Smithsonian Institution
POWs
Why did Vietnam POWs and their families receive more media attention than POWs in previous wars? To answer this question, class members view artifacts, read articles, and engage in class discussion. Individuals then assume the voice of...
Project Tahoe
Does the Use of Torture on Enemy Combatants Violate the 8th Amendment?
Tackle ethics in your high school history classes with a Socratic seminar about torture as a means for obtaining information. The plan allows for pupils to take the reins during the seminar. On the first day, class members read several...
Alabama Department of Archives and History
Inside the Wire: Internment of Prisoners of War in Alabama during World War II
Create an open environment of discussion and collaboration with several exercises in a thought-provoking resource. Pupils conduct a gallery walk and lead a discussion before filling out a question sheet and chart during the learning...
Curated OER
Prisoners in Another War
Learners examine the role of the Geneva Convention. In this world history instructional activity, students investigate primary sources that prompt them to consider the evolution of the Geneva Convention.
Stanford University
Soldiers in the Philippines
Young scholars examine the Philippine War and the treatment of Filipino soldiers.In this Philippine War lesson, studnets analyze documents and inquire as to why there was such brutality. Students use graphic organizers to record their...
Curated OER
Great Escape Crossword
In this World War II crossword worksheet, students read 22 clues pertaining to the escape attempts of prisoners of war. Students write their answers in a crossword puzzle.
Curated OER
Prisoners of war
High schoolers explore the theory of Prisoners of war. Students investigate various human rights issued thru the Geneva Convention. High schoolers relate learned facts to the American troops being killed in Iraqi fighting.
Curated OER
Andersonville National Historic Site
Students describe the conditions of a prisoner of war camp during the Civil War. They analyze ways in whcih the soldiers dealt with prison life. They identify the location of any nearby prisoner of war camps.
Curated OER
Great Escape Word Search
In this World War II word search worksheet, students read and analyze 24 words that pertain to prisoners of war and their attempts to escape. Students find the words in a word search.
Curated OER
Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery
Students use maps, readings and photographs to locate prisoner of war camps in the North during the Civil War. They identify the camp's population sizes and mortality rates and how the camps' uses have changed over time.
Curated OER
Camp Stark, New Hampshire, World War II Prisoner-of-War Camp
Students examine the political, personal, and geographical boundaries created by World War II to the citizens and prisoners of war at Camp Stark.
Library of Congress
Loc: Experiencing War: Prisoners of War
Online presentation of personal narratives includes remembrances from former POWs held captive in Germany, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.
Library of Congress
Loc: Experiencing War: Prisoners of War in Japan
The Library of Congress offers riveting accounts of soldiers who were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese in World War II. Read about their experiences, and listen to some audio diaries or watch videos of interviews with these brave...
Library of Congress
Loc: Experiencing War: Prisoners of War in Germany
Read the amazing stories of World War II soldiers captured by the Germans and imprisoned in POW camps. The Library of Congress offers their stories as well as video interviews with some of these brave men.
Other
International Committee of the Red Cross: The Geneva Conventions
The complete texts of the Geneva Conventions on the conduct of war and human rights. Includes a history of the Conventions.
University of North Carolina
Documenting the South: Report on the Condition and Treatment of Prisoners of War
The official report by a joint select committee of the Congress of the Confederate States of America investigating the treatment of prisoners of war in Confederate prisons. An interesting look at a primary source document reflecting the...
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: The Inhumanities of War
An essay from "The Confederate Military History, Vol. 1" which explains why prisons for prisoners of war were constructed after the failure of the prisoner exchange program in 1863.
Ibis Communications
Eyewitness to History: The Bataan Death March, 1942
Read the chilling first-person account of Capt. William Dyess, who was captured on Bataan, and survived the Batann Death March.
Other
Asian Pacific Americans in the u.s. Army: The Bataan Death March
A good description of the Bataan Death March and conditions in the POW camps following the fall of the Philippines in 1942.
Other
Family Search: Philippine Insurrection, 1899 to 1902
During the Philippine Insurrection, more than 125,000 American soldiers were sent to the Philippines, and over 4,000 deaths occurred during this conflict. This was also known as the Philippine-American War and the War of Philippine...
Curated OER
National Park Service: The Moore House and Articles of Capitulation
The National Park Service provides a brief history of the Moore House where the surrender of Cornwallis took place. The Articles of Capitulation are explained as well.
PBS
Nova: The Nazi Prison Escape Tunnel
Explore one of the three escape tunnels secretly engineered by Allied airmen imprisoned at the Nazi POW camp Stalag Luft III. Follow the escape of the 76 men through the 300-foot tunnel using this interactive map drawn by one of the POWs...
Archaeological Institute of America
Archaeology: Doing Time
A brief description of Johnson's Island Prison followed by links to correspondence of the prisoners, a map of the prison, and information about a current archaeological dig at the site.
PBS
Pbs: Teacher's Guide to Accompany "Assignment Hanoi" Documentary
A teaching resource for use with in-class screenings of the PBS documentary "Pete Peterson: Assignment Hanoi" about the former POW who returned to Vietnam as the first post-Vietnam War U.S. ambassador. The guide includes previewing and...