Information
Faculty and Staff
Academic Assistance Programs
Media Center
Academic / Extracurricular Activities
Links
Policies and
Procedures
Business Partners
Sapphire Partners
 Friends of Shiloh
|
|
Name:____________________________
Period:__________
WEBQUEST
WWII on the Homefront:
The American “Look”
Introduction:
During the time the United
States became involved in fighting W.W.II,
patriotic feelings ran wild. Americans
took great pride in the bravery and endurance their armed forces exhibited in
fighting the oppressive powers abroad.
Although there was such a large national focus on ending the suffering
of those held under the Axis powers in Europe and the Pacific, the American
homefront was far from being a level playing field for minorities such as
African Americans, Asian Americans and many others. Also, women were still limited to narrow career choices, and their “proper” place was still thought
to be in the home.
In many ways, World War II served to
initiate some important changes in American society. Minorities joined the armed forces and took
on roles they had previously been denied, but not without a struggle. Women took on jobs that were left empty by
men who went off to fight in the war.
Despite these major changes, prejudice and hostility towards minorities
still continued to a large extent, especially in the cases of the Japanese
Americans who were forced to live in internment camps.
This web quest is designed to help
you to find out about the real American “look” and national
identity during WWII, one that includes all people living in the USA. As you explore what happened in our country
during World War II, put yourself in the 1940s.
Pretend you are experiencing the same changes and hardships. Try and put yourself in the shoes of those
people you learn about, and connect their identity to the overall “look” or
identity of America
at the time.
The Task:
You will visit five web sites and
gather information. Once you go to the
web site, follow the directions on your guide sheet. Read the articles and find the specific
information required. In many cases, you
will give your reaction to photographs and posters. You will write down your reactions and the
information you find on your response sheet.
Be sure to write down all of the information required.
The Process:
SITE
#1 – African Americans in WWII
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aopart8.html
1. Scroll down the page to the section where it
says, “World War II,
Segregation
at Home and Abroad
2. Choose two
of the nine passages listed on the page about African American involvement in
WWII to respond to.
3. Write the title of each passage in the section provided on your
response
sheet.
4. Respond to the questions on your response
sheet for each
passage
you listed.
SITE
#2 -- The Role of Women in WWII
http://www.learnhistory.org.uk/usa/womenww2.htm
1. Read all the information on the page.
2. Respond to the questions for SITE #2 on your
response sheet.
3. Find the “key words” section at the bottom of
the web page
and
write down the definition for “stereotype” and “propaganda” on
the
space provided on your response sheet.
SITE
#3 – Japanese American Internment
http://www.asianamericanmedia.org/jainternment/ww2/prewar.html
1. Read the
article “Prewar Discrimination” and look at the picture
of the Japanese man and woman on the right.
2. Respond to
the questions for SITE # 3 on your response sheet.
SITE #4 – Powers of Persuasion
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/powers_of_persuasion/powers_of_persuasion_intro.html
1. Browse
through the collections of propaganda posters in Part 1
and Part 2 of the online gallery.
2. Choose four
posters to respond to and write the title of each
poster
in the space provided on your response sheet.
3. Respond to the questions for SITE #4 on your
response sheet
for
each of the five posters.
|
