15: World War II

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As We May Think - The Atlantic

Historians love to look for turning points or single examples of moments of time in which history takes a definitive turn - here is one of them. Students and teachers on the early 21st century can gain a better appreciation of the information revolution they are living through by reading of its prediction just after World War II. Dr. Vannevar Bush was the Director of the Office of Scientific Research and Development during World War II, directing the activities of some six thousand American scientists to help in the war effort. In this article he forecasts the information revolution

As We May Think - The Atlantic

As we may think - Life Magazine, 1945

Vannevar Bush's Atlantic article excerpted and re-published by Life Magazine in September of 1945. The predictive power of this article may have more of an impact in this format scanned directly from the magazine with the advertisements intact.

As we may think - Life Magazine, 1945

The U.S. and Japan have very different memories of World War II.

This may help teachers show students that history leaves and breathes in many different forms around the world.

The U.S. and Japan have very different memories of World War II.

Undue Certainty - Sam Wineberg

Sam Wineberg's criticism of Howard Zinn is unique in that it focuses on the historical process and not the product. Teachers using Zinn, especially the chapter on World War II, should read this essay to leverage the most out of the ability of "People's History" to teach historical literacy.

Undue Certainty - Sam Wineberg

The Atomic Bomb Decision - HSI: Historical Scene Investigation

This primary document lesson has students pursue the question of whether the dropping of the bomb was inevitable. This is a twist on the usual, "Why was the bomb used?" lesson and provides students with a set of primary source documents to direct their analysis though they are selected to provide an open spectrum of possibilities. This is a lesson that has students "doing history"

The Atomic Bomb Decision - HSI: Historical Scene Investigation

A Rude Awakening: The Reaction of Japanese Americans to Executive Order 9066

In this lesson students will closely examine the impact of Executive Order 9066 signed by President Franklin Roosevelt due to the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan. WWII impacted the people living in the United States in multiple ways. There were social and cultural unrest as people’s lives and routines were interrupted and uprooted, many to never be the same again.

A Rude Awakening: The Reaction of Japanese Americans to Executive Order 9066

Featured Source Performance Assessment: Civil Rights During WWII - Emerging America

This performance task requires students to compare text, sound files, and images to deepen their understanding of the efforts by African Americans to advance the Double V Campaign (victory over racism at war and at home) during WWII. A timeline helps students sequence and visualize the relative length of time between events.

Featured Source Performance Assessment: Civil Rights During WWII - Emerging America

The Pearl Harbor Archive - Map of FIrst Hand Accounts

More evidence that raw historical data is being sliced, diced and presented in interesting ways for students to build their own understandings of history. This is a map of Pearl Harbor with the location of first hand accounts marked. Have students click through the map and learn about what happened on December 7th from the people who were there

The Pearl Harbor Archive - Map of FIrst Hand Accounts

The New York World’s Fair, 1939-40 | Six hours of color film

Although there may not be a place in any specific lesson for this material, teachers could show this to students during class changes to let them know that the people of the past lived in a color world. This is not a documentary or produced film, is a amatuer footage of the World's Fair. It is interesting to note that this film was made just as World War II was beginning in Europe.

The New York World’s Fair, 1939-40 | Six hours of color film

Japanese Internment - Why were Japanese Americans interned during World War II - Reading like an historian

Students investigate a series of primary documents to address the question: Why were Japanese Americans interned during World War II? This lesson offers much more than that, it first has student answer the questions after watching a newsreel, then has then go through documents in stages, tracking how their answer changes as they look through more resources

Japanese Internment - Why were Japanese Americans interned during World War II - Reading like an historian

Zoot Suit Riots Lesson - Reading like an Historian

This lesson focuses on sourcing in document analysis though it engages students in a home front lesson that may have resonance to today's social climate

Zoot Suit Riots Lesson - Reading like an Historian

Do you have change for a billion? The mad world of Zimbabwe’s currency | World Economic Forum

Teachers explaining the Weimar Republic's failure or even the silverites of late 19th century US history can use this material in the course of an inflation lesson. Yet hidden in this article is an interesting fact that has probably been misstated by countless high school history teachers. How many teachers claim that the worst inflation in recorded history occurred in Germany - here that crown goes to post WWII Hungary.

Do you have change for a billion? The mad world of Zimbabwe’s currency | World Economic Forum

HSI: Historical Scene Investigation - The Decision to Drop the Bomb

In this lesson, students review primary source documents and write a paragraph or two answering the following questions: Did Truman decide to drop the bomb, or was the use of the atomic bomb inevitable? Within your analysis, please indicate whether you were satisfied with the evidence and list any additional questions that have been left unanswered through your investigation.

HSI: Historical Scene Investigation - The Decision to Drop the Bomb

Before email, there was V-mail: The WWII program that scanned letters onto microfilm

Far too many "Technology of World War II" lessons stop after Radar, Rockets and Atomic Bombs. V-mail can be added to the list. Then have them Google the phrase "As we may think"

Before email, there was V-mail: The WWII program that scanned letters onto microfilm

The Unacknowledged Lesson: Earl Warren and the Japanese Relocation Controversy | VQR Online

Although many teach that Earl Warren is best characterized by a "liberal" label for his support of civil rights and the rights of the accused, Earl Warren also supported Japanese internment during World War II. This article, only for interested teachers, shows that there is a lot more to any label, despite the overwhelming evidence supporting it.

