Are sports essential to American life? Young historians ponder the question as they examine letters between the owner of the Boston Red Sox and Navy Secretary Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War I. The owner wanted two star players excused from Navy service to continue the season. After looking at the arguments, individuals debate whether sports are essential during war time, or if the men should have continued serving as sailors. 

Concepts

world war i, the home front, baseball, baseball history, franklin d. roosevelt, primary source images, primary source analysis, primary sources, sports

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Instructional Ideas

• Debate home front policies using the activity as a starting point

Classroom Considerations

• Pupils need background information on World War I
• Computer access is necessary to view the documents

Pros

• Unique documents allow for larger debates about war time measures
• Online format is easy to adapt to a variety of classroom uses

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.6-8.1 RH.6-8.2 RH.6-8.7 RH.6-8.10 RH.9-10.1 RH.9-10.2 RH.9-10.7 RH.9-10.10 RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.2 RH.11-12.7 RH.11-12.10