Social Studies - United States History II
Lesson Plans

U.S. II Strand 8: THE 21ST CENTURY UNITED STATES

(Ca. 2000-Present)

The United States continues to confront social, political, and economic changes. The "War on Terror," new threats from old rivals, and international humanitarian needs dominate foreign affairs. Continuing political themes surface in current events. Economic inequalities, racial tensions, environmental issues, and immigration and social reforms dominate domestic concerns. In addition, emerging technologies and innovations hold great promise, and the creativity and civic engagement of Americans continues to thrive. The next chapter in the story of the United States awaits.

Possible Guiding Questions to Consider:

• How are newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other contemporary expressions the "rough drafts" of history?
• How do we know what events or trends are of historical significance when we are living in the middle of them?
• How has U.S. foreign policy had an effect on the War on Terror?
• What is the most appropriate role for America to play in foreign affairs after the fall of the Soviet Union?
• How does the U.S. dependency on oil shape foreign policy decision making?
• In what ways has social media affected the continuity and change of reform movements?
• How has global trade transformed local communities (e.g., "mom and pop" stores, jobs, manufacturing)?
• How do people work and organize to respond to systemic domestic problems such as economic inequality, racism, or environmental degradation?

U.S. II Standard 8.1:

Students will select the most historically significant events of the 21st century and defend their selection.

• A Simulated Election
  Students take part in a simulated election in which they role-play poll workers at a polling site and vote in a simulated election. Students become familiar with polling site procedures and the mechanics of voting in their state. When the election simulation coincides with a general election or a state election, it provides for a more authentic experience.
• Becoming a Voter
  In this lesson, students apply their state?s requirements for registering to vote. Students learn when and how to register, how to complete a voter registration form, and when and how to reregister.
• Being an Informed Voter
  This lesson focuses on a voter?s need to be fully informed prior to casting a vote on Election Day and how to acquire the necessary information. Students learn what a yes or no vote or a decision to abstain means on a ballot. Students learn the definitions of amendment, initiative, proposition, and referendum. By completing the handouts for school referendums, students are given the opportunity to think critically and to learn firsthand why voters need to be fully informed about ballot questions.
• Building Suburbia: Highways and Housing in Postwar America
  This lesson highlights the changing relationship between the city center and the suburb in the postwar decades, especially in the 1950s. Students will look at the legislation leading up to and including the Federal Highway Act of 1956. They will also examine documents about the history of Levittown, the most famous and most important of the postwar suburban planned developments.
• CSPAN Classroom Bellringers
  Short video clips designed to complement teaching about the civics, the Constitution, and social studies. See Consitutional Foundation clips onHow Electorial Votes are Counted, SCOTUS' lemon test, Legal Protections for Gun Manufacturers, Internal Fragmentation of Democracies & more. Most topics cover current relevance. To save to your own classroom, you need to create a login (free). Includes many intreviews with historians, making this ideal for history classsrooms.
• Election Foundations
  PBS Learning video about how the US Constitutional Democracy created, empowers, and limits the office of the president. Information is provided about why presidential elections happen in the United States. Video available in both English and Spanish.
• Free and Fair Elections
  This is a great explanation for teachers and students about the standards that governments need to meet before, during, and after an election to ensure that the election is "free and fair".
• Great Debates | We The Voters
  Many resources from PBS learning for teachers, students, and background information. Students will examine the techniques of persuasion and logical fallacies, investigate debates, learn of the history of presidential debates, and analyze the impact of word count.
• Presidential Election Lesson 1: Slogans in Presidential Elections
  From Tippecanoe and Tyler Too to Yes, We Can, students will trace the development and use of slogans in presidential elections in the United States. The lesson allows students to compare slogans that are issue-related to those that are more generic. Students are then asked to analyze how these types of slogans are used and the effects they are meant to have on voters.
  Note: The resources needed for this lesson can be found at the bottom of this webpage: https://www.civiced.org/voting-lessons
• Presidential Election Lesson 2: Where Do the Candidates Stand?
  This lesson allows students to explore where the presidential candidates stand on issues that are important to them. It also allows them to scrutinize informational sources in order to obtain accurate and unbiased data.
  Note: The resources needed for this lesson can be found at the bottom of this webpage: https://www.civiced.org/voting-lessons
• Presidential Election Lesson 3: The Candidates Debate
  Debates can be exciting, energizing, information-packed events. Students often think of the types of debates they have done in class, perhaps a Lincoln-Douglas debate or a policy debate. This lesson takes students through the presidential debates used in campaigns. Using information gathered in Lesson 2 about the presidential candidates? stances on issues, students will view the debates and determine if the candidates have an identifiable and consistent position. Students will determine if the presidential debates are a useful tool in helping them choose a candidate.
  Note: The resources needed for this lesson can be found at the bottom of this webpage: https://www.civiced.org/voting-lessons
• Rank Your Choice (Infographic)
  Infographic and teachers guide about teaching about ranked choice voting. Comparison of pros and cons.
• Shelby County v. Holder | FRONTLINE
  Students will learn about the impacting 2013 Supreme Court case that fractured part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act by dismantling provision that gave the federal Congress the p[owner to protect voting rights. Students examine the immediate effects of the case.
• What Is A Good Rule? Creating Initiatives
  This lesson offers students the opportunity to play the role of voters with special interests. Students draw up initiatives for new classroom or school rules. Students listen to other students? interests, provide justifications for new rules, and prioritize initiatives for ballot consideration.
• What’s the Role of Primary Elections and Caucuses?
  Lesson, worksheet, links, and information about the roles that primary elections and caucuses play in presidential elections

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These materials have been produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. Copies of these materials may be freely reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit should be given to Utah State Board of Education. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of the Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200.