Peace Corps: History

Some 150,000 Americans have served in the Peace Corps since it was formed in 1961. Peace Corps volunteers live and work for two years in communities in the developing world. They must learn the languages of the people they serve. They...

This is the official site of the Peace Corps. Learn about potential assignments for volunteers, countries available, potential benefits, and the type of people who join, as well as information about the history and management of the...

This resource gives a detailed description of the Peace Corps including how it was created, its purpose, and its development and transformation through the years. Includes images and sound bytes.

[Free Registration/Login Required] This lesson plan allows students the opportunity to read about the experiences of a Peace Corps volunteer and how his worldview changed from learning more about another culture.

A look at the Alliance for Progress and the assistance it promised for Latin American countries who agreed to increase democracy in their governments. See what successes there were through this program. Also read a brief overview of the...

Students examine the experiences of a Peace Corps volunteer learning to speak Chinese. They read and discuss an essay written by the Peace Corps volunteer, analyze a map of China, and discuss the author's difficulties in learning the...

Young scholars read an autobiography of a peace corps volunteer studying Chinese. In this cultural acceptance instructional activity, students compare the dialects of Chinese with English dialects. Young scholars discuss the differences...

Our Documents is home to one hundred milestone documents that influenced that course of American history and American democracy. Includes full-page scans of each document, transcriptions, background information on their significance, and...

Students examine United States foreign policy in the period immediately following World War II through the activities of the Peace Corps.

Students explore the public service contributions of Sargent Shriver. In this public service lesson, students explore the work of the Peace Corps and investigate other service learning opportunities.