Linda J. Churney
Concept:
Geography.
Generalization:
Geographical location, along with supply of natural resources, affects a country’s relationship with other nations.
Give each student a map showing the Far Eastern countries, the Pacific Islands and the west coast of the U.S. Ask a student to review when Hawaii was annexed as a U.S. territory and why. Ask if students can see any reason why Hawaii might be important to the U.S.
1.
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As the students read the account of the attack on Pearl Harbor, either from the
New Haven Register
or from the World War II workbook, ask them to draw lines indicating the attack on Pearl Harbor.
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2.
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Ask them how many miles away Pearl Harbor was from Japan. From the U.S.
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3.
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Ask them if they agree or disagree that the attack had been planned for days or even weeks, as President Roosevelt charged.
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4.
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What other places were attacked at the same time that Pearl Harbor was bombarded?
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5.
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Ask students to shade in all areas of their maps under Japanese control by the summer of 1942.
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6.
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What did the Japanese hope to gain by the attack on Pearl Harbor? Were they successful?
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7.
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How had the U.S. morally offended the Japanese or economically hurt the Japanese before the attack on Pearl Harbor?
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Homework:
What do you think the U.S. should do about Japan in the summer of 1942?
Day 2
Distribute a map of Europe as of summer 1942.
1.
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Ask students to shade in all countries under Axis control at this time.
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2.
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Ask students to verbally identify the Allied countries and the neutral ones.
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3.
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Read the section of the text or workbook on the D-Day invasion in June, 1944. Have students draw lines following the Allied attacks through France, Italy, and from Russia on Germany.
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4.
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When did the attack end? Where? Why had it taken 2 years to organize the attack on Germany (1942-1944)?
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5.
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If you had been commander-in-chief in 1942 would you have concentrated the American attack in Europe or in the Pacific? Why?
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This last question could lead to a discussion of the decision to drop the bombs and the end of the war.