A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History : Executive Order 9981 Truman Presidential Museum and Library: "Multimedia Digital Archives" On July 26, 1948, President Truman issued Executive Order 9981 establishing equality of treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services. This project website, produced for the 50th anniversary of the Executive Order, presents the historic document as well as interesting background materials organized in an interactive format. This resource enables students to explore an important outcome of African American military service in World War II. The students can read the order and jot down ideas about how people might have responded to Truman's words (for example, from the perspective of an African-American WWII veteran, an American general, a NAACP lawyer, a white farmer, and a Soviet leader). This could be the beginning of a discussion on how the ideologies of the Cold War played out in the daily lives of Americans. Students can write a reactionary historical journal entry from the perspective of a former WWII African-American soldier (perhaps a Tuskegee Airman) to Truman's order. The teacher can prompt students to think about the emotions of an African-American who fought for a country in which his place is marginalized in society, especially when he was supposedly fighting to promote democracy. In the context of the increasingly threatening Cold War, what might such a person question about his country? The teacher should be sure to return to this document when the class begins to discuss the roots of the Civil Rights Movement.

(c) describing the conflict over ratification, including the Bill of Rights and the arguments of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists;

Federalist Paper #84
Yale University Law School: The Avalon Project

Anti-Federalist Paper #84
WEPIN

Description: These papers highlight one of the differences between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists, the Bill of Rights. Federalist paper #84, written by Alexander Hamilton, addresses the debate over the addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution. He is opposed to it and views it as unnecessary and dangerous. However opposed, Hamilton does provide both sides of the argument in the defense of his position. In Anti-Federalist Paper #84, Robert Yates discusses the necessity of the Bill of Rights to ensure liberties for future generations. Yates compares the creation of the new government to building a strong foundation for a building.

Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestion

The Federalist Papers were printed in newspapers and were an essential debate in the creation of our government. Discuss with the students the necessity of an educated and literate citizenry in a democracy.

Suggestion for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson

Have students read each paper and highlight the main points of arguments. Then as a class, create a T Chart comparing the different sides of the arguments. Then poll the students to see which side they believe had the stronger argument.