This lesson will help students understand the concept of a “euphemism” and how governments deploy language to make often inhumane policies and practices palatable to its citizenry. Students will analyze euphemisms used by the U.S. government both during World War II and today.

C3 Alignment

This lesson supports the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework:

● D2.His.1.6-8. Analyze connections among events and developments in broader historical contexts.

● D2.His.3.6-8. Use questions generated about individuals and groups to analyze why they, and the developments they shaped, are seen as historically significant.

Essential Question(s)

● How do we assess a government's narrative about a policy or practice?

● What impact does an unchallenged government narrative have on society?

This project was funded, in part, by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government.