be a unique and creative way. This unit is for United States history and concentrates on the changes in

Transcription

1 Adult title: Turbulent Times: Changes in America from Student title: Kennedy, Russia and Civil Rights. Oh my. In this unit are a variety of activities that touch upon the identified multiple intelligences in what should be a unique and creative way. This unit is for United States history and concentrates on the changes in American society from , mainly the administration of John F. Kennedy, the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement. Goals for the students include being able to identify the major impact of the big three (JFK, the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement) aspects of the unit on American society. Students should and will demonstrate that ability to write about, discuss, analyze and portray the factors that led to a rapidly changing society from CONTENT Overview The was a decade of great change, both in politics as well as overall culture. The United States as a country, and the American people in particular were beginning to see themselves in a different light. Breakdown 1. John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Kennedy was the the 35 th President of the United States. He was previously a Representative and Senator from Massachusetts. In 1960, Kennedy won a historic election over Richard Nixon becoming the youngest elected President and the only Catholic President ever, two big landmarks. Kennedy s election signaled a change in American politics that more directly involved and excited young people, somewhat like the recent election of Senator Barack Obama to the presidency. However, his tumultuous time as President was cut short after being assassinated in a. Election of Kennedy narrowly defeated Richard Nixon with 49.7% of the popular vote to Nixon s 49.6%. The electoral count of was not quite as close, Kennedy did win 11 states by less than a 2.5% margin. This election had the first televised debates, which forever changed the election process. Those who only heard the election ruled Nixon the victor, although Kennedy was a big winner with those who saw it on television by virtue of his calm and collected demeanor as opposed to the scowling Nixon.

2 b. Assassination. In a national tragedy, Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas when riding in a motercade. The gunman was Lee HarveyOswald, who had been hiding on the sixth floor of a building. Kennedy had been in Dallas as a way of mending political fences to get ready for the next election. An investigation was conducted, named the Warren Commission, and called Oswald the lone killer, though there is still controversy to this day. Oswald was shot and killed by Jack Ruby on national TV before he could be convicted of the crime. 2. Cold War. The Cold War was a decades-long standoff between the democracy and communism, mainly the United States and Soviet Union. Tensions escalated due to quite a few events in the 1960s. It involved political conflict, military tension, and economic competition without ever pitting the two countries directly against each other in battle. The Cold War sprang up after the two countries emerged as the world s superpowers following World War II. a. Bay of Pigs. In 1961, a band of trained Cuban exiles led by the CIA attacked Cuba in a poorly planned invasion. The idea had been authorized by President Eisenhower, thought it was carried out under the Kennedy administration. The ultimate goal was the overthrow of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. The whole ordeal was very poorly managed, ending in nearly all of those sent being killed or captured. President Kennedy took personal responsibility but vowed to resist communist penetration in the Western Hemisphere. b. Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1962, the United States discovered nuclear missile sites under construction in Cuba. This was being done to prevent any future American attempts to oust Castro. Nearly all major cities in the eastern United States were in range. The United States blocked all Soviet ships from entering Cuba and eventually agreed to take its missiles out of Turkey and Italy as a compromise. Many consider the ensuing standoff to be the closest the world has come to a nuclear war. c. Space race. In an effort to prove superiority of government, the U.S. and USSR embarked on a tense race to explore space. The technological aspect to the Cold War really started when the Soviet Union launched the satellite Sputnik I in In response, the United States created NASA. Though the Soviets sent Yuri Gagarin to be the first man to orbit the Earth, the Americans won the race to the moon. 3. Civil Rights Movement. During the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement saw great progress for traditionally oppressed and underrepresented groups in the United States, mainly blacks. The main goals were to outlaw discrimination and restore (or gain for the first time) full suffrage rights. Many different black leaders emerged, some with very different viewpoints.

3 i. Black power. a. Legislation. Much legislation had to be passed by the Johnson administration in order to earn the gains blacks desired. Doing so had been a goal of Kennedy that was cut short by the assassination. Johnson, a southerner, took the torch. Doing so turned the favored party in the south from the Democrats to the Republicans, which is how it remains to this day. i. Civil Rights Act of The Act outlawed racial segregation in public places and schools as well as in regards to employment. These laws also invalidated the Jim Crow laws of the south that had made discrimination of whites and blacks not only legal but also standard. Johnson had to make a lot of political moves in order to circumvent a filibuster in the Senate to have the bill passed. ii. Voting Rights Act of This Act banned literacy tests that had been used to keep blacks from voting in an unfair manner. It also empowered the government to oversee voter registration and elections in areas that had a history of discriminating against minorities. b. Martin Luther King. King was an influential preacher from Alabama whose powerful oratory ability and calm nonviolent beliefs made him the face of the Civil Rights Movement. King was a big believer in civil disobedience, meaning that people could break the laws peacefully and accept punishment as a way or protest. i. I Have a Dream Speech. The speech was one delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial after the March on Washington. In it, King talks about his vision of a country in which all people are truly equal. ii. Assassination. After receiving death threats for a while, King was shot and killed at the age of 39. He was shot by former convict James Earl Ray from the balcony of his motel room in Memphis. His death incited riots in hundreds of cities. c. Malcolm X. Malcom X offered a very different viewpoint to King. Malcom X favored a more militant approach rather than a passive on. Many young blacks saw themselves as the heirs to Malcolm X following his death, moving away from the principles of nonviolence and questioning the goal of integration. The phrase was first used by Stokely Carmichael.

4 ii. Black Panthers. The Black Panther Party was formed in Oakland, California shortly after Carmichael used the term black power. They became the symbol of young militant African-Americans quickly. The Black Panthers organized armed patrols of urban neighborhoods to protect people from police abuse and also began to wear their hair in Afros. ACTIVITIES 1. a. Election of 1960 Listen to portions of televised 1960 debate. On one side of a piece of paper, write down five to ten observations of this sound clip. Think about how the candidate sounds. Then, watch the same portions of the debate. Write down to five to ten observations. Think about how the candidates appear. After writing down these observations, pair up with a classmate and share your ideas. Then, share these ideas with the class. Finally, think about who you would vote for and why. 1. b. Assassination of John Kennedy In the computer lab, visit the website With a partner, choose one of the 82 important witnesses. Spend time researching the witness before giving a one to two minute presentation on who the person was and what they saw/heard/did in regards to the Kennedy assassination. 2. a. Bay of Pigs Take the role of either Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, Soviet premiere Nikita