Unit 9: 1980-present – The American Pageant, chapters 41-42

Content: Summary of Reagan’s domestic and foreign policies; Bush Sr. and the end of the Cold War; Persian Gulf; Clinton as a New Democrat; technology and economic bubbles and recessions, race relations, and the role of women; changing demographics and the return to poverty; rise of the prison complex and the war on drugs; 9/11 and the domestic and foreign policies that followed; and Obama.

Key Concepts:

9.1:  A new conservatism grew to prominence in U.S. culture and politics, defending traditional social values and rejecting liberal views about the role of government.

9.2:  The end of the Cold War and new challenges to U.S. leadership in the world forced the nation to redefine its foreign policy and global role.

9.3:  Moving into the 21st century, the nation continued to experience challenges stemming from social, economic and demographic changes.                      

Activities:

History Log – notes and short responses on reading assignments
Primary Source Analysis:

1980s Car advertisements
Ronald Reagan Air Traffic Controllers’ Strike
Bill Clinton’s First Inaugural Speech
George W Bush Republican Nomination Acceptance Speech
Ronald Reagan Evil Empire Speech
Ronald Reagan Support of the Contras
George W Bush September 20 Address to Congress
Creation of Homeland Security Department
Bill Clinton Address on Health Care Reform
Barack Obama Address on Health Care
Political cartoons (pro and con) on the Patriot Act

View Points: The Patriot Act vs. Amendment IV of the Constitution

Iconic Moments: The entire class composes a list of iconic moments or events associated with US History in the period 1980 to the Present. Students can begin with moments or events that occurred within their own lifetimes, but also include moments/events that cover the chronological span, 1980-Present. The purpose of this exercise is to deepen the students’ awareness of specific content within Period 9. Then the students will categorize the moments using the seven themes of AP US History.

Six Degrees of Separation: From The Reagan Revolution to the Election of Barack Obama.

Unit Test – multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, FRQ and DBQ.


 
During this unit students will discuss possible answers to the following essential questions:

Identity: How did demographic and economic changes in American society affect popular debates over American national identity?

Work, Exchange, and Technology:  How did the shift to a global economy affect American economic life?  How did scientific and technological developments in these years change how Americans lived and worked?

Peopling: How did increased migration raise questions about American identity and the nation demographically, culturally, and politically?

Politics and Power: How successful were conservatives in achieving their goals?  TO what extent did liberalism remain influential politically and culturally?

America in the World:  How did the end of the Cold War affect American foreign policy?  How did the terrorist attacks of 9/11 impact America’s role in the world?

Environment and Geography: How did debates over climate change and energy policy affect broader social and political movements?

Ideas, Beliefs, and Cultures: How did technological and scientific innovations such as elections, biology, medicine, and communications affect society, popular culture, and public discourse?  How did a more demographically diverse population shape popular culture?