Congo, Coltan, and Cell Phones: A People’s History
Teaching Activity. By Alison Kysia. 28 pages.
In this lesson, students learn about the colonial history of Congo, debate responsibility for crimes against humanity, and investigate the connection, past and present, between the exploitation of natural resources and violence.
Time Periods: 19th Century, 20th Century
Themes: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, World History/Global Studies
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Discovering Columbus: Re-reading the Past
Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow. Rethinking Schools.
How to engage students in a critical analysis of the textbook version of "discovery."
Time Periods: Colonization: 1492 - 1764
Themes: Education, Imperialism, Native American
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Greed as a Weapon: Teaching the Other Iraq War
Teaching Activity. By Adam Sanchez. 14 pages. Rethinking Schools.
A role play investigating the economic consequences of the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
Time Periods: 21st Century, 2001 - Present
Themes: Economics, Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, World History/Global Studies
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History Textbooks: “Theirs” and “Ours”: A Rebellion or a War of Independence?
Teaching Activity. By John DeRose. 4 pages. Rethinking Schools.
Analysis of textbook passages from different countries, videos and books are used to explore different perspectives about the same event in history, i.e. "Philippine-American War" vs. "War of Philippine Independence."
Time Periods: 20th Century, Turn of the Century: 1900 - 1909
Themes: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies
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The People vs. Columbus, et al.
Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow. 8 pages. Rethinking Schools.
A trial role play asks students to determine who is responsible for the death of millions of Taínos on the island of Hispaniola in the late 15th century. Roles available in Spanish.
Time Periods: Colonization: 1492 - 1764
Themes: Imperialism, Native American
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Rethinking What We Know About the Vietnam War
Teaching Activity. Zinn Education Project. 21 pages.
Two lessons to introduce key facts about the Vietnam War and the Pentagon Papers, documents that provide essential history that is often ignored by textbooks.
Time Periods: 20th Century, Cold War: 1945 - 1960, People’s Movement: 1961 - 1974, Post-Civil Rights Era: 1975 - 2000
Themes: Democracy & Citizenship, Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies
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Rethinking the Teaching of the Vietnam War
Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow. Rethinking Schools.
A role play on the history of the Vietnam War that is left out of traditional textbooks.
Time Periods: 20th Century, Cold War: 1945 - 1960, People’s Movement: 1961 - 1974
Themes: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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A Revolution of Values
Teaching Activity. By Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 3 pages.
Text of speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Vietnam War, followed by three teaching ideas.
Time Periods: 20th Century, People’s Movement: 1961 - 1974
Themes: African American, Civil Rights Movements, Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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Standing with Standing Rock: A Role Play on the Dakota Access Pipeline
Teaching Activity. By Ursula Wolfe-Rocca, Bill Bigelow, and Andrew Duden. Article by Ursula Wolfe-Rocca. 15 pages. Rethinking Schools.
A role play helps students recognize the issues at stake in the historic struggle of the Standing Rock Sioux to block construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline.
Time Periods: 21st Century, 2001 - Present
Themes: Climate Justice, Environment, Imperialism, Native American, Organizing
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Tè Tremblé: An Unnatural Disaster: A Trial Role Play Probes the Roots of Devastation in Haiti
Teaching Activity. By Adam Sanchez. Rethinking Schools.
A trial role play asks students to question the role played by the U.S. government and other international actors in the 2010 earthquake.
Time Periods: 21st Century, 2001 - Present
Themes: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, World History/Global Studies
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U.S. Mexico War: “We Take Nothing by Conquest, Thank God”
Teaching Activity. Lesson by Bill Bigelow and student reading by Howard Zinn. 21 pages. Rethinking Schools.
Interactive activity introduces students to the history and often untold story of the U.S.-Mexico War. Roles available in Spanish.
Time Periods: 19th Century, Early 19th Century: 1800 - 1849
Themes: Imperialism, Latinx, Slavery and Resistance, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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What War Looks Like
Teaching Activity. By Howard Zinn. 2002.
Background reading for teachers and high school students on the impact of war.
Time Periods: All US History
Themes: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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What the Tour Guide Didn’t Tell Me: Tourism, Colonialism, and Resistance in Hawai’i
Teaching Activity. By Wayne Wah Kwai Au. 5 pages. Rethinking Schools.
Lesson on the history of Hawai'i and the impact of colonization and tourism.
Time Periods: 20th Century, Turn of the Century: 1900 - 1909
Themes: Asian American, Imperialism, Pacific Islander, Racism & Racial Identity, US Foreign Policy
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The Expansion of Empire
Teaching Activity. By Gayle Olson-Raymer. 15 pages.
Questions and teaching ideas for Chapter 12 of Voices of a People's History of the United States on internal dissent over American expansionist policies.
Time Periods: 19th Century, Early 19th Century: 1800 - 1849, Civil War Era: 1850 - 1864, Reconstruction Period: 1865 - 1876, Industrial Revolution: 1877 - 1899
Themes: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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Indian Removal
Teaching Activity. By Gayle Olson-Raymer. 18 pages.
Questions and teaching ideas for Chapter 7 of Voices of a People's History of the United States on the American policy of "Manifest Destiny" and Native American resistance to their own displacement.
Time Periods: 19th Century, Early 19th Century: 1800 - 1849, Civil War Era: 1850 - 1864, Reconstruction Period: 1865 - 1876, Industrial Revolution: 1877 - 1899
Themes: Imperialism, Native American, Racism & Racial Identity
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Vietnam and Beyond: The Historic Resistance
Teaching Activity. By Mike Benbow and Robin Pickering.
Questions and teaching ideas for Chapter 18 of Voices of a People's History of the United States on opposition to the Vietnam War.
Time Periods: 20th Century, Turn of the Century: 1900 - 1909, People’s Movement: 1961 - 1974
Themes: Imperialism, Social Class, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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Empire or Humanity?: What the Classroom Didn’t Teach Me about the American Empire
Article for Teachers and High School Students. By Howard Zinn. 4 pages.
An essay which raises questions about the justifications for empire building and imperialism.
Time Periods: All US History
Themes: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies
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The Export of Colors
Article. By Manlio Argueta. From Cuzcatlán, Donde bate la mar del sur.
An excerpt from a novel of historical fiction about the impact of an export economy on peasants in El Salvador.
Time Periods: 20th Century
Themes: Imperialism, Latinx, Native American
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Addicted to War: Why the U.S. Can’t Kick Militarism, An Illustrated Guide
Book - Non-fiction. By Joel Andreas. 2015.
A comic book expose on militarism in graphic format, making it accessible for high school and above.
Time Periods: All US History
Themes: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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Adicto a la Guerra: Por que el E.E.U.U. no Puede Librarse del Militarismo
Book - Non-fiction. By Joel Andreas. 2005.
Spanish-language edition of the expose on militarism in graphic novel format. Accessible for high school and above.
Time Periods: All US History
Themes: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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