E. Russell Waldron
Classical High School
235 O’Callaghan Way
Lynn, MA 01905
March 20, 2009
Seminar: US—Relations Prior to 1950
Lesson Plan, SEI US History C (Intermediate Level ESL)
Grades: 10-12
Time Frame: 3 Days
Standards: WHII.30
Essential Objectives: SWBAT identify features of the Cold War, both as an international affair, and as it affected the privacy of citizens and individual rights. They will also discuss pertinent vocabulary items.
Essential Questions: How was the communist philosophy perceived as a threat to the US? How did the US act toward its communist enemy? How do US and Russia see each other differently?
Procedure:
Day 1
Read in student groups:
Harry Truman’s Executive Order 9835, with class. Ask them to count words like investigation and loyalty.
Wallace, Henry. “The Tyrant’s Doctrine.” New Republic. Vol.118, Issue 21, 5/24/48, and, excerpts of Mandel, William. “Getting Along with Russia.” New Republic. Vol. 113, Issue 9, 8/27/45
Explain, discuss: totalitarianism, communism, socialism, democracy, Red Scare, HUAC, “fellow traveler,” guilt by association, propaganda, progressive, paranoia.
Class Discussion: Who is the Enemy? How do US and Russia see each other differently?
Student Journal: “Why does Russia have it against the United States?” Use 5 vocabulary words correctly for quiz grade credit.
Day 2
Review student journals, read aloud-salient points from students writing.
Discuss: Who is the Enemy? Who were the American spies?
Class reads the following (in groups):
McCarthy’s “I have in my hand.”
Ring Lardner, “Testimony before HUAC.”
John Howard Lawson, “Testimony before HUAC.”
Eugene Dennis, “Opening Statement on Behalf of the Communist Party.”
Excerpts, “Atomic Espionage and the Rosenberg Case”)
“Letters to Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Landers.” Call #: MsS-907.
Closing Activities
Day 3: Composition: How real was the threat to the US by Russia during the Cold War?
Links to UEH
This lesson plan grew out of the authentic documents that were passed out at the seminar. It is hoped that the contemporary accounts of actual history will give them the desire to study history in areas that interest them.
Assessments (2)
Journal article: 250 words = 1 Quiz Grade
Composition: How real was the Soviet threat to the US during the Cold War?
Primary Documents:
Harry Truman’s Executive Order 9835.
Wallace, Henry. “The Tyrant’s Doctrine.” New Republic. Vol.118, Issue 21, 5/24/48.
Excerpts from Mandel, William. “Getting Along with Russia.” New Republic. Vol. 113, Issue 9, 8/27/45.
Schrecker, Ellen. “ The Growth of the Anti-Communist Network,” in The Age of McCarthyism: A Brief History with Documents. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2002.
Eugene McCarthy’s “I have in my hand.”
Ring Lardner, “Testimony before HUAC.”
John Howard Lawson, “Testimony before HUAC.”
Eugene Dennis, “Opening Statement on Behalf of the Communist Party.”
Secondary Documents
America: Pathways to the Present
Schrecker, Ellen, “Atomic Espionage and the Rosenberg Case,”
Local Resources Used (Courtesy of Mass Historical Society)
“Letters to Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Landers.” Call #: MsS-907.
· Nicholson, Rep. Donald. “Letter to Mrs. and Mrs. Herbert Landers, April 25th, 1951.”
· Lodge Jr., Sen. Henry Cabot. “Letter to Mrs. and Mrs. Herbert Landers, April 27th, 1951.”