Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "Changing Gender Roles on the World War II Home Front"

World War II

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:24:47 GMT

Students will learn how Americans joined the Allies to defeat Axis militarism and nationalist expansion. Sixteen million Americans donned uniforms in this section of the online exhibition The Price of Freedom: Americans at War. The millions more who stayed home comprised a vast civilian army, mobilized by the government to support the war effort. The world-wide conflict that led to the emergence of the United States as an economic and military superpower is divided into sections that allow students to focus either on a specific aspect of the war, or the conflict as a whole. The sections included are titled: Axis Aggression, America Enters the War, Mobilizing for War, "You're in the Army Now", Battle of the Atlantic, The Mediterranean Theater, Storming Fortress Europe, The Pacific Theater; So Others Might Fight; Morale Boosters and Victory and Peace. A non-flash version of the site is available: World War II.

Produce For Victory: Posters on the American Home Front (1941-45)

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:03:38 GMT

Students will learn how posters connected the home front with the military front through the use of art intended to advertise the nation's war aims and represent the American ideals of the time. This online resource discusses the images created for and the messages conveyed by famous World War II propaganda posters, as well as the debate over their design. World War II posters helped to mobilize a nation. Inexpensive, accessible, and ever-present, the poster was an ideal agent for making war aims the personal mission of every citizen.

The Scott Family: Life on the WWII Homefront

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:42:25 GMT

Through the use of a description of the apartment, an excerpt from Mary Scott's diary, and artifact from the period, students will learn about life on the home front during World War II. The Scotts rented apartment on the first floor of an Ipswich, Massachusetts house became a home front battlefield during World War II. The Scotts are one of the families that lived in the Ipswich, Massachusetts house which is the focus of Within These Walls, an online exhibition.

Women’s Role in the Civil War

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:17:07 GMT

Women served in the Civil War as nurses, spies, and vivandieres. Explore these stories with students through a video clip and close examination of two dresses and a woman's uniform.This lesson plan (which includes background information, guided analysis questions, and full-color primary sources) was produced to accompany the exhibition The Price of Freedom: Americans at War, by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

Mobilizing Children on the World War II Homefront

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:07:17 GMT

Take a close look at propaganda cartoons and other primary sources to analyze how young Americans were mobilized for the War. This lesson plan (which includes background information and full-color primary sources) was produced to accompany the exhibition The Price of Freedom: Americans at War, by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Maritime Voices: Merchant Mariners and Shipyard Workers Remember World War II

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:30:20 GMT

Listen to oral history recordings and examine related primary source materials to learn the stories of the men and women who built and sailed on Liberty Ships to support the allied war effort during World War II. The Web site encourages students to take on the role of historian by presenting them with a variety of related primary source materials and historical questions. These resources are part of the online exhibition On the Water: Stories from Maritime America.

History Explorer Podcast: Women's Military History

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:13:46 GMT

In this episode of History Explorer, curators Bart Hacker and Margaret Vining discuss the roles that women have played in the military throughout history, their research, and the 2013 announcement of a policy to allow women in combat. The resource set includes a teacher guide, student worksheet, and related images.