Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "The Price of Freedom: Americans at War Homepage"

West Point in the Making of America Homepage

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:29:15 GMT

This website looks at the lives of selected West Point graduates who attended the Academy between 1802 and 1918. Students will also learn about the U.S. Army's major functions in 19th and early 20th century America: building the nation's infrastructure of roads, bridges, canals, and railroads; exploring its territories from the Mississippi to the Pacific; and fighting its wars-the role of the West Pointers in engineering, exploration, and war.

Fast Attacks and Boomers: Submarines in the Cold War

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 22:26:31 GMT

This website reviews the early history of submarines and their radical transformation after World War II. Students will learn how submarines were built, how they work, and what they do. They will also learn the story of submariners and their families, Americans who were on the front lines of the Cold War. This resource also includes a cold war timeline that covers the origins, major events, and the end of the Cold War.

The Star-Spangled Banner: The Flag that Inspired the National Anthem Homepage

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:31:58 GMT

In this online exhibition, students will explore the story of the Star-Spangled Banner by learning about the War of 1812 and the Battle of Baltimore; Mary Pickersgill and the making of the flag; Francis Scott Key and the song that became the national anthem; the legacy of the flag and its use as a patriotic symbol; and the efforts undertaken to preserve the flag as a national treasure. This resource includes interactive activities and educational resources that can be used to further enhance this exploration of the flag that inspired the national anthem.

Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution Homepage

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:52:26 GMT

In this online exhibition, students will explore the experiences of Japanese Americans who were placed in internment camps during World War II, a period of history when racial prejudice and fear upset the delicate balance between the rights of citizens and the power of the state. The story is told through interactive galleries that combine photographs, objects, oral histories, and first-person accounts. Students will be able to share their responses to what they have learned on a comment board that is included in the exhibition as well as search more than 800 artifacts from the Smithsonian Collection. Also included are links to related activities, Web sites, a bibliography and more resources about this topic. A non-flash version of the site is available at http://americanhistory.si.edu/perfectunion/non-flash/overview.html.

Life in a WWII Japanese American Internment Camp Homepage

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:54:07 GMT

In this OurStory module entitled Life in a WWII Japanese American Internment Camp, students will learn about the lives of Japanese American children who were forced to leave their homes and move to internment camps during World War II. The module includes links to hands-on activities, pertinent websites, and a list of recommended readings. OurStory is a series of modules designed to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, OurStory resources allow students to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.

United We Stand Homepage

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:16:23 GMT

In this online exhibition, students will analyze authentic magazine covers from July 1942, along with a timeline and brief video news clips in order to understand the importance of the home front during the Second World War. The resource includes a searchable collection of magazine covers from the era and is part of an online exhibition, titled: July 1942: United We Stand. The site explores a campaign during World War II by the nation's magazines to promote national unity, rally support for the war, and celebrate Independence Day.