Chapters 22-23
This unit focuses on the Great Depression, the creation of the New Deal and the government’s involvement in the lives of its citizens focusing on:
· The election of 1932 · The public disdain of Hoover · The First 100 Days · The New Deal · Dust Bowl · Direct Relief · Regulating the Stock Market · Reforming the Banking Industry · Court Packing · Reactions to the New Deal
Essential Understandings:
·When the economy is bad people blame the president · People look to the government to provide aid they cannot get anywhere else · When the Congress and the presidency are of the same party, the government can pass a great deal of legislation · The New Deal needed to fundamentally change the broken economic structures · The New Deal created programs that continue impacting society today · The Dust Bowl added to the misery of the Great Depression · FDR tried to circumvent the Supreme Court by changing its makeup · Republican reaction to the New Deal was not favorable
Essential Question:
·Why did the public blame Hoover? · How did the relationship between government and its citizens change? · Why was FDR able to get so much legislation passed? · How was the New Deal able to regulate and change the systems that led the Great Depression? · Why is Social Security an issue today? · How did the Dust Bowl impact the American South West? · Why did FDR try to pack the Supreme Court? · How did Congress respond? · Why was everyone not in favor of the New Deal? Chapter 24
Chapter 24 examines the lead up to World War II focusing on:
· The rise of dictators · The Treaty of Versailles’ contribution to the conditions in Europe · New political and ideological movements in Europe · Neutrality Movement in the United States · Age of Appeasement · Push to get the US more involved · The Holocaust · Pearl Harbor
Essential Understandings:·
The suffering of the people leaves openings for power shifts · Dictators can fill power vacuums when people are desperate · The Treaty of Versailles punished Germany so harshly that they were unable to recover after WWI · The Nazis rose to power using the traditional Jewish Scapegoat · Once in power the Nazis began to limit the rights of the Jews as a lead up to the Holocaust · The League of Nations had many opportunities to stop the aggressive acts and failed · Realizing that the world was edging closer to war, Congress moved to keep the US neutral · To keep from going to war England and France adopted a policy of appeasement · Realizing the war in Europe was going badly, FDR looked for ways to get the US more involved · Japan’s attack at Pearl Harbor led to the US getting involved in WWII
Essential Question:
·How did the Treaty of Versailles create conditions in Germany that led to desperation? · How did the Depression in Europe lead to political opportunities? · Who were the dictators that rose to fill those power vacuums? · Why were the Jewish people the “traditional scapegoat”? · How did small changes in laws eventually lead to the Holocaust? · Who is guilty of the Holocaust? · Why did the League of Nations fail to stop the aggressive acts of Germany, Japan and Italy? · Why did England and France appease Germany? · Why did the US move to move to ensure Neutrality? · Why did FDR move to engage the US in the war? · Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor? · Did FDR allow for the attack on Pearl Harbor as a means to get the US to declare war? Chapter 25
This unit examines the foreign and domestic involvement of the United States during WWII focusing on:
· The internment of Japanese-Americans · Gearing up for the war · The US during the war · The aid of minority groups in the US · Key battles · Conferences · Leaders · Ending the war · The Atomic Bomb Essential Understandings:
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Fear and vulnerability lead to irrational and unconstitutional actions · The US was the beneficiary of selfless service from minority groups that they had repressed/oppressed for centuries · To fight a multi-front a war a global strategy is necessary · Differing leadership styles both political and military had tremendous impact on the war · The successful execution of the battle plan resulted in the defeat of Germany and Japan · The development of the Atomic Bomb fundamentally changed warfare · Not everyone agreed that dropping the Atomic Bomb was necessary · War crimes must be punished Essential Question:
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Why did the US intern the Japanese-Americans? · Why did those the US oppressed fight for the country that oppressed them? · What was the strategy implemented by the Allies and why was it successful? · How did the varying leaders’ personalities impact the world during this time? · How did the use of propaganda influence our attitudes towards supporting the war and our enemies? · What were the major battles and why were they significant? · How does the use of the Atomic Bomb change warfare? · Was the A-Bomb necessary in ending WWII? · How does one determine who is guilty in war? Chapter 26 and 30-1
This unit examines the development of American foreign policy following WWII focusing on:
·The leaders, foreign and domestic · Shaping the post war world · The differences between Capitalism, Communism and Socialism · The Origins of the Cold War · Cold War standoffs Europe, Asia and Middle East · The Second Red Scare · HUAC and McCarthyism · Evolving American foreign policy
Essential Understandings:
