Learning target: I can develop my own opinion about the past and the present by investigating important figures and events during WWI that are not commonly recognized in textbooks

Hidden Figures and EventsAfrican American Women during WWI

African American women played a central role in the war effort. Existing networks of black women’s organizations mobilized on the national and community levels to provide support for African-American soldiers at training camps throughout the country. Black women also served in various social welfare organizations like the Red Cross, YMCA and YWCA to provide much needed support to black troops in the face of institutionalized discrimination. As they supported African-American soldiers, black women also used the war effort to advance their own claims to equal citizenship.

http://www.brandeis.edu/now/2014/july/worldwar.html

Women's Contributions

Black women contributed to the war effort in significant ways and formed the backbone of African-American patriotic activities. Clubwomen, many under the auspices of the National Association of Colored Women (NACW), led "liberty loan" campaigns, held rallies, and provided crucial material and emotional support for black troops. Women joined war service organizations such as the YWCA and the Red Cross as well as establishing their own groups, like the Women's Auxiliary of the New York 15th National Guard, to meet the specific needs of black soldiers. http://exhibitions.nypl.org/africanaage/essay-world-war-i.html

Helen Hagan , black pianist for the AEF

*AEF -American Expeditionary Forces-Sent to fight in Europe during WWI

After earning her bachelor of music degree from Yale in 1912 and studying in France, pianist Helen Eugenia Hagan (1891–1964) entertained black troops in France in spring/summer 1919—one of the 19 black US women with the YMCA (that included Helen Curtis, Addie Waites Hunton, and Kathryn Johnson) who served abroad during or just after the war.

Learning target: I can develop my own opinion about the past and the present by investigating important figures and events during WWI that are not commonly recognized in textbooks

Hidden Figures and Events“Hero known as the 'Black Death' to receive Medal of Honor 95 years late: African-American soldier fought off dozens of Germans despite being shot 20 times”

Sgt. Henry Johnson was part of the 369th Regiment, or Harlem Hellfighters - one of the most successful units in WWI

Germans raided his camp in 1918, leaving him with more than 20 gunshot wounds.

He fought off his attackers armed only with a rifle and a knife, using the rifle as a club once it had run out of bullets

Johnson left four Germans dead and injured at least 20 others, who retreated 

Johnson’s legacy went unrecognized because of segregation within the armed forces at the time

Johnson passed away in 1929. In 1996, Johnson was awarded the Purple Heart. In 2002 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. On June 2, 2015 he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in an honorary ceremony at the White House.

Description with quotes from Sgt. Henry Johnson

With grenades exhausted Johnson grabbed his rifle. He inserted an American clip in his French rifle but it jammed. He then "banged them on the dome and the side and everywhere I could land until the butt of my rifle busted." Next he resorted to his bolo knife. "[I] slashed in a million directions," he said. "Each slash meant something, believe me." He admitted that the Germans "knocked me around considerable and whanged me on the head, but I always managed to get back on my feet." One German was "bothering" him more than the others, so he eventually threw him over his head and stabbed him in his ribs. "I stuck one guy in the stomach," Johnson continued, "and he yelled in good New York talk: 'That black ____ got me.'" Johnson was still "banging them" when his friends arrived and repulsed the Germans. Johnson then fainted from his twenty-one wounds. The fight had lasted about one hour.

New York's black population increased to 152,400 in 1920, from 91,700 in 1910; by the time the Great Migration was over in 1930, there were 327,700 black New Yorkers.

Learning target: I can develop my own opinion about the past and the present by investigating important figures and events during WWI that are not commonly recognized in textbooks

Hidden Figures and Events

Immigration Restrictions--Then

Xenophobia…WHAT IS IT? It is the condition in which one is afraid of foreigners

Even as the United States was entering World War I in 1917, there had been substantial concern about the "dumping” of dangerous and poor immigrant refugees from Europe

On February 5, 1917, the United States Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1917 with an overwhelming majority, overriding President Woodrow Wilson's December 14, 1916, veto.

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Immigration Restrictions--Now

President Trump signs Executive Order on January 27, 2017

Who is affected?

For 120 days, the order bars the entry of any refugee who is awaiting resettlement in the U.S. It also prohibits all Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. until further notice. Additionally, it bans the citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries—Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen—from entering the U.S. on any visa category.

The Immigration Act of 1917, popularly known as the Literacy Act, marked a turning point in American immigration legislation. Prohibiting entry to aliens over 16 years of age who could not read 30–40 words in their own language, it was the first legislation aimed at restricting, rather than regulating, European immigration. It further extended the tendency toward a "white” immigration policy, creating an "Asiatic barred zone” that prohibited entry of most Asians.

Learning target: I can develop my own opinion about the past and the present by investigating important figures and events during WWI that are not commonly recognized in textbooks

Name____________________________________________Block/Day__________U3 Day7 Simmons/Harter

Hidden Figure/Event

Reflection/Connection Questions

African American Women

How did African American women contribute to the war effort?

Do you think African American women are viewed differently today compared to the WWI era? Explain your answer with specific examples.

African American War Hero

What adversities (difficulties/dangers) did Sgt. Henry Johnson overcome?

Using your background knowledge of history, why do you think it took the United States government 78 years to acknowledge Johnson as an American hero?

Learning target: I can develop my own opinion about the past and the present by investigating important figures and events during WWI that are not commonly recognized in textbooks

Immigration Then and Now

What specific restrictions on immigration were implemented in 1917?

Do you think “Xenophobia” is a cause of President Trumps signing of the Executive Order? Explain your answer.

Mid and End Check for UnderstandingI can develop my own opinion about the past and the present by investigating important figures and events during WWI that are not commonly recognized in textbooks

1. (Mid check) What did you learn from today’s investigation?

2. (End check) What NEW opinions/conclusions did you make as a result of your new knowledge?