In the fall 2005 semester, the author designed a course in the history of America's modern wars hoping to encourage students to criticize and oppose the country's current aggressions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Surveys of student attitude change suggest that the course did promote criticism but did far less to facilitate student activism. The author…

Describes the efforts of Henry Crowell, developer of Quaker Oats, to develop a market for breakfast cereals using market research and advertising. Examines how innovations in communications technology have been brought about by the struggle to control the material economy in the face of industrialization. Traces the development of the information…

On March 11-12, 2006 the FPRI's Marvin Wachman Fund for International Education hosted 44 teachers from 16 states across the country for a weekend of discussion on teaching about India. Sessions included: (1) Why It's Important to Know about India (Ainslie T. Embree); (2) Early Indian History (Richard H. Davis); (3) Modern Indian History (Marc…

A secondary history teacher describes how he uses rock and roll music to help students study and interpret modern American history. Besides being a lot of fun to teach, a rock unit makes students realize that even contemporary music has a place in history. (RM)

Sees the United Nations Decade for Women (1975-85) as a series of events with revolutionary significance. States conferences held during this period produced significant documents giving legal recognition and force of international law to reforms. Describes the struggles at the Nairobi (Kenya) conference of 1985. Includes a five page list of…

As Holocaust study for youth becomes integrated into the U.S. educational structure, educators throughout the country are going to need resources that combine history and humanity to convey to young people the impact of tragedy and violence that World War II and the Holocaust had on the youth of a particular time in the 20th century. This paper…

Discusses the study of U.S. history in east German universities. Describes obstacles such as a lack of recent U.S. historical publications and limited opportunities to study in the West. Includes as areas of study: the American Revolution, the Civil War, twentieth-century foreign policy, historiography, German emigration, and U.S. Presidents. (DK)

The work of 17 major photographers who documented farm life in America during the 1940s is being presented in an exhibition entitled "Roy Stryker: U.S.A., 1943-1950." Launched at the International Center of Photography, New York, in May 1983, the exhibition will be touring nationally through 1985. Sample photographs are included. (RM)

This paper provides a description of the use of surface design in India and how those patterns have migrated throughout India. This study is confined in interest to the use of design and pattern to convey religious symbolism and other auspicious meanings. The migration of pattern to various parts of India will change the name or the technique, but…

Cites the problems associated with teaching history: (1) lack of consensus on what and how to teach; (2) the adult perspective from which it is taught; (3) the abstract nature of history content; and (4) the concept of time. Concludes that efforts to include adolescent knowledge, skills, and attitudes should be considered in the history program.…

Discusses classical theory as a modernist endeavor to apprehend the phenomenon of "unity of disunity." Presents three ways that classical theory approaches the philosophy views of Durkheim, Marx, and Weber. Concludes that postmodernism validates the relevancy of classical theory. (CFR)

Contends that the electronic generation of documents in modern offices will transform the nature of archives and, therefore, the techniques of historical research. Discusses advantages and disadvantages for historical researchers. Urges historians to express their concerns about these issues to the wider scholarly community. (CFR)

The major policy debate touched off by President Reagan's March 1983 speech announcing the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) was the reopening of one that had begun 35 years before. Then and now the ultimate question is what kind of strategic posture is most likely to contribute to mutual strategic stability? The answer is central to national…

Describes an assignment for an undergraduate U. S. history class that combined role playing and research. The class was directed to use depression-era materials (newspapers, magazine articles, pamphlets, cookbooks) and plan a menu to feed a family of five on $2.50 a week (the amount provided by relief agencies). (MJP)

This paper provides materials for a college level course concerning the peoples of contemporary India. The focus of the paper is on the dalits of India, those people formerly called untouchables, and efforts to improve their status. The outspoken advocate for the untouchable caste was Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891-1956). Born an untouchable,…