Global History and Geography II/Napp

Global History and Geography II/Napp The Lesson: The Rwandan Genocide The Objective:  To identify and explain the causes and effects of the Rwandan Genocide

The Do Now: With a partner, answer the following questions in the spaces provided (using notes from yesterday’s class): 1. Where is Rwanda located?

2. Identify the two main ethnic groups of Rwanda.

3. What event started the genocide?

4. Who was killed during the genocide?

5. What the response of the United Nations to the genocide?

Direct Instruction: Reading and Questions for Comprehension (More information on the genocide) Rwanda is one of the smallest countries in Central Africa. It has just 7 million people, and is comprised of two main ethnic groups, the Hutu and the Tutsi. Although the Hutus account for 90 percent of the population, in the past, the Tutsi minority was considered the aristocracy of Rwanda and dominated Hutu peasants for decades, especially while Rwanda was under Belgian colonial rule. Questions: 1- What two ethnic groups comprise Rwanda? ______2- Which group accounts for 90% of the population? ______3- Which group was considered the aristocracy of Rwanda during colonial rule? ______4- Which group suffered under colonial rule? ______Following independence from Belgium in 1962, the Hutu majority seized power and reversed the roles, oppressing the Tutsis through systematic discrimination and acts of violence. As a result, over 200,000 Tutsis fled to neighboring countries and formed a rebel guerrilla army, the Rwandan Patriotic Front. Questions: 1- When did Rwanda achieve independence? ______2- Which ethnic group seized (took hold of) power at independence? ______3- Which ethnic group was oppressed after independence? ______4- What was one result of this oppression? ______5- What did Tutsi exiles (people who are voluntarily absent from a country) form? ______6- What do you think was the purpose of this organization? ______In April 1994, amid increasing prospects of violence, Rwandan President Habyalimana held several peace meetings with Tutsi rebels. On April 6, while returning from a meeting, a small jet carrying the president was shot down by ground-fired missiles as it approached Rwanda's airport at Kigali. Immediately afterwards, Rwanda was plunged into violence as Hutu extremists began targeting prominent opposition figures who were on their death- lists, including moderate Hutu politicians and Tutsi leaders.” Questions: 1- What incident occurred on April 6, 1994? ______2- What happened in Rwanda after this incident? ______3- What did Hutu extremists do immediately after this incident? ______The killings then spread throughout the countryside as Hutu militia, armed with machetes, clubs, guns and grenades, began indiscriminately killing Tutsi civilians. All individuals in Rwanda carried identification cards specifying their ethnic background, a practice left over from colonial days. These 'tribal cards' now meant the difference between life and death. Questions: 1- What spread throughout the countryside? ______2- How was a person’s ethnic group or ethnicity known in Rwanda? ______3- What made the difference between life and death? ______4- When did the use of “tribal cards” begin in Rwanda? ______Amid the onslaught, the small U.N. peacekeeping force was overwhelmed as terrified Tutsi families and moderate politicians sought protection. Among the peacekeepers were ten soldiers from Belgium who were captured by the Hutus, tortured and murdered. As a result, the United States, France, Belgium, and Italy all began evacuating their own personnel from Rwanda. However, no effort was made to evacuate Tutsi civilians or Hutu moderates. Instead, they were left behind entirely at the mercy of the avenging Hutu. Questions: 1- What happened to ten soldiers from Belgium? ______2- What happened after the soldiers were killed? ______3- What happened to the Tutsi civilians or Hutu moderates? ______The Hutu, now without opposition from the world community, engaged in genocidal mania, clubbing and hacking to death defenseless Tutsi families with machetes everywhere they were found. The killings only ended after armed Tutsi rebels, invading from neighboring countries, managed to defeat the Hutus and halt the genocide in July 1994. By then, over one-tenth of the population, an estimated 800,000 persons, had been killed. Questions: 1- What did the Hutu do? ______2- Why did the genocide finally end? ______3- How many people were killed? ______

Analysis of Cartoon: 1- Who is carrying the sign? ______2- What is written on the sign? ______3- What is meant by “Never again!”? ______4- Who is following the men holding the sign? ______5- What is this man saying? ______6- Where are the men holding the sign walking to? ______7- Describe the place they are walking to? ______8- What is written on the banner hanging from the tree? ______9- What is beneath the tree? ______10- Now, explain the meaning of the political cartoon. ______Application and Summary: You are a reporter covering the genocide in Rwanda for the outside world. Write a four paragraph summary of the genocide. It is important to remember to include the causes and outcomes of the genocide but also the reasons why the international community failed to keep the peace. But most importantly of all, it is critical to include why the international community must respond in situations like the genocide in Rwanda. ______