LP-BC-Uigur-debate-Khotan-mezquita Uighur Debate

Should the Uighurs be defined as “terrorists” not “freedom fighters?”

Author: Bonnie Christensen
Summary: Students will gain a deeper understanding of a specific ethnic group in China known as the Uighurs in order to learn more about the complexities of China and the difficulties of creating one nation out of so many different ethnicities. The Uighurs are a ethnic minority in China whose goals are similar to other groups around the world seeking to gain greater freedoms or even independence from governments they consider as repressive and/or unresponsive to their needs. Through an analysis of the issues confronting the Uighurs, students will be able to better understand the problems of some ethnic minorities in China and the goals of other groups in different parts of the world such as the Kurds in Turkey and the French Canadians. Students will analyze the concept of “nation” and “state sovereignty” by dealing with the question of “selfdetermination” using the specific example of the Uighurs.
Grade Level and Courses:
  • Modern World History – 9-10th grade
  • U.S. History – 11th grade
  • Government and Economics – 12th grade
  • Asian Studies
  • International Relations
  • Human Geography
Subject Area: government, politics, minorities
Keywords: Uighur, ethnic minority, freedom fighter, terrorist, debate
Lesson Duration  1-3 days (includes debate preparation homework, class preparation time, and one 55 minute class debate period).
Published September 30, 2015
Source 1990 Institute 2015 Lesson Plan Contest winner

 

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Lesson Plan: Are Uighurs Terrorists or Freedom Fighters

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