The Globe-Trotting Journey of a Sneaker Video	Learn the pros and cons of the global supply chain process of making a popular Nike shoe in this video.
Tools of Counterterrorism Video	What is counterterrorism? Learn how governments try to prevent terrorist attacks in this video on terrorism.
Social Media: Revolutionizing Communication Reading	Social media has connected people at lightning speeds and upended long-held monopolies on information. But like past innovations, it has also created major societal challenges.
South Africa: Why Countries Acquire and Abandon Nuclear Bombs Reading	Why did South Africa give up its nuclear weapons? In this historical case study, learn about the only country in the world to have developed and then dismantled its nuclear program.
How Companies and Governments Do (and Don’t) Protect Your Data Reading	The spread of the internet has far outpaced domestic and international privacy laws, making global coordination difficult and leaving personal data vulnerable.
Peacekeeping Mini Simulation	Should the United States support peacekeeping in a country filled with ethnic conflict? Explore this hypothetical simulation.
Trains, Planes, and Shipping Containers Reading	Three innovations shaped how people and goods move around the world today.
Technology and Development Video	As Great Britain’s Industrial Revolution and India’s Green Revolution have shown, technological innovation can drive extraordinary development. Explore how digital advancements are further driving progress today.
The History of Nuclear Proliferation Timeline	What are the most significant attempts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, and have they succeeded? Explore this timeline, from the first atomic bomb to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Climate Change Inequality Reading	In this free resource, explore how climate change disproportionately affects certain communities and could drastically increase global inequality.
How Do Countries Create Nuclear Weapons? Reading	What is nuclear power and how can the same process that generates nuclear energy create a nuclear bomb?
How Does Cyberspace Work? Reading	Learn about the many places information is transferred across the internet—including under the ocean, up in space, and in your pocket.
Stopping Deforestation in the Amazon Mini Simulation	Should the United States take action to stop deforestation in the Amazon to combat climate change? Explore this simulation.
Six Essential International Organizations You Need to Know Reading	Learn about the most prominent international organizations tackling the world’s biggest issues in this free resource.
The Terrorist Money Trail Reading	How do terrorists get funding? Learn about the challenges of targeting the finances of terrorist groups in this free resource on terrorism.
Migration Today Reading	Understand where migrants come from, where they go, and why migration is increasing through maps, charts, and data.
What Is Water Scarcity? Reading	Is there a global water crisis? In this free resource, learn how climate change is causing water scarcity to worsen worldwide.
The Nuclear World Reading	Where are the world’s nuclear weapons today and whom do they protect? Explore maps, charts, and graphs to learn about current and future nuclear weapons states.
What are Cyberspace and Cybersecurity? Video	Explore the origins of the internet and the challenges that will define its future.
Trade Policy Mini Simulation	How should the United States leverage trade to respond when a rivalry between growing trade partners threatens regional stability? Explore this hypothetical simulation.
Who Is Responsible for Climate Change? Video	Why do developed and developing countries disagree about who is responsible for climate change? Explore the history of industrialization and its impacts on climate in this video.
The Rise and Fall of the Responsibility to Protect Timeline	Sovereignty is sacred. But when lives are in danger, does that principle still apply?
Global Terrorism Trends Reading	Explore terrorism trends through five data charts that help show the threat of terrorism around the world and how it has changed over time.
What Is Migration? Video	Why do people migrate? Understand why migration means different things for individuals, countries, and economies in a globalized world.
Radicalization and Right-Wing Extremism Reading	Learn how QAnon, white supremacists, and Silicon Valley have contributed to an evolving domestic terror threat.
How Globalization Affects What’s for Brunch Video	Globalization’s effects can appear where you least expect them—including on your plate.
The Growing Threat of Cyberattacks Video	The Stuxnet worm is only the beginning.
U.S. Arctic Policy Mini Simulation	Should the United States launch a new Arctic policy in response to climate change and investments from countries like China and Russia in the region? Explore this simulation.
Who Releases the Most Greenhouse Gases? Reading	Learn how the world measures greenhouse gas emissions and how different approaches imply different levels of responsibility.
Reimagining Sovereignty in a Global Era Video	When fires in the Amazon affect countries around the world, is there a need to rethink a centuries-old understanding of sovereignty?
What Is Terrorism? Video	Learn how terrorists have sought to achieve their goals all over the world with this video on terrorism.
For Migrants, Labels Matter Reading	What is the difference between immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers? Explore how contested definitions of migrants have a profound effect on the rights and protections of people leaving their homes.
What Is Cryptocurrency? Reading	Explore digital currency's uses and abuses in society.
It Takes a Village to Make Your Medicine Reading	Follow the global supply chain across borders and into your pill bottle.
What Is Global Health? Video	We have made advances in global health, but we face challenges from new disease trends—and need funding to treat them.
Global Climate Change Policy (NSC) Simulation
Climate Change and the Coffee Industry Video	In this educational video, learn how climate change's effects on agriculture can have serious economic consequences for the world.
COVID-19’s Unequal Consequences Reading	In its first few months, the pandemic disproportionately harmed people of color in the United States.
Terrorism and the Media Video	How do terrorists use the media? From Osama bin Laden to the Islamic State, learn how terrorists use internet and media coverage to shape their goals.
History of U.S. Immigration Policy Video	Explore how the United States has responded to migrants throughout history—from the Chinese Exclusion Act to DACA—and how immigration policy influences the society, economy, and politics of a country.
How Do Governments Combat Climate Change? Reading	In this free resource, explore seven ways countries are responding to a changing environment, from cap and trade policies to clean energy standards.
Tools of Nonproliferation Video	How do world leaders try to prevent nuclear war? From diplomacy to military force, learn what policy options are most effective in this video.
Global Health Then and Now Reading	The world has become healthier over the past few centuries, but new challenges are on the horizon.
Global Climate Change Policy (UNSC) Simulation
Why Scientists Are Watching Greenland Reading	In this free climate change resource, learn why melting ice in Greenland is causing global sea level rise.
What Is the UN Security Council? Reading	In this free resource, learn more about the United Nations’ most powerful body working to maintain international peace and security. Explore the security council’s failures and successes, and why the UN Security Council’s veto power is so controversial.
How a Single Phrase Defined the War on Terror Reading	What is the 2001 AUMF and what does it have to do with 9/11? From the invasion of Afghanistan, to the Iraq War, and more, learn how the United States justified U.S. counterterrorism policy for over two decades.
The Lasting Effects of Emigration Video	When migrants seek work abroad, what does their home country gain and lose? Explore one example of a country shaped by emigration, the Philippines.
What Is Peacekeeping? Reading	In this free resource on the successes and failures of peacekeeping, learn about the UN missions tasked with transitioning countries out of war.