I'm not sure I follow, but if you're saving the state on your php session, you can check for that before rendering the page and if the session says the element was clicked, then also render a small js script that will trigger the click event on your element. That way, you get all the side efects you need, just as if the user had clicked the element.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.