Read about Jean Henri Dunant and the founding of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movements.
Grades:
6
7
8
9

Swiss businessman Jean Henri Dunant founded what would eventually become the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movements in 1859 after helping take care of wounded French and Austrian soldiers in western Europe.

At the International Geneva Conference of 1864 Dunant's group adopted the red cross emblem as its protection for medical personnel as they attended the wounded during conflicts.

However, the religious connotations of the cross soon became evident. In the war between Turkey and Russia in 1876-78, the Ottoman Empire decided it would use a red crescent to mark its own ambulances while respecting the red cross on enemy ambulances.

The red crescent as well as the red lion and red sun used in Persia at the time were officially recognised in 1929. The crescent is still used today while the last country to use the red lion and red sun was Iran in 1980.

Today there is renewed interest in creating a new emblem for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Organizers hope to add a "red crystal," which "will appear as a red frame in the shape of a square on edge, on a white background, and is free from any religious, political or other connotation."

On December 8, 2005, this new emblem was endorsed by the diplomatic portion of the movement. A conference was planned for 2006 to modify the rules and officially adopt the new symbol alongside the cross and crescent.

Featured High School Resources

Reading Differentiation Strategies and Activities for High School

TEACHING RESOURCE

Reading Differentiation Strategies and Activities for High School

Close learning gaps this Fall with differentiated reading instruction This resource provides 5 strategies and 3 editabl...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

TEACHING RESOURCE

Writing Differentiation Strategies and Activities for High School

Close learning gaps this Fall with differentiated writing instruction This resource provides 5 strategies and 2 editabl...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER
Math Differentiation and Remediation Strategies for High School

TEACHING RESOURCE

Math Differentiation and Remediation Strategies for High School

Close learning gaps with differentiated and remediated math instruction This resource provides 5 strategies for how to ...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

Related Resources

REFERENCE

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Biography

Political Leader / President of LiberiaBorn: October 29, 1938Birthplace: Monrovia, LiberiaBest known as: The Nobel Prize...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

Canada

Map of Canada Sovereign: Queen Elizabeth II ...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

Haiti

Facts & Figures Ma...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

Indonesia – Country Profile

Facts & Figures President: Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (2004)Land area: 699,548 sq mi (1,811,831 sq km); total a...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

Lebanon – Country Profile

Facts & Figures ...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

St. Andrew's Day

In 2008, St.

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER
loading gif