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 Explore this collection of lesson plans and student materials that place the Nanjing Atrocities within the larger context of World War II in East Asia. Published: May 18, 2022
Our resources on the Nanjing atrocities challenge students to consider the complex questions that this history raises about wartime violence, justice, and memory. Use these resources to help students bear witness to the events through the voices of Nanjing survivors, reflect on the consequences of human action and inaction during times of crisis, and consider how to achieve justice and reconciliation in the aftermath of atrocities. The
collection includes a 5-week unit for high school students in addition to readings, videos, and handouts to deepen students’ exploration of this history. This collection is designed to be flexible. You can use all of the resources or choose a selection best suited to your classroom. It includes: Inside This CollectionCore Teaching ResourcesBegin teaching this history using our 5-lesson unit or by exploring our Nanjing atrocities book for additional context. paperclip Lead students through a study of the Nanjing atrocities, beginning with an examination of imperialism in East Asia and ending with reflection on justice in the aftermath of mass violence.
This resource details the events that unfolded in China and Japan in the years leading up to World War II and the war crimes known today as the Nanjing Atrocities.
VideosThese videos provide a narrative history of the Nanjing Atrocities, including the historical relationship between China and Japan, the atrocities themselves, and the Tokyo Trials. Scholar Joshua A. Fogel discusses the history of interactions between Japan and China. Professor Rana Mitter explains the origins of the Japanese Pan-Asianism. Scholar Rana Mitter describes the evolution of China into a fledgling republic. Scholar Rana Mitter describes the era of modernization in China and the fall of the Qing Dynasty. Scholar Joshua A. Fogel discusses Japan’s era of modernization. Professor of the History and Politics of Modern China Rana Mitter explains the Nanjing atrocities. Scholar Beth Van Schaack explains the Tokyo Trial. ReadingsExplore this set of readings on the Nanjing atrocities and its aftermath. See our 5-week unit for ideas on how to incorporate these readings into your lessons. Learn about a resistance group that used literary efforts to respond to the Japanese occupation of China.
Read statements from Japanese diplomats rationalizing the brutality of Japanese troops in China.
Read an excerpt of a story published in the Japanese press about two Japanese soldiers' brutal actions in China.
Read about the rescue efforts of a group of Westerners who created a safe place for Chinese refugees during the Nanjing atrocities.
Consider how diplomats from Western countries responded to news of the Nanjing atrocities.
Introduce students to the history of Western imperialism in East Asia with this historical overview and map.
Class A defendants Matsui Iwane and Hirota Koki are questioned as to their knowledge of atrocities committed by those under their command.
In 2013, BBC reporter Oi Mariko reflected upon her own childhood education in Japan in the article “What Japanese History Lessons Leave Out”.
Japanese historians challenge historical deniers of the Nanjing atrocities.
Despite the apologies Japanese political leaders have issued, the Chinese people and Sino-Japanese relations still remain strained. This reading helps students explore the role apologies play as a means toward achieving justice.
How do two nations who share a past of violence, war, and atrocities forge a new relationship?
TimelinesBuild historical context for understanding the Nanjing atrocities with these timelines of events. A timeline of selected dates and events that align with the content explored in our resources on the Nanjing atrocities.
This is a timeline of selected dates and events that align with the content explored in Facing History and Ourselves’ The Nanjing Atrocities: Crimes of War.
This is a timeline of selected dates and events that align with the content explored in Facing History and Ourselves’ The Nanjing Atrocities: Crimes of War.
paperclip Use this Teaching Idea to reflect with your students on what we can do to stop ongoing atrocities and prevent future genocides.
paperclip Explore the digital version of our core resource on the Holocaust to find classroom-ready readings, primary sources, and short documentary films that support a study of the Holocaust through the lens of human behavior.
paperclip Explore resources that meet the Massachusetts History and Social Science Framework.
paperclip Lead your students through a detailed and challenging study of the Holocaust that asks what this history can teach us about the power and impact of choices.
paperclip This collection features powerful accounts of the Holocaust, told by survivors, rescuers, and witnesses, selected from USC Shoah Foundation’s Visual History Archive.
paperclip Students watch video testimony from a Holocaust survivor and engage in purposeful reflection about the survivor’s important story.
paperclip Engage students in personal accounts from survivors with this collection of video testimony, survivor profiles, and a lesson plan.
paperclip Explore resources that meet the California History–Social Science Framework standards.
paperclip Investigate the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and its role in helping individuals and the nation overcome the historical injustice and trauma of the Indian Residential Schools system. paperclip Examine the debate that led to a declaration describing the Canadian government's colonial policies toward Indigenous Peoples as “cultural genocide.”
paperclip Explore the efforts of leaders and activists advocating for indigenous rights and culture, including young people using their history and culture to build bridges toward others and the future.
paperclip Explore how language and culture shape identity, and learn about the challenges faced by the Indigenous Peoples of Canada to preserve their traditional identity.
Most teachers are willing to tackle the difficult topics, but we need the tools. — Gabriela Calderon-Espinal, Bay Shore, NY What did the 1868 Charter Oath do for Japan's society?The Charter Oath opened the way for the modernization of the country and the introduction of a Western parliamentary constitution.
Which was a factor that led to the industrialization of Japan?Japan's highly developed Edo-period education system was a key factor in its swift turn to industrialization and a capitalist economy after the Meiji Restoration, as well as its subsequent position as a major world power. (Originally written in Japanese.
What was the Charter Oath and how did this play a significant role in the development of the Meiji Restoration?The early goals of the new government were expressed in the Charter Oath (April 1868), which committed the government to establishing “deliberative assemblies” and “public discussion,” to a worldwide search for knowledge, to the abrogation of past customs, and to the pursuit by all Japanese of their individual callings ...
How did industrialization affect Japan?Factories were built, infrastructure was developed, and the Japanese economy quickly transitioned. While Japan did build a diverse range of industries, from textiles to steel, one of their most prominent focuses was on building an industrial military.
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