Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "Blog Post: Audie Murphy: World War II Hero"

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.

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.

European Theater During World War II

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:46:49 GMT

Newsreel video footage from 1944 and 1945, showing the Allies prepare and carry out the invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Paris, Battle of the Bulge and the eventual fall of the Third Reich and surrender of Germany.
This video is part of the Price of Freedom learning resources package for use with the Battle of the Bulge:Americans Respond to a German Surprise lesson plan. It was produced to accompany the exhibition The Price of Freedom: Americans at War, by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

History Explorer Podcast: Japanese Internment and WWII Service

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:56:26 GMT

In this episode of the History Explorer podcast series, curatorial assistant Noriko Sanefuji interviews Grant Ichikawa, a US veteran who enlisted after being relocated to a Japanese American internment camp with his family in 1942.Allowed to join the army after a need for interpreters, Mr. Ichikawa served proudly and in 2011, he and other veterans were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his service.

World War II Cartoons

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:33:04 GMT

Cartoons from World War II helped explain the war to children and encouraged families to do their part for the war cause.

This video is part of the Price of Freedom learning resources package for use with the Mobilizing Children WWII lesson plan. It was produced to accompany the exhibition The Price of Freedom: Americans at War, by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

World War II Overview: North Atlantic and North Africa

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:33:49 GMT

This video, an overview of the Allied efforts in the North Atlantic and North Africa, was compiled from original video footage as part of the Price of Freedom learning resources package for use with the The Soldiers Experience lesson plan. It was produced to accompany the exhibition The Price of Freedom: Americans at War, by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

World War II Poster

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:09:03 GMT

This image, said to be the most popular poster design of World War II, appeared as a billboard in 1941. Carl Paulson created the design under the direction of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, Inc., for a U.S. Treasury Department campaign promoting the widespread public ownership of defense bonds and stamps. To demonstrate the power of advertising while selling bonds, the billboard industry displayed this image of the American flag at more than 30,000 locations in some 18,000 cities and towns across the country in March and April 1942. The Treasury brought back the billboard for campaigns in July 1942 and 1943. To meet public demand for copies of the billboard, the Government Printing Office printed 4 million small color reproductions.

Use this Investigation Sheet to guide students through describing the object and analyzing its meaning.