Conquer It

For this final assessment, you will review two different documents and answer questions about how the documents are organized.

Document #1

Background: After World War II, many people were concerned about the way that some people’s personal rights and freedoms were being ignored or abused. Millions of men, women and children had died as a direct result of the policies and beliefs of nations across the world. In an effort to outlaw this kind of treatment of people, the United Nations issued the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1947. The member nations of the United Nations signed the document, sending the message to the world that human rights would be protected in the post-World War II world.

large version of Universal Declaration of Human Rights document

In 1947, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Read the Preamble in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Opens a new window and then review each article.

When you are finished reading the document, complete the activity below.


Document #2

Background: During World War II the United States was concerned about keeping good relations with nations in Latin America (Central and South America). In 1961, U.S. President John F. Kennedy announced the “Alliance for Progress,” a program to improve cooperation between the U.S. and Latin American nations. In a 1961 speech, President Kennedy identified ten points as the basis for the Alliance for Progress. Although this is a speech, the historical document lists objectives similar to the organization of The Atlantic Charter you read in the Learn It activity.


The speech begins:

“We meet together as firm and ancient friends, united by history and experience and by our determination to advance the values of American civilization. For this new world of ours is not merely an accident of geography. Our continents are bound together by a common history …”

Read the full text of the speech on Fordham University’s website, Modern History Sourcebook: President John F. Kennedy: On the Alliance for Progress, 1961