Purpose: To analyze the major social problems, foreign policy and domestic policy issues in contemporary American society.

Goals: At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. describe the uncertainty of the Nixon, Ford and Carter years including the Watergate scandal and its aftermath, the stagnant economy, rising inflation and the Iran hostage crisis.
2. describe the Reagan and Bush years including Reaganomics, the Iran Contra Affair, the space shuttle challenger and the Persian Gulf War.
3. analyze the election of 1992 and evaluate the Clinton Presidency marked by economic boom, limited military actions, balanced budgets and scandals.
4. analyze US foreign policy in the Balkans including US involvement in Bosnia and Kosovo and US foreign policy in the middle east.
5. analyze social changes of the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and today including music, movies, TV, fashion, computers and other technological changes.

Skills: 1) To gather and analyze information

2) To give an oral presentation

Assessment: 1970’s to the Present Group project (50 points)

Objective: To explore the main political events and social changes of the 1970’s-present.

Format: Students will be broken into 8 groups and assigned a topic by lottery. The group will prepare a 25-minute oral presentation to be given to the class. The presentation can include visual aides including posters, music, fashion, news clips, art, movies, etc.

Topic 1 (Due in class Friday May 30) Major Events of the 1970’s (Nixon, Ford, Carter)

Watergate scandal, and its aftermath, the stagnant economy, rising inflation and the Iran hostage crisis. Resources include: Textbook Chapters 22 and 23

Topic 2 (Due in class Friday May 30) Social Changes of the 1970’s including music, movies, fashion, sports, art and TV shows etc. Resources: www.inthe70s.com

Topic 3 (Due in class Monday June 2) Major Events of the 1980’s-early 90’s (Reagan and Bush) including Reaganomics, the Iran Contra Affair, the space shuttle challenger and the Persian Gulf War. Resources include: Textbook Chapters 24

Topic 4 (Due in class Monday June 2) Social Changes of the 1980’s including music, movies, fashion, sports, art and TV shows etc. Resources: www.inthe80s.com

Topic 5 (Due in class Tuesday June 3) Major Events of the 1990’s (Clinton) including the election of 1992, the growth of the Internet, economic boom, limited military actions in Bosnia and Kosovo, balanced budgets and scandals. Resources include: Textbook Chapter 25.

Topic 6 (Due in class Tuesday June 3) Social Changes of the 1990’s including music, movies, fashion, sports, art and TV shows etc. Resources: www.inthe90s.com

Topic 7 (Due in class Wednesday June 4) Major Events of the 00's (George W. Bush) including the election of 2000, the terrorists attacks of Sept 11th, 2001,Enron, WorldCom scandals, conflict in the Persian gulf. Resources include: Sacramento Bee, online newssites.

Topic 8 (Due in class Wednesday June 4) Social Changes of the 00's including music, movies, fashion, sports, art and TV shows etc. Resources: online resources and newspapers.

10=excellent 8=above average 6= average 4= needs improvement 2= poor

1. Students as a group make good use of class time and are prepared to present on time
2. Students clearly demonstrate knowledge about their topic.

 

3. Presentation is creative and captures the attention of the audience including the use of visual aides.

 

4. Students work together well as a group and each member is included in the final presentation.

 

5. Students turn in a written copy of 10 high quality multiple choice questions on their topic. * May be used on the final exam*