·Different leaders’ biases and beliefs impacted the post war world · Different economic and political systems between powerful nations lead to global crises · The rivalries between the US and the USSR led to the Cold War · The attempt to gain spheres of influences that led to greater tensions and conflicts · The fear of Communism spreading to American shores were of great concern to the public · Those fears allowed people in power to curtail our First Amendment Rights · Only when their power was threatened did the government move on McCarthy · To combat the spread of Communism the US developed new foreign policy principles
Essential Question:
·How do the Allies reshape Germany and Eastern Europe? · What are the differences between Capitalism, Communism, and Socialism and why do they matter? · What are the origins of the Cold War? · Was the Cold War inevitable? · How was the attempt to gain Spheres of Influence played out across the globe? · How did the nation respond to the threat of spreading Communism? · Why was HUAC and McCarthy able to gain so much unchallenged power? · Why didn’t the government end HUAC’s unconstitutional actions and what does it say about out governments concern for its citizens? · How did the US foreign policy adapt to the post war world? · Why did the government respond differently after WWII as opposed to WWI? Chapter 27 and 29-1
This unit examines the domestic United States following WWII focusing on
· Election of 1948 · The GI Bill of Rights · Rise of the suburbs · Interstate Highway System · Television and mass media · Beat movement · Emergence of the Civil Rights Movement · Technology
Essential Understandings:
·The decisions of the Truman administration impacted the Election of 1948 · The GI Bill of Rights allowed an easier transition for returning soldiers · The creation of the suburbs fundamentally impacted the nation · The Interstate Highway System had major impact on the country · Television forever changed how Americans perceived and enjoyed entertainment · Music evolved into a major marketing endeavor · The transistor allowed for radios that teenagers can control · Many people conformed to the lifestyles of the 1950s but some rebelled and started the Beat Movement · As a result of internal migrations and the Harlem Renaissance the African American community was prepared to take the next step in advancing civil rights · The Supreme Court laid the groundwork for challenging segregation through Brown v. Board of Education · The Montgomery Bus Boycott allowed for the emergence of the Civil Rights leaders and the organization of the movement · New technologies emerged creating the birth of the “Modern Age”
Essential Question:
·Why did the Dixiecrats run a candidate in the 1948 election? · Why was the GI Bill of Rights created and how did it help the returning veterans? · How do the suburbs change America? · Why was the Interstate so important to the United States? · How does Television change the American family and culture? · Why did the music industry change in the 50s? · What did the transistor do for the music industry? · What were the roles people were expected to conform to? · Why did some people rebel from conforming to these roles? · Why did the Civil Rights movement begin? · What were the legal challenges and obstacles to challenging the Civil Rights Movement? · How did the early movements create organizations and strategies? · How did the new technologies impact life in the 1950s? Chapter 28 and 29 2-3
This unit examines the escalation of the Cold War in the 1960s the Civil Rights Movement and life in the 1960s focusing on:
· Election of the 1960 · New Frontier · Bay of Pigs · Cuban Missile Crisis · The JFK assassination and conspiracy theories surrounding it · The Great Society · Civil Rights · Rise of the non-non violent Civil Rights Movement · The Space Race · Birth Control Pill
Essential Understandings:
·The election of 1960 demonstrated the power of Television to impact an election · JFKs New Frontier inspired Americans to do more for the country · After Castro turned to Communism the CIA attempted to remove him · The Cuban Missile Crisis pushed the world to the brink of nuclear war · While at the time the explanation of the Warren Commission was accepted in later years people began to question it · The Great Society expanded the New Deal and changed America forever · The Civil Rights movement expanded and achieved major milestones despite massive opposition · As time goes by some people were frustrated with the slow pace of progress of Civil Rights and joined non-non violent civil rights group · The Space Race was launched between US and the USSR · The Birth Control pill changed the outlook for women across the country Essential Question:
·How did television impact the election of 1960? · Why were Americans inspired by JFK? · Why was Cuba becoming Communist perceived to be such a danger to the United States? · How did the US take steps to remove Castro and what impact did it have on world affairs? · How did JFK’s handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis reflect his foreign policy attitudes? · Why were the conclusions of the Warren Commission questioned in later years? · What were the conspiracy theories and what implications might this have for the country? · How did the Great Society impact social programs and why did LBJ push so hard for them? · How were the accomplishments achieved in the Civil Rights Movement? · Why did some people resist the non-violent philosophy · How were the Black Panther Party and the Nation of Islam perceived by “White” America? · What achievements were made in the Space Race and how was the race perceived? · Why was the Birth Control Pill so impactful to the lives of women? Chapter 30
This unit focuses on the Vietnam War and its implications both here and abroad focusing on:
