Oklahoma Social Studies TOT.C.4.4.D

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Content Standards

The Standard

TOT.C.4.4: Trace the significant events that led to Adolf Hitler’s rise to power.

Enabling Act; Concordat of 1933

Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies (2026) · TOT.C.4.4

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain how Hitler's cabinet gained the power to make laws without a parliamentary vote. They explain what the Nazi government and the Vatican agreed to in 1933, and why it mattered politically.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given short excerpts from both documents, students identify who gained power and what Catholic clergy agreed to do. They explain that the church agreement did not mean all Catholics supported Nazi policies.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think the Enabling Act made Hitler president or that parliament still voted on every law. They may mistake the Concordat for blanket Catholic support of Nazi rule.
How to Assess It: On an exit ticket, ask: How did the Enabling Act change who made laws, and what political activity did Catholic clergy agree to avoid?

Lesson moves

Hand pairs two short excerpts. Have them highlight who gained power in blue and who agreed to avoid party politics in yellow.
Ask students to write three sentences on why Vatican officials might seek written church protections from a government taking more power.
Give pairs six cards with document names, clauses, and consequences. Have them build two matching sets.
Print a U.S. lawmaking flowchart. Have students circle the congressional vote and explain what changed when Germany's cabinet could bypass parliament.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to TOT.C.4.4.D, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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