Building Ships for Victory, 1917-1945

Grade Range: 4-12
Resource Type(s): Reference Materials, Primary Sources
Date Posted: 6/1/2009

Students will learn how the United States mass produced huge merchant fleets to support the soldiers fighting overseas in this section of On the Water: Stories from Maritime America, an online exhibition. Students will understand that merchant seamen and ships played a vital role in winning both world wars of the 20th century, and  learn about the men and women who built the ships and risked their lives sailing them while playing a vital and unheralded role in the American war effort.


National Standards

Historical Thinking Standards (Grades K-4)

Standards in History (Grades K-4)

United States History Standards (Grades 5-12)

World History Standards (Grades 5-12)

Historical Thinking Standards (Grades 5-12)