20th Century American History

Essential Question: How did Black GIs respond to Jim Crow in U.S. Armed Forces during World War II?

Students will read and analyze the two parts of Eleanor Roosevelt's radio broadcast on Dec. 7, 1941. Through class & small group discussion, students will analyze what Eleanor’s message was intended to be and how it was delivered. Students will identify the talking points and how they differ from the original broadcast. Students will consider the effect of Eleanor’s speech, being the first, to address the attack on Pearl Harbor from the White House. Students will conclude the lesson with listening to the radio broadcast and discuss how hearing her voice might change tone of the speech they read.

Students will analyze ten presidential executive orders that had consequential ramifications on American society.

Students will evaluate the effectiveness of Truman’s Executive Order #9981 on American society by the time of the Vietnam War

Students will participate in a simulation of the Potsdam Conference between the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union.

Students will complete a set of analytical questions (on paper or electronically) while using primary and secondary map resources individually, pair-share, and then discuss as a class/group as a formative assessment or review tool over the Electoral College and demographics.

The student will: be able to analyze how foreign policy decisions are reached and how global events impact U.S. Presidential administrations

This lesson is designed for a high school level United States History Class but can be modified for a middle level classroom as well. This lesson combines partner/group work with an individual assignment. The students will be examining both primary and secondary sources in this lesson.

Students will study the treaty process as it relates to presidential power. There will be a review of the treaty process, the Treaty of Versailles, and the Fourteen Points.