Civics

Era 11: The Great Depression and World War II: World War II (1929–1945) - Article

New Jersey and World War II: The Front and The Home Front

Summary: Students explore New Jersey’s significant role in World War II. Students will identify the contribution of military and industrial sites in New Jersey; use primary source documents to evaluate and compare and contrast the social and economic opportunities and contribution of women and African-Americans in New Jersey, before, during, and after the war. Finally, students will compare the opportunities and contributions in New Jersey with in other states/regions.

Overarching Questions:

  • NEW JERSEY: How have changes in New Jersey during this time period influenced U.S. history?
  • ECONOMICS: How has technology (e.g., ships, canals, railroads, newspapers, telegraphs, radio, television, the internet and social media) spread ideas and influenced public opinion, the economy and/or the government? Did the changes strengthen or weaken democratic institutions?
  • ECONOMICS: What is the proper role of government in the economy? (Especially with regard to economic crises, national defense/security, health and safety of the people, and economic development and practices.)

NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies:

  • 6.1.12.CivicsDP.11.a: Use a variety of sources to determine if American policies towards the Japanese during WWII were a denial of civil rights.
  • 6.1.12.EconET.11.a: Evaluate the shift in economic resources from the production of domestic to military goods during World War II in terms of opportunity costs and trade-offs and analyze the impact of the post-war shift back to domestic production.
  • 6.1.12.HistoryCA.11.a: Evaluate the role of New Jersey (i.e., defense industries, Seabrook Farms, military 2 installations, and Battleship New Jersey) and prominent New Jersey citizens (i.e., Albert Einstein) in World War II.
  • 6.1.12.HistoryCC.11.c: Explain why women, African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and other minority groups often expressed a strong sense of nationalism despite the discrimination they experienced in the military and workforce.

Link to lesson: New Jersey and World War II: the Front and the Home Front