Genocides and massacres, like the Holocaust, have occurred in the past and are still occurring today. Research the links below, answer the questions and write a report on one of the examples of genocide.

SFPL Database: Student Resource Center
San Francisco Public Library: Electronic Resources
You must have your SFPL library card number to enter.

Cambodian Genocide Program
An attempt by Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot, to form a Communist peasant farming society resulted in the deaths of 25 percent of the country's population from starvation, overwork and executions. This tragedy happened from 1976 to 1979. If you want to read a first person story about the tragedy check out a 13 year old boy's tale of the genocide in Cambodia.

Genocide in Bosnia
In the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovinia, conflict between the three main ethnic groups, the Serbs, Croats, and Muslims, resulted in genocide committed by the Serbs against the Muslims in Bosnia. You can read a first hand account at this Bosnia genocide site. At this site you must read the story of a sole survivor of an act of genocide

The Soviet Union
Stalin was determined to crush the spirit of the "Kulaks" who rebelled against the Soviet movement. These people were ordinary farmers with ordinary families. The farmers grew the grain that supplied the whole of Europe. Then it was ruthlessly taken from them. All of it. The result was the death of 7 million people.

The Triumph of Evil: The 1994 Rwanda Genocide
For one hundred days in 1994, up to 800,000 Tutsis were killed by Hutu militia using clubs and machetes, with as many as 10,000 killed each day. This is a true story about what happened to a Rwandan girl that will break your heart. Here is an interesting article on what countries won't be doing for Rwanda.

Guatemala
Memory and Truth after Genocide: Guatemala

Armenian
Armenian Genocide
Resources on The Armenian Gencocide

Jewish Holocaust
The Jewish Holocaust 1933-1945

Good General References
Web Genocide Documentation Centre

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

1. Where did the example you chose take place?

2. How many people were killed?

3. Why were they killed?

4. Is this still going on today?

5. What effect has television had on our knowledge about the situation you are reporting on?
Does seeing violence each day on our televisions motivate us to stop it or do we become desensitized to it?

6. As American citizens, what should we be doing to stop this violence?

7. Defining Genocide:
a. Make a list of words from your reading about"genocide" that you think are important to use when explaining what the word means:

b. Make a list words you think are similar to the word "genocide":

c. What is your definition of genocide?

20th Century Genocides