History of the Holocaust Why take this course? Course Overview Why take this course? Course Overview

History of the Holocaust at SW  It is the first year this course will be taught at Lincoln Southwest High School  The Social Studies Department will offer this course 3 times throughout the school year  Mrs. Kelley and Mrs. Watson will teach the course this year  It is the first year this course will be taught at Lincoln Southwest High School  The Social Studies Department will offer this course 3 times throughout the school year  Mrs. Kelley and Mrs. Watson will teach the course this year

10 reasons to take this course  1. Teaching of Tolerance  2. Understanding the organized attempt throughout history to eliminate various ethnic groups  3. Identify and analyze applicable theories of human nature and behavior  4. Understanding where genocide originates from  5. Understanding the role of personal responsibility in regards to fighting racism and hatred  1. Teaching of Tolerance  2. Understanding the organized attempt throughout history to eliminate various ethnic groups  3. Identify and analyze applicable theories of human nature and behavior  4. Understanding where genocide originates from  5. Understanding the role of personal responsibility in regards to fighting racism and hatred

10 reasons to take this course  6. Examine the entire history of humanity through the Jewish Holocaust  7. Understanding that the Holocaust was preventable  8. Explore dangers of remaining silent  9. Examine how governments can implement destructive policies  10. Gain insight on the historical, social, religious, political, and economic factors that resulted in the Holocaust  6. Examine the entire history of humanity through the Jewish Holocaust  7. Understanding that the Holocaust was preventable  8. Explore dangers of remaining silent  9. Examine how governments can implement destructive policies  10. Gain insight on the historical, social, religious, political, and economic factors that resulted in the Holocaust

Definitions…  As a group, discuss and define the terms on the separate sheet of paper.  After all groups are finished, we will discuss your definitions of the terms.  As a group, discuss and define the terms on the separate sheet of paper.  After all groups are finished, we will discuss your definitions of the terms.

Key Definitions  Discrimination  Action based on prejudice or biased beliefs that results in unfair treatment of individuals or groups  Prejudice  An opinion or attitude about a group or its individual members. Usually a negative attitude  Racism  A set of beliefs based on perceived “racial” superiority and inferiority  A system of domination that is played out in everyday interactions  Stereotyping/Generalizations  A simplistic and exaggerated belief, often negative, about individual characteristics generalized to all people within that group  Discrimination  Action based on prejudice or biased beliefs that results in unfair treatment of individuals or groups  Prejudice  An opinion or attitude about a group or its individual members. Usually a negative attitude  Racism  A set of beliefs based on perceived “racial” superiority and inferiority  A system of domination that is played out in everyday interactions  Stereotyping/Generalizations  A simplistic and exaggerated belief, often negative, about individual characteristics generalized to all people within that group

Civil Rights vs. Human Rights  Civil Rights  The rights belonging to an individual by virtue of citizenship  Human Rights  Basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled  “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”  -United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights  Civil Rights  The rights belonging to an individual by virtue of citizenship  Human Rights  Basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled  “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”  -United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Defining the HOLOCAUST  Holocaust  The state-sponsored, systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1933 and  Jews were the primary victims  Also targeted: Gypsies, the handicapped, the Poles, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Soviet prisoners of war, and political dissidents  Holocaust  The state-sponsored, systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1933 and  Jews were the primary victims  Also targeted: Gypsies, the handicapped, the Poles, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Soviet prisoners of war, and political dissidents

What is Genocide?  The deliberate and systematic destruction of a religious, racial, national, or cultural group.

What is anti-Semitism?  Prejudice or discrimination, often violent, directed at Jews  Dislike, fear, and persecution of Jews  “The longest hatred”  Prejudice or discrimination, often violent, directed at Jews  Dislike, fear, and persecution of Jews  “The longest hatred”

History of Anti-Semitism  Anti-Semitism dates back to Roman times  Most Christians believed that the Jews were responsible for crucifying Jesus Christ  Jesus executed by the Roman Government because he was seen a a political threat to their rule  As Christianity spread throughout Europe, laws were passed to “protect” the “faithful” from Jewish “contamination”  Jews became part of a minority religion  Jews do not share the Christian belief that Jesus is the Son of God  Christian Crusades attacked Jewish communities to convert Jews to Christianity  Anti-Semitism dates back to Roman times  Most Christians believed that the Jews were responsible for crucifying Jesus Christ  Jesus executed by the Roman Government because he was seen a a political threat to their rule  As Christianity spread throughout Europe, laws were passed to “protect” the “faithful” from Jewish “contamination”  Jews became part of a minority religion  Jews do not share the Christian belief that Jesus is the Son of God  Christian Crusades attacked Jewish communities to convert Jews to Christianity

