Questions: Pershing's Background
How did Pershing's education, military career, and personal character help him to be qualified to lead American troops in the Great War?
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In partnership with Lucasfilm Ltd.
Using clips from the Lucasfilm documentary General John J. Pershing and His American Army made in conjunction with The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, students will learn about General John J. Pershing and his military service. After engaging with the clips using discussion questions, students will demonstrate an understanding of General John J. Pershing’s background, leadership, and accomplishments by creating a professional-style resume as if Pershing were applying to lead the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.
About this film: General John J. Pershing and His American Army was produced in 2007 by Lucasfilm as a companion to the television series, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones. Executive produced by George Lucas, these documentaries expand on historic subject matter introduced in the fictional adventure series. They aim to inspire curiosity in students and empower teachers in the classroom. 94 documentaries and three one-hour lectures are now available online for free. Learn more
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this activity, students will be able to:
- Summarize the key events, achievements, and leadership qualities of General John J. Pershing’s military career.
- Interpret and extract information from historical sources (e.g., educational videos) to complete a structured task.
- Demonstrate historical empathy by reimagining a historical figure’s resume using modern formats.
- Evaluate the qualifications and impact of military leadership during World War I.
- Communicate historical understanding through the creative construction of a resume that includes education, experience, skills, and honors.
- Use evidence from multimedia sources to support claims about why Pershing was a strong leader.
The work: Students will watch and answer questions for 3 clips from the Lucasfilm documentary, "General John J. Pershing and His American Army". Students will then be tasked to do the following:
Imagine it’s 1917. The United States is entering World War I, and the president is looking for the best candidate to lead American troops overseas. General John J. Pershing is being considered—but he has to submit a resume just like anyone else! Your job is to create that resume and convince the country that he’s the right man for the job.
Resource Links
Essential Question:
Why was Pershing the best choice to lead the U.S. forces in World War I?
Before Viewing Questions:
- What makes someone qualified for a job?
- What makes someone a good leader?
Pershing's Background
This clip provides a brief summary of Pershing’s education and military experience.
Pershing is the Best Candidate
This clip provides more detail about Pershing’s military career.
Questions: Pershing is the Best Candidate
What was Pershing's main idea for how the American army should fight in World War I, and how was this different from how the French and British had been fighting for years?
Pershing Assesses the Situation in Europe
This clip explains Pershing’s strategy for American troops in Europe.
Question: Pershing Assesses the Situation in Europe
General Pershing was known for being very determined and organized. How did he change the way the American army was run to better support the soldiers fighting on the front lines?
Who were some of the future famous military leaders he worked with?
After Viewing Question
Obviously, Pershing got the job. How did Pershing’s leadership protect both the lives of American troops and America’s standing in the world as a military power?
Extension Activities
- Option 1: Write a transcript of the interview, including both questions and Pershing’s responses.
- Option 2: Perform a mock interview in pairs or small groups, with one student acting as Pershing and another as the hiring committee.
