Unit 13: Contemporary Politics

Unit Understanding Goals

Lesson #1: The Great Society

UG: How did Johnson's Great Society change the role of the federal government?

Vocabulary: Lyndon B. Johnson, The Great Society, The War on Poverty

Materials:

• Lyrics: "Eve of Destruction" (1965)
• Discussion Guide: Politics of the 1960s
• 1964 LBJ Campaign Ad
• Map: Election of 1964
• The Great Society
• Chart: Great Society Reforms (Completed)
• The "Johnson" Treatment
• Video Clip: The 1968 Presidential Election
• Map: 1968 Presidential Election
• Chart: Nixon-Era Reforms

Homework: None. 

Lesson #2: The Seventies

UG: What major foreign and domestic issues characterized the 1970s?

Vocabulary: Watergate Scandal, United States v. Nixon, détente, SALT, Camp David Accords, Iran Hostage Crisis

Materials:

• Seventies Power Point
• Seventies Graphic Organizer
• Wateragate Video #1: The Break-in
• Watergate Video #2: Senate Watergate Hearings
• Watergate Video #3: The Battle for the Tapes
• Watergate Video #4: Impeachment Hearings
• Watergate Timeline

Homework: Rd. text pp. 1099-1011, 1065-1067 and complete Foreign Policy 1970s & 1980s) guided reading.

Lesson #3: Foreign Policy Issues of the 1970s & 1980s

UG: What major issues characterized U.S. foreign policy in the 1970s and 1980s?

Vocabulary: détente, Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT), Camp David Accords, Iran Hostage Crisis

Materials:

• Video Worksheet: Foreign Policy in the 1970s & 1980s
• Video Clip: Nixon's Foreign Policy 
• Video Clip: The Camp David Accords (9:12) 
• Video Clip: The Iran Hostage Crisis (12:38) 
• Video Clip: Reagan's Foreign Policy  
• Reagan's "Evil Empire" Speech (Document)
• Reagan's "Evil Empire" Speech (Audio)
• Venn Diagram: Nixon, Carter, Reagan Foreign Policy

Homework: Rd. text and complete "American Politics 1980-Present" guided reading.

Lesson #4: Politics: Reagan to the Present

UG: What major issues have characterized American politics since 1980?

Vocabulary: Ronald Reagan, supply-side (trickle-down economics)

Materials:

• Lyrics: "Rockin' in the Free World"
• Chart: American Politics 1980-2008
• Campaign Ad: "We Can Do It" (1992)
• Map: 1992 Presidential Election
• Campaign Ad: "Next Century" (1996)
• Map: 1996 Presidential Election
• Video Clip: Clinton's Domstic Policy (9:17)
• Video Clip: Clinton Denies Affair with Lewinsky
• Campaign Ad: "Medicare Reform" (2000)
• Video Clip: The 2000 Election (1:54)
• Map: 2000 Presidential Election
• Map: 2000 Results by County
• Map: Florida Results by County (2000)
• Campaign Ad: "Windsurfing" (2004)
• Map: 2004 Presidential Election
• Map: 2004 3-D Results
• Map: Ohio Results by County (2004)
• Campaign Ad: "No Maverick" (2008)
• Map: 2008 Presidential Election
• Map: 2008 Results by Population

Homework: Rd. text pp.1104-1108, 1114-1115 and complete Economic Change guided reading.

Lesson #5: Economic Issues of the 1970s and 1980s

UG: What economic problems plagued the United States in the 1970s and 1980s?

Vocabulary: 

Materials: 

• Graphs & Charts: Economic Issues of the 1970s & 1980s
• Worksheet: Economic Issues of the 1970s & 1980s
• Lyrics: "Material Girl"

Homework: None.

Lesson #6: Economic and Social Issues: 1990 to the Present

UG: What major social and economic issues have affected the United States from 1990 to the present?

Materials:

• Lyrics: "Get By"  
• Slides: Social & Economic Issues from 1990 to the Present
• Worksheet: Social & Economic Issues from 1990 to the Present

Homework: Rd. text pp. 1095-1097, 1116-1118, 1124-1126 and complete"Post-Cold War Foreign Policy" guided reading.

Lesson #7: Foreign Policy Issues: 1990-Present

UG: How has American foreign policy changed since the end of the Cold War?

Materials:

• Iraq Song Lyrics
• Map of the Middle East
• Map the Break up of the Soviet Union
• Map: Break Up of Yugoslavia
• Map: Central/East Africa
• Video Worksheet: Foreign Policy of George H.W. Bush 
• Video Clip: American Foreign Policy & the Response to Terrorism
• George W. Bush, 2002 State of the Union Address (Document)
• George W. Bush, 2002 State of the Union Address (Audio)

Homework: Start Contemporary Politics Study Guide

Lesson #8: Unit 13 Review

UG: To review Unit 13 understanding goals.

Materials:

• Contemporary Politics Review Jeopardy

Practice Regents Questions

• 1960s & The Great Society
• Nixon & Watergate
• Ford & Carter Presidencies
• Reagan
• The 1990s
• Current Issues

Homework: Finish Contemporary Politics Study Guide and prepare for Unit 13 test.

Lesson #9: Unit 13 Exam

UG: To assess student mastery of Unit 13 understanding goals.

Materials: None.

Homework: To be announced.