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Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Reparations After Historical Atrocities”

This activity is a research project aimed at increasing students’ understanding of how governments deal with the consequences of racist policies from previous regimes.

The effects of WWII were devastating to many populations. Some examples include people being interned in camps, segregated by racist policies, and murdered by the state. In recent years, some countries have tried to ameliorate the effects of atrocities committed by previous government regimes by taking steps to address the issues. Such measures, called reparations, are forms of compensation to help the families of those who suffered at the hands of prior government regimes.

In this project, you will research different countries’ approaches to addressing their historical atrocities, as well as the effectiveness of these policies.

• First, select one of the following countries: Germany, the Netherlands, the Soviet Union/Russia, the US, or the UK.
• In your group, research the harmful actions that your chosen country committed historically. What groups suffered from these actions, and in what way? How do the historical actions continue to impact people’s lives today?
• Next, examine the ways in which the contemporary regimes have tried to ameliorate the situation.