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United States Entry into World War II_LP4


John Martin


United States Entry Into WWII_Martin


This lesson focuses on two groups of Americans during World War II, those who refused to fight and those who served despite the discrimination of segregation. A total of nearly 43,000 Americans refused to fight for reasons of conscience: 12,000 served in Civilian Public Service, 6,000 went to prison and 25,000 served in the military as noncombatants.  Many African–Americans served in this war even though segregation was a fact of life during World War II.

This lesson incorporates analysis of primary source documents on the pacifist movement during World War II and segregation in the military during World War II.


Copies of excerpts of the following articles:       

Ottley, Roi, “Negroes Are Saying,”  Reporting World War II, Part One, Library of America, New York: 1995, pp. 434-452.  

Redding, Saunders, "A Negro Looks at This War,"  Reporting World War II, Part One, Library of America, New York: 1995, pp. 426-433.       

United Press, "Hisses Greet Rep. Rankin's Anti War Vote, Atlanta Journal, December 9, 1941.  (Used by permission from Atlanta Journal).

Copies of document analysis sheet (See linked file "Handout with Explanations") for each student and article  


Sixty minutes


4


How did early involvement in World War II affect the citizens of LaGrange and the United States?


Ask students to write a paragraph in response to the following statement:  "Is war ever justified?"

After students have had time to compose their thoughts into a paragraph, ask volunteers to share their responses.


Ask students to consider the question:  "Is war justified if one's country is attacked?" 

Allow a few minutes for class discussion. 


1. Distribute copies of the Rankin article and ask students to describe her stand against war even when attacked.  What do students think was her rationale?

2.     a. Have students form groups of three or four to analyze the Ottley and Redding articles using the Document Analysis Handout (See Linked Files "Handouts with Explanations" for form).  Students should notice instances of discriminatory practices by military personnel and the civilian population.

        b. Have each group report their findings to the class.

        c. Lead students in a discussion of the answer to the following question:

      Why do you think that these practices have been discontinued in the military after the war and up until today?

        


Have students create a Venn Diagram to be used to compare and contrast the Ottley and Redding articles.  Students may use several points as criteria for comparison, but be certain to include discriminatory practices in the military and civilian sectors of the population during World War II.


Other:

Suggestions for Further Reading 

Armstrong, David, “Pearl Harbor!  An Eyewitness Account,” American History Illustrated, August, 1974, Volume IX, Number 5, Gettysburg, PA, National History Society, Pages 4-11, 41-48.

 

Beach, Edward L., “The Biggest Theater,” Battles and Leaders 1995, Forbes, Inc., Pages 44-53.

 

Gunston, Bill, The Illustrated Directory of Fighting Aircraft of World War II, London, Salamander Books Limited, 2001.

 

Kennedy, David, Freedom From Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945, New York, Oxford University Press, 1999.

 

Lukcas, John, “The Transatlantic Duel: Hitler vs. Roosevelt,” Battles and Leaders 1995, Forbes, Inc., Pages 38-43.

 

Pearson/Prentice Hall, Honoring The American Past: The Stories of America’s World War II Veterans, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey Pearson Education.

 

Sommer, Anthony, “Billy Mitchell: Aviation’s Prophet,” American History Illustrated, December, 1974, Volume IX, Number 8, Gettysburg, PA, National History Society, Pages 32-43.

 

Tanaka, Shelley, Attack On Pearl Harbor, New York, Hyperion Books For Children, 2001.

 

Time-Life Books, An Illustrated History of World War II, Alexandria , Virginia, Time-Life Books, 2001.

 

Wheeler, Keith, The Road to Tokyo, Alexandria, Virginia, Time-Life Books, 1979.

 

                                                        WEB RESOURCES

Students can sharpen their research skills by formulating questions about World War II, which they then answer by seeking and compiling statistical data. Teachers can, for example, direct students to gather information from the following World Wide Web sites, which are a sampling of the many that include statistical data on World War II. 

HYPERWAR: HYPERTEXT HISTORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR. This site includes data about all aspects of World War II, including military campaigns, personnel, and command structures of the armed forces, in all theaters of operations in World War II. www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/index.html

THE HISTORY PLACE: STATISTICS OF WORLD WAR II. This section of The History Place Web site provides a variety of data about military forces and operations of World War II, such as total deaths for the war in Europe and the Pacific. It also includes information on African Americans and other minorities in the armed forces. www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/statistics.htm 

NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM. This site provides statistical data and related information about the D-Day invasion of Europe by Allied forces on June 6, 1944. www.ddaymuseum.org

HISTORY CHANNEL ON WORLD WAR II. This Web site, which is associated with the History Channel cable television network, provides data on all aspects of World War II. www.historychannel.com/wwii/ 

WORLD WAR II CASUALTIES. This page, part of the Navy Historical Center Web site maintained by the Department of the Navy, provides comprehensive statistical information on U.S. Navy and Marine Corps casualties in World War II. www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq11 1.html

ARMY WOMEN'S MUSEUM WAAC/WAC WORLD WAR II STATISTICS. This site features various statistics on both the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and the Women's Army Corps (WAC), which replaced the WAAC in 1943. www.awm.lee.army.mil 

WORLD WAR II: INFORMATION AND STATISTICS ON THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES. Statistics and other information about the German armed forces and comparative data about the armed forces, war costs, and military losses of all countries in the war are available here. www.violentpeace.com/.


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Hisses Greet Rep Rankins Anti War Vote_Martin LP4
Roi Ottley Article_LP4 Martin
Redding Article_LP4 Martin
Handout with Explanations_LP4 Martin

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