History of Anti-Semitism  The Catholic Church did not allow Christians to be moneylenders  Jews had few other ways of earning a living  Many became bankers  Stereotyping of Jews as money-hungry exploiters  Throughout history, many religious leaders tried to convert Jews with little success  Throughout history, Jews have been driven from their homelands…many settled in Poland and the Soviet Union  The Catholic Church did not allow Christians to be moneylenders  Jews had few other ways of earning a living  Many became bankers  Stereotyping of Jews as money-hungry exploiters  Throughout history, many religious leaders tried to convert Jews with little success  Throughout history, Jews have been driven from their homelands…many settled in Poland and the Soviet Union

History of Anti-Semitism  1933:  Hitler blamed the Jews for Germany’s economic, political, social, and ethical problems  1935:  Defined Jews by race: “non-Aryans”  1933:  Hitler blamed the Jews for Germany’s economic, political, social, and ethical problems  1935:  Defined Jews by race: “non-Aryans”

What is an Aryan?  The Nazis applied the term to people of Northern European racial background.  Used to preserve the purity of European blood  The “Master Race”  Blond hair, blue eyes, pale skin  Seen a true beauty  The Nazis applied the term to people of Northern European racial background.  Used to preserve the purity of European blood  The “Master Race”  Blond hair, blue eyes, pale skin  Seen a true beauty

Basic Overview of the Jewish Holocaust  When Adolf Hitler became Germany’s leader in 1933, he made anti-Semitism the official policy of the nation (until 1945).  No other persecution of Jews equals the extent and brutality of the Holocaust  When Adolf Hitler became Germany’s leader in 1933, he made anti-Semitism the official policy of the nation (until 1945).  No other persecution of Jews equals the extent and brutality of the Holocaust

Where did the Holocaust take place?

European Jews  Jews have lived in Europe for more than 2000 years  In 1933, the total Jewish population of Europe was: 9.5 million  60% of the world’s Jewish population (15.3 million)  5 1/2 million lived in Poland and the Soviet Union  Jews have lived in Europe for more than 2000 years  In 1933, the total Jewish population of Europe was: 9.5 million  60% of the world’s Jewish population (15.3 million)  5 1/2 million lived in Poland and the Soviet Union

European Jewish Population

European Jewish Population Post-WWII  In 1950…  The Jewish population in Europe was 3.5 million  Most Jews (51%) lived in North and South America  Only 1/3 of the world’s Jewish population lived in Europe  Jewish population in Poland was reduced to 45,000  All European countries saw a decline in their Jewish population due to the Holocaust and to postwar emigration from Europe  2/3 European Jews had been killed  In 1950…  The Jewish population in Europe was 3.5 million  Most Jews (51%) lived in North and South America  Only 1/3 of the world’s Jewish population lived in Europe  Jewish population in Poland was reduced to 45,000  All European countries saw a decline in their Jewish population due to the Holocaust and to postwar emigration from Europe  2/3 European Jews had been killed

Aftermath of the Holocaust  6 million European Jews murdered  5 million others murdered  7-9 million displaced as refugees  6 million European Jews murdered  5 million others murdered  7-9 million displaced as refugees

This class will…  In this class, we will fill in all the blanks from post-WWI Europe to post-WWII Europe  We will discuss the course of the war and how the “Final Solution” resulted in the murder of more than 11 million people  We will discuss current events to examine what changes (if any) have been made since the Jewish Holocaust  In this class, we will fill in all the blanks from post-WWI Europe to post-WWII Europe  We will discuss the course of the war and how the “Final Solution” resulted in the murder of more than 11 million people  We will discuss current events to examine what changes (if any) have been made since the Jewish Holocaust

Homework assignment  Find a current event that is an example of one of the terms we discussed today  Summarize the article and answer the following question:  How does this article relate to one of the terms we discussed today?  How have these terms evolved over time?  In relation to the Holocaust and in 2009?  Find a current event that is an example of one of the terms we discussed today  Summarize the article and answer the following question:  How does this article relate to one of the terms we discussed today?  How have these terms evolved over time?  In relation to the Holocaust and in 2009?

Sources  United State Holocaust Memorial Museum website:  Jewish Virtual Library website:  Simon Wiesenthal Center website:  Teaching Tolerance website:  United State Holocaust Memorial Museum website:  Jewish Virtual Library website:  Simon Wiesenthal Center website:  Teaching Tolerance website: