My Lai massacre

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/my-lai-massacre

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How heavy is My Lai massacre?March 16, 1968
2. What is the location of the atrocity?Sơn Mỹ village, Quảng Ngãi province, South Vietnam
3. What is the estimated civilian fatalities?Between 347 and 504 unarmed civilians, predominantly women, children, and the elderly
4. What happened during the My Lai massacre?On March 16, 1968, U.S. soldiers went into a Vietnamese village and killed many unarmed people, including women, children, and the elderly. The soldiers used guns, bayonets, and grenades, and some villagers were even shot in a ditch.
5. Who tried to stop the soldiers during the massacre?Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson Jr. and his helicopter crew flew over the village, landed between the soldiers and the villagers, and told the soldiers to stop. They also helped evacuate survivors.

War Crime: A violation of the laws or customs of war, such as the intentional killing of civilians.
Laws of Armed Conflict: International rules that govern the conduct of hostilities and protect non-combatants.
Accountability: The obligation to accept responsibility for one's actions and face consequences, particularly in legal and ethical contexts.
Public Outrage: Widespread anger and strong disapproval from the general population regarding a particular event or action.