A Series of Lessons on Evansville, Indiana, WWII Heritage City

LST-157 was launched on October 31, 1942 in Evansville, Indiana, and commissioned on February 10, February 1943. LST 157 participated in operations such as the Sicilian occupation in July 1943 and the invasion of Normandy June 1944, known as D-Day. The ship was decommissioned on December 9, 1944.

Credit: University of Southern Indiana, Rice Library Digital Collections

Introduction

The three lessons, and culminating fourth lesson, support the development of understanding the significance of Evansville, Indiana designated as an American World War II Heritage City. Highlights include contributions to war manufacturing in ship, plane, and munitions production, and volunteerism and contributions made by many civilians, including thousands served at the local Red Cross Canteen. Women and African American contributions are highlighted. The lessons highlight specific contributions but connect to larger themes and understandings of the U.S. home front during wartime.

The standards listed beneath the lesson links are a collection of standards covered in the lesson collection. Objectives for each lesson, materials, and resources are listed within the lesson.

The first three lessons listed can be taught individually or collectively, in any order. The final lesson is to support students in combining learning across the three lessons, and/or comparison to other World War II home front cities in a culminating activity.

Lessons (with World War II home front topics):

Defense Manufacturing in Evansville, Indiana, World War II Heritage City

• Social change, women in the workforce, manufacturing and industry, Evansville Shipyard, Chrysler Ordnance plant, and Republic Aviation

Civilian Volunteerism and Contributions on the Home Front in Evansville, Indiana World War II Heritage City

• American Red Cross Canteen, material drives, war bonds, USO, women volunteerism

African American Contributions on the Home Front in Evansville, Indiana World War II Heritage City

• Women in the workforce, manufacturing and industry, labor movements, Civil Rights, African American history

Evansville, Indiana: Comparing and Connecting WWII Home Front cities

Positioning these Lessons in the Curriculum:

Time period: World War II 

Topics: World War II, women’s history, African American history, workforce migration, science and technology 

United States History Standards for Grades 5-12 

This lesson relates to the following National Standards for History from the UCLA National Center for History in the Schools: 

Era 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945) 

Standard 3: The causes and course of World War II, the character of the war at home and abroad, and its reshaping of the U.S. role in world affairs 

Curriculum Standards for Social Studies 

This lesson relates to the following Curriculum Standards themes for Social Studies from the National Council for the Social Studies: 

Theme 2: Time, Continuity, and Change 

Theme 5: Individuals, Groups, and Institutions  

Theme 8: Science, Technology, and Society 

Theme 9: Global Connections 

2023 Indiana Academic Standards: U.S. History 

The United States and World War II: 1939 to 1945 

USH.5.4 Explain the experiences of African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and women during World War II. 

USH.5.5 Summarize the efforts the national government made to regulate production, labor, and prices during the war, and evaluate the success or failure of these efforts. 

USH.5.6. Explain the role of World War II as a catalyst for social change. 

Relevant Common Core Standards  

These lessons relates to the following Common Core English and Language Arts Standards for History and Social Studies for middle and high school students: 

Key Ideas and Details 

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-12.1 

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY. RH. 6-12.2 

Craft and Structure 

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-12.4 

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-12.7 

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-12.9 

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity 

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH. 6-12.10 

Want More World War II Resources?

Connect with lessons from other World War II Heritage Cities or more general place-based World War II Lessons.
These lessons and resources from across US History are part of Teaching with Historic Places. 

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The lesson series was written by Sarah Nestor Lane, an educator and consultant with the Cultural Resources Office of Interpretation and Education, funded by the National Council on Public History's cooperative agreement with the National Park Service.