The study of history tells us many things. It informs us about the actions that have happened in the past, the decisions those in power have made, and it gives us insight into the attitudes of those "everyday" people who lived during that time. We can learn and better understand the ideas and actions of peoples, of nations. It allows us to evaluate the decisions that were made and analyze whether or not a different path might have been the better route. It helps us to see not only what has been but it allows us to form an opinion, to create a sense of our own beliefs, and shape how we will act in the future.
The study of American involvement in World War II is important for many reasons. For one, it allows us to examine the actions that took place leading up to the war and allows us to use that information to formulate an opinion on whether war could have been avoided or if it was the one true course of action. Students will learn about how America became slowly more politically and economically involved in the war. For another, it allows us to analyze how war affected Americans, not only just the soldiers that served over seas but also women and minorities whose lives changed on the Home Front due to the war. We can examine a multitude of primary sources to see the sacrifices made my soldiers abroad, how women moved from the home into the factories, and how despite their courage and determination to volunteer and serve their country, African American soldiers were still treated like second class citizens when segregation still reigned supreme. It also allows us to weigh whether the internment of Japanese Americans was necessary for national security or whether it was a travesty that violated the constitutional rights of men, women, and children. Students will assess whether or not the dropping of the atomic bomb was the only way to end the war or if we could have achieved peace another way. We can also examine America's efforts to aid Europe, such as through the Marshall Plan, in the rebuilding phase after the war and how that led to tense relations with Russia, resulting in the Cold War. Students are asked to think deeper and more critically about many different issues that still plague us. Students need to not only ne able to analyze this information but also synthesize it as they make their way through comprehending such complex problems as those that faced our nation during a time of war.
Students may be studying the past but many of these issues are still very real today. Propaganda still exists to encourage those to go to war against "enemy" nations, racism and sexism are still apart of society and of the military, and the debate surrounding when our constitutional rights can be violated for national security is still a hot topic. Studying America's involvement in World War II not only gives us insight into the past, but it can help students formulate opinions, create identities, and hopefully make better decisions on their path to becoming actively engaged Democratic citizens in a country that very much needs them.
The study of American involvement in World War II is important for many reasons. For one, it allows us to examine the actions that took place leading up to the war and allows us to use that information to formulate an opinion on whether war could have been avoided or if it was the one true course of action. Students will learn about how America became slowly more politically and economically involved in the war. For another, it allows us to analyze how war affected Americans, not only just the soldiers that served over seas but also women and minorities whose lives changed on the Home Front due to the war. We can examine a multitude of primary sources to see the sacrifices made my soldiers abroad, how women moved from the home into the factories, and how despite their courage and determination to volunteer and serve their country, African American soldiers were still treated like second class citizens when segregation still reigned supreme. It also allows us to weigh whether the internment of Japanese Americans was necessary for national security or whether it was a travesty that violated the constitutional rights of men, women, and children. Students will assess whether or not the dropping of the atomic bomb was the only way to end the war or if we could have achieved peace another way. We can also examine America's efforts to aid Europe, such as through the Marshall Plan, in the rebuilding phase after the war and how that led to tense relations with Russia, resulting in the Cold War. Students are asked to think deeper and more critically about many different issues that still plague us. Students need to not only ne able to analyze this information but also synthesize it as they make their way through comprehending such complex problems as those that faced our nation during a time of war.
Students may be studying the past but many of these issues are still very real today. Propaganda still exists to encourage those to go to war against "enemy" nations, racism and sexism are still apart of society and of the military, and the debate surrounding when our constitutional rights can be violated for national security is still a hot topic. Studying America's involvement in World War II not only gives us insight into the past, but it can help students formulate opinions, create identities, and hopefully make better decisions on their path to becoming actively engaged Democratic citizens in a country that very much needs them.