The Unacknowledged Lesson: Earl Warren and the Japanese Relocation Controversy | VQR Online

The Mystery of the Crying Woman - ActiveHistory

History teachers will almost certainly recognize this photo. They may not know the story behind it. This is a historical thinking/visual history lesson ready to be embedded in World War II content

The Mystery of the Crying Woman - ActiveHistory

The Final Political Testament of Adolf Hitler - History Learning Site

Written just before his death, Adolph Hitler's final testament can be used by teachers to specifically how Hitler lies. Students are much better served by immersing themselves in historical evidence rather than general statements or secondary readings. Who does Hitler blame for the war? How? What does he save for his final admonition?

The Final Political Testament of Adolf Hitler - History Learning Site

Franklin D. Roosevelt: Annual Message to Congress

US II lesson - give students a few minutes to find the arguments against neutrality acts in FDR's state of the Union address of 1939

Franklin D. Roosevelt: Annual Message to Congress

The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb - primary source documents from the Truman Library

This collection focuses on the decision to drop the atomic bomb. It includes 76 documents totaling 632 pages covering the years 1945 through 1964. Supporting materials include an online version of “Truman and the Bomb: A Documentary History,” edited by Robert H. Ferrell.

The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb - primary source documents from the Truman Library

Truman Diary Entry from June 17, 1945

Would it help your student realize that historical figures were people if they could read their diary in their own handwriting. Andrew Jackson's handwriting was terrible and his spelling was worse. But Truman, they can read - and if you are teaching Potsdam, why not? This describes when he first met Stalin, whom he describes "as smart as hell"

Truman Diary Entry from June 17, 1945

Correspondence between the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and the Presidents of the USA and the Prime Ministers of Great Britain during the Great Patriotic War of 1941 - 1945 Correspondence with Winston S. Churchill and Clement R. Attlee

Teachers and students can just click on any year and Ctrl-F to search through letters to read correspondence related to their searched term

Consumer spending in World War II: the forgotten consumer expenditure surveys : Monthly Labor Review: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

This is hard data, reports of consumer spending in 1941 through 1944 - they reveal that with the exception of automobiles and transportation, the consumers of the United States were spending just as much on food, housing entertainment. This calls into question the "sacrifice" that Americans were making

Consumer spending in World War II: the forgotten consumer expenditure surveys : Monthly Labor Review: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Treatment of the Japanese-American Internment during World War II

This lengthy article is for teachers who want to find a way to include historiography in their lessons. Every lesson on the Nisei should include reference to the fact that the interment of Japanese Americans during World War II was taught differently in the past. Excerpts from textbooks can be included in DBQs as well

Treatment of the Japanese-American Internment during World War II

Special Focus: Sojourner Truth Housing Project · Before the Unrest: 1940 - 1967 · 12th Street Detroit

Housing shortages during World War II are commonly ignored in the taught narrative canon, but the issue opens the door to understanding race relations. A federal housing project is the focus of a segregation fight in the midst of World War II

Special Focus: Sojourner Truth Housing Project · Before the Unrest: 1940 - 1967 · 12th Street Detroit

The Strategy Of Terror Europe S Inner Front : Edmond Taylor :1940 (Book)

This book addresses the concept of war outside of military combat, the struggle between nations and ideas. In this book, written at the start of World War II in Europe, Edmund Taylor explains how the war began long before the shooting started. The way in which he speaks of propaganda and the way in which German propaganda was directed against the French long before the shooting started, can could very much like Russian interference in the 2016 election. Histories written before 2016 might not pay attention to this book, histories written after 2016 better pay attention to this book

The Strategy Of Terror Europe S Inner Front : Edmond Taylor :1940 (Book)

World War II Poster Collection from Northwestern University Library

The Government and Geographic Information and Data Services Department at Northwestern University Library has a comprehensive collection of over 300 posters issued by U.S. Federal agencies from the onset of war through 1945.

World War II Poster Collection from Northwestern University Library

THE WAR . For Educators . Lesson Plan | PBS

Lesson plans based on the Ken Burns film

THE WAR . For Educators . Lesson Plan | PBS

War on Two Fronts: The Experiences of African American Soldiers During World War I | American Battle Monuments Commission

Lessons and resource collection, primary sources included

War on Two Fronts: The Experiences of African American Soldiers During World War I | American Battle Monuments Commission

Lesson 2: Turning the Tide in Europe, 1942–1944 | NEH-Edsitement

Using primary sources, students assume the role of military and political leaders of the United States in 1941 - should Japan the first priority, or Germany?

Lesson 2: Turning the Tide in Europe, 1942–1944 | NEH-Edsitement

MIT Visualizing Cultures - Ground Zero 1945

These drawings and paintings by Japanese survivors of the atomic bomb were created more than a quarter century after the bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. They are provided by the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

MIT Visualizing Cultures - Ground Zero 1945