Social Studies Curriculum

United States History

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Contemporary America (1968-present)

Three weeks (through Week 17), followed by Final Exam

Enduring Understandings

The student will understand:

1. Globalization, economic interdependence, debate over the environment and use of natural resources, and human rights issues increasingly impact U.S. domestic and foreign policy. 
2. Debate to interpret the constitutional balance of power among the branches of government strengthens our democratic principles, while failure to maintain that balance undermines those ideals.
3. Technology is exponentially changing every aspect of American life.

Essential Questions

1. How are political leaders and government entities held responsible for their actions?
2. How is foreign and domestic policy shaped in contemporary America?
3. How did the downfall of Soviet communism and the dissolution of the Soviet Union affect America? 
4. How do interest groups affect the fight over resource management?
5. What are the positive and negative aspects of the use of technology in the Information Age?

Objectives

• Analyze the events and effects of Watergate and other political scandals.
• Examine the changing and expanding role of media in global politics, economics, and society. 
• Evaluate the importance of major court decisions. 
• Explore the conflict between environmentalism and big business in economic policy. 
• Trace the history of environmentalism in the U.S.
• Define globalization and describe its impact on public policy including foreign and domestic economics policies.
• Explore the changing immigration policy and the resulting social change emphasizing the importance of tolerance in an expanding multicultural society.
• Discuss the dynamic of regional conflict and international responses. 
• Explore the role of human rights in the evolution of U.S. policy. 
• Explore the role of technology in all aspects of society including leisure time, international business, medicine, science and cultural innovation.
• Discuss Operation Desert Storm (causes, events, and outcomes). 
• Investigate the events, reactions, and responses of September 11, 2001.
• Define essential terms including:  new federalism, stagflation, OPEC, realpolitik, Camp David Accords, Environmental Protection Agency, Three Mile Island, Affirmative Action, reverse discrimination, Conservative Coalition, Reaganomics, Strategic Defense Initiative, trade imbalance, AIDS, NAFTA, downsize, urban flight, telecommute, conservation, conservatism, environmentalism, Information Age, Moore’s Law, international coalition, terrorism, terrorist attack, al-Qaeda, homeland security, clone, economic sanctions, Munich Olympics, Desert Shield, the Rehnquist Court, the EU
• Describe the role of important people and group such as:  Richard Nixon, John Mitchell, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Geraldine Ferraro, Sandra Day O’Connor, George Bush (41st), Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush (43rd)
• Survey significant cultural movements (literature, art, music, dance, theater, film, sports, etc.) and their superstars such as: Rachel Carson, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Paul Allen, Arthur Ashe, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Neil Armstrong, Sally Ride, Truman Capote, Ted Turner, Tiger Woods, Alice Walker, Oprah Winfrey, Eugene O’Neill, Amy Tan, Norman Mineta, Tim Berners-Lee, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Lance Armstrong

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