Carolina K-12
What Should President Truman Do?
After reading the article Choices: Truman, Hirohito, and the Atomic Bomb, class members engage in a simulation, assume the role of President Truman or one of his advisors and discuss the options open to the president. The exercise...
University of North Carolina
Presidential Decisions During the Vietnam War
To begin a study of the Vietnam War, groups assume the role of a US president, examine primary source documents, and based on this limited information, must decide on the United States' actions during the Vietnam War.
A&E Television
The World Wars
Contemporaneously known as The Great War, World War I had never seen its match on the global stage—until World War II. An engaging set of resources designed to extend a viewing of the History Channel's The World Wars features discussion...
DocsTeach
Responding to the Murder of Harry T. Moore
Heroic civil rights leader Harry T. Moore is murdered! An eye-opening activity delves into the past to understand the murder of prominent civil rights leader and educator Harry Moore and his wife. Academics also read President Truman's...
Center for History Education
Civil Rights and Cold Warriors
Three presidents, three views on civil rights. Scholars compare the administrations of President Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy to understand how each addressed the issue of civil rights. The lesson uses primary sources and graphic...
DocsTeach
Containment in Korea: Entering the Korean War
An interesting resource explores President Truman's decision to enter into the Korean War to contain the spread of communism. Historians analyze the document using an online worksheet before participating in group discussion on the...
DocsTeach
Letter to Truman about the Manhattan Project
Delve into the past to understand the opposition to the Manhattan Project. An interesting activity is designed to be completed in pairs, groups, or individually. Scholars analyze historical documents, complete an online worksheet, and...
Stanford University
Public Housing
The Fair Deal was meant to give Americans after World War II a basic standard of living. Those in public housing often found that promise fell short. Learners consider whether the effort was successful by evaluating images, testimonies,...
University of California
The Cold War (America)
The Cold War—with its roots in World War II—impacts the world today. Using an extensive curriculum, scholars consider its impact through primary sources, including speeches and propaganda, as well as other skills-enhancing activities. An...
US National Archives
WWII: The Pacific 1939-45 – Japan and the Atom Bomb
Though the scientists who developed the atom bomb did not believe it should be used to end World War II, American President Harry S. Truman and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill were of like mind in their decision to drop the bomb...
Elizabethtown Area School District
The Berlin Airlift
After World War II, the Soviet Union and the Allied forces divided Germany into equal quadrants, but Joseph Stalin's increasing mistrust led to nearly 12 months of blocked access to West Berlin—and the 2.3 million people who still lived...
Teach It History
Crisis in Berlin: Decisions Game!
The Cold War did not begin with a bang, but with a swift tactic that reflected the Soviet Union's growing distrust of its former Allies. High schoolers choose either the USA or the USSR in a role play activity as they analyze why each...
New York Historical Society
The Vietnam War: 1945-1975
Do pupils know that the Vietnam War spanned a period of 30 years? A war that long is bound to leave devastating effects. Help young historians develop a comprehensive understanding of the war through multiple units on the subject that...
Smithsonian Institution
Cold War
The Cold War was not necessarily always cold in temperature, but the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union sure was frigid! Scholars read various passages, view exhibition graphics, and observe an artifact from the...
Smithsonian Institution
Korean War
North and South Korea: two regions divided. The story of the Korean War describes the events that occurred when these two regions' ideologies clashed. The resource uses various images and descriptions of artifacts, in addition to...
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
Henry Kissinger and Detente
How did relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China evolve between 1950 and 1970? Your young historians will complete a timeline of events with evidence that the relationship between these two great nations was...
Curated OER
Harry S. Truman
For this reading comprehension worksheet, students read facts about Harry S. Truman and choose from multiple choice answers to evaluate their comprehension. Students answer three multiple choice questions.
Curated OER
"Police Action": The Korean War, 1950-1953
Young scholars investigate facts about the war in Korea in the 1950's and attempt to classify American foreign policy as a triumph or a failure. Why the U.S. became involved and the unpopularity of the war in America forms the focus of...
Harry S. Truman Library & Museum
Harry S. Truman And Korea
Engage the class in researching oral histories and historical revision, in order to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the sacrifices made by Americans in the Korean War. The inquiry process is scheduled to take one week....
Curated OER
Dropping the Atomic Bomb: The Decision That Defined a Presidency
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. For this World War II lesson, students research the implications of the use of nuclear weapons to end the war in the Pacific. Students determine and...
Curated OER
Police Action: The Korean War, 1950-1953
Students explore why the United States became involved in the war in Korea. They discuss the confict between Truman and MacArthur, culminating in the latter's dismissal from command. They identify on a world map foreign countires...
Curated OER
Eisenhower's Foreign Policy
Good for setting the context for 20th century foreign policy issues, these slides describe key points in Latin America, the Middle East, the Far East, and Europe. US or World History classes will appreciate the concise list on each...
Curated OER
Harry S. Truman - Campaign of 1948
High schoolers establish the major events leading up to the election in 1948. In this U.S. History instructional activity, students research details about Harry S. Truman, then they participate in a class discussion about him so that...
Curated OER
Dropping the Atomic Bomb The Decision That Defined a Presidency.
High schoolers examine historical evidence regarding the atomic bomb. In this Truman presidency lesson plan, students research images and documents about the use of the bomb in Japan. High schoolers write position papers that identify...