· Vietnam before WWII · Ho Chi Minh’s influence on Vietnam · French attempts to retake Vietnam · Domino Theory · Age of Advisors · Assassinations · Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Resolution · Limited War Theory · Escalation and the Draft · US military strategy · Tet Offensive · Election of 1968 · Counter Culture and protest movement · Election of 1972 · Vietnamization and expanding the war into Cambodia · Kent State Massacre · Paris Peace Accords · Fall of Saigon
Essential Understandings:
·Vietnam was under various nation’s control for much of its history · The Allied Nations did not treat Vietnam fairly after WWII despite it being one of its allies · Vietnam resisted further colonization attempts after WWII · The US failed to uphold the Geneva Convention for its own purposes · The basis of the US involvement in Vietnam was based on the Domino Theory · The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution created the conditions for the prolonged intervention in Vietnam · Limited War Theory dictates that we limit out involvement in Vietnam to conventional forces · Limited War Theory leads to escalation and the draft · The Draft leads to protest movements and great social conflict · Television changes American’s perception of the war · The Tet Offensive had a profound psychological impact on the United States · 1968 was arguably the most tumultuous year in American History · The Democratic Primary and Election in 1968 were difficult and divisive · Nixon’s changes in strategy were designed to win him re-election and get the US out of the war · By 1970 the general public had grown tired of “constant” protesting and wished for a return to normalcy · The Paris Peace Accords allowed the US to leave Vietnam having achieved “Peace with honor” · The fall of Saigon and its images left the US disillusioned and humbled
Essential Question:
·Why was Vietnam not treated fairly after WWII by the Allies? · What made Ho Chi Minh the leader that he was? · Why did the US support French attempts at re-colonization? · Why were the Geneva Accords placed on Vietnam? · How did the US support for Diem and his cancelling of the elections lead to the Vietnam War? · What is the Age of Advisors and how did the US involve itself in Vietnam during this period? · How did the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution bring the US into the Vietnam conflict? · What is Limited War Theory and how does that lead to escalation and a draft? · Why did the protest movement emerge and what were they protesting? · How did television impact public perception of Vietnam? · Why did the Tet Offensive have such massive psychological impact? · What made 1968 and the Election of 1968 so different? · What were Nixon’s changes to Vietnam military strategy and how were they implemented? · What event demonstrated the American’s lack of support of protests? · What provision(s) in the Paris Peace Accords allowed the US to leave having achieved “Peace with honor”? · Did the fall of Saigon mean the US failed in Vietnam? · Why was Vietnam so different from any other conflict the US had been involved in? Chapters 31-32
This unit examines the politics, foreign policy and domestic issues of the 1970s focusing on:
· New Federalism · Nixon’s Southern Strategy/Election of 1972 · Foreign Affairs besides Vietnam · Watergate · First Gas Crisis · Various groups’ movements for equality · Woodstock/Altmont · Carter Presidency · Iran Hostage Crisis · Environmentalism · Social Movements in 70s
Essential Understandings:
·In general, the primary focus of an elected officials first term is getting re-elected · Nixon wanted to capture a stronger percentage of the South and crafted his campaign to address the concern of those voters · Nixon was the first president to successfully negotiate with the Soviets without fear of stigma · Watergate was a national tragedy/scandal that shattered our faith in government · The gas crisis had massive and far reaching impact on the nation · With a growing professional class of women there were greater calls for equality · Latinos began to organize for greater representation and more equitable treatment from employers · Native Americans pressured the government for more equitable treatment · The homosexual community began to resist unfair treatment and began a push for equality · The Carter Presidency was a difficult time for the US · Carter’s commitment to Human Rights was a major step forward for equality · The Iran Hostage Crisis proved that our foreign policy decisions can have long term unintended implications and consequences · We began to understand the impact we have on the environment which led to some people focusing national attention on it · People focus became more self-oriented in the 70s leading to Carter giving the Crisis of Confidence speech
Essential Question:
·Why was Nixon able to successfully deal with the Soviets without fear of the “Soft on Communism” label? · Why was Nixon so concerned about the South in 1972? · How did Nixon craft his campaign to appeal to the South? · Why was Watergate such a far reaching scandal? · How did Nixon create his own problems and were they inevitable? · What are the long term implications of Watergate? · Why was the nation plunged into a gas crisis? · Why was the gas crisis so devastating? · What were the long term implications of the gas crisis? · Why were women pushing for ERA and why did some oppose it? · Why was the 1970s a time when so many groups were pushing for more equitable treatment? · How did the Iran Hostage Crisis impact both the nation and the Carter presidency? · Why did people focus shift to hedonism in the 70s and how was that displayed in society? · Why was the Carter Presidency such a difficult time?