The U.S. and the Holocaust - A new documentary
by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein

The U.S. and the Holocaust is a three-part, six hour series that examines America’s response to one of the greatest humanitarian crises of the twentieth century. Americans consider themselves a “nation of immigrants,” but as the catastrophe of the Holocaust unfolded in Europe, the United States proved unwilling to open its doors to more than a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of desperate people seeking refuge. Through riveting firsthand testimony of witnesses and survivors who as children endured persecution, violence and flight as their families tried to escape Hitler, this series delves deeply into the tragic human consequences of public indifference, bureaucratic red tape and restrictive quota laws in America. Did the nation fail to live up to its ideals? This is a history to be reckoned with.

For film and resources, visit:
florida.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/kenburnsclassroom/film/us-and-the-holocaust/

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Teaching Materials on Americans and the Holocaust -
Lesson Plans from the United States Holocuast Memorial Museum (USHMM)