Unit Seven - The World in uncertain times: 1950 to the Present
Cars of the 1950's, a special look at a unique American culture and the lessons on Suburbia including the famous town of Levittown on Long Island, show some of the social changes that take place during the decade.
Cars of the 1950's, a special look at a unique American culture and the lessons on Suburbia including the famous town of Levittown on Long Island, show some of the social changes that take place during the decade.
One of the first threats to the containment of communism in the Post-War era came with the Korean War, later known as the "Forgotten War" the details of which are included in this document. Then, in the early 1960's, the Cuban Missile Crisis shook the nation and created a fear of mass destruction of the planet. Fortunately, calmer heads prevailed but the purge against communism became stronger and gave rise to the famous events of McCarthyism.
|
|
The video on the left is for a song called "Glory" by Common and John Legend. It shows actual footage taken during the Civil Rights Era.
The link below opens to the lyrics of "Glory" so that you can follow along with the video. It is a very emotional tribute to these troubled times. |
Two very important Supreme Court cases changed American society during these times. The first took place in New Hyde Park on Long Island, New York and Engel versus Vitale changed the laws about prayers in public schools. A person's rights at their time of arrest was changed with this Supreme Court case, Miranda versus Arizona and the handout discusses the person and the events that led to this change in law enforcement.
A special power granted to the President is shown in the following document, Bills Vetoed from 1961 to 1993, which is a short list of how many recent Presidents used this privilege.
A special power granted to the President is shown in the following document, Bills Vetoed from 1961 to 1993, which is a short list of how many recent Presidents used this privilege.
Social and Political issues during this era.
The 1950's and 1960's were also turbulent times in America, especially in the South. The lesson on the Civil Rights Movement and the handout on Non-Violent Protest tell of the plight of the African American and how civil disobedience was used in gaining their rights. The landmark Supreme Court Case: Brown versus Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas overturns Plessey v. Ferguson ending the jurisdiction of "Separate but Equal" and the Civil Rights Legislation from the 1960's handout includes other key laws that were passed to achieve equality. One of the key people behind these laws was Chief Justice Earl Warren and this short bio tells of his legal rulings and achievements for American society.
|
Who was Rachel Carson? She was a very special person who changed our lives with her book Silent Spring. Thank you for doing your part to save the planet. The following document is an extract from Silent Spring, the first three pages. At the conclusion are a set of key questions relative to the passage.
|
The Vietnam War timeline and a primary source reading of Letters from the Vietnam War give a unique insight into the events of the war.
Modern Presidents
The first President in this category is Richard Nixon. This handout covers both his domestic and foreign policies as well as an overview of the Watergate incident. I have also created a separate document that itemizes key people and facts from the Watergate break-in and his subsequent impeachment. After Nixon resigned, his Vice-President, Gerald Ford was sworn into office and this link is a brief handout on his presidency for one term.
Jimmy Carter is one of the lesser-known presidents. However, he served his country well and continues to be a humanitarian and religious man in his later years.
The nation and the world saw major political and economic changes during the Presidency of Ronald Reagan. This handout, although lengthy, covers both domestic and foreign policies brought about under the Reagan Era. In addition, I have also added two articles on Reagan's policy called the New Right and a Reagan and the Supreme Court handout.
This handout covers the events of the one-term Presidency of George H.W. Bush (Bush Sr.) who shares a similarity with Martin Van Buren of New York. He is best known for the events in the Middle East for the Gulf Wars against Iraq but it was his domestic problems that caused him winning his bid for re-election.
This handout covers the two-terms of President Bill Clinton including his impeachment and subsequent acquittal.
The Electoral College votes for the 2000 General Election was the closest election in modern American history. This handout covers the story of the 2000 Presidential Election. In addition, I have created a worksheet and short assignment of the events that questioned the Electoral College system of voting in the Election of 2000 and it is often the focus of questions on the examination.
The handout that covers the Presidency of George W. Bush is lengthy (14 pages) but it does contain many pictures that add to the lessons. I updated this lesson during my summer vacation of 2020 and while I was creating the document, I could not help but notice many similarities that the United States is experiencing today.
In closing this section on modern presidents, I have created a special presentation that covers the events of September 11th, an event that drastically changed American society and the world we live in.
Recent American History
The Immigration Issue: Prohibido (Spanish for prohibited) is covered in this document and it remains a very important political issue today. To supplement this document I have added a political cartoon about illegal immigration. After the cartoon are a series of key questions relative to the subject and the issues that the nation faces today. The other side of the story is how much the Latino population has added to the economy and culture of the United States. The attached handout covers the origins and growth of the Latino population in 1990's in America.
The Immigration Issue: Prohibido (Spanish for prohibited) is covered in this document and it remains a very important political issue today. To supplement this document I have added a political cartoon about illegal immigration. After the cartoon are a series of key questions relative to the subject and the issues that the nation faces today. The other side of the story is how much the Latino population has added to the economy and culture of the United States. The attached handout covers the origins and growth of the Latino population in 1990's in America.
|
|
The New York City skyline in early 2001 compared to the New York City skyline of today (my photo).