What military decisions did Dwight Eisenhower make on D-Day in World War II and how did he take responsibility for his grave decisions of launching the Normandy invasion?

Essential Question

• How can a leader build trust with the people they lead by taking responsibility for their decisions and actions?   

Guiding Questions

• What happens when leaders refuse to accept responsibility for poor decisions?  
• Why is it important for leaders to take responsibility for decisions in a republic of self-governing citizens? 

Learning Objectives

• Students will analyze the story of Dwight Eisenhower to identify benefits of responsibility in leadership.   
• Students will compare primary sources written for public and private audiences to analyze Eisenhower’s character.   
• Students will describe the importance of taking responsibility for one’s decisions, regardless of the consequences.

Student Resources

• Primary Source Analysis
• Dwight Eisenhower and Responsibility Narrative
• Virtue in Action handout

Teacher Resources

• Analysis Questions 
• Virtue in Action  
• Journal Activity
• Sources for Further Reading  
• Virtue Across the Curriculum 

Procedures 

• The following lesson asks students to consider the importance of responsible leadership. The main activity in this lesson requires students to read and analyze a narrative that explores how Dwight Eisenhower continually chose to be a responsible leader.  
• Students will also conduct a primary source analysis of two statements written by Eisenhower regarding the success or failure of the D-Day invasion in World War II.  
• The lesson ends with reflection exercises to connect the historical example of Eisenhower with your students’ daily lives. You may choose to use either or both activities.  
• Lastly, the lesson includes sources used in this lesson for further reading and suggestions for cross-curricular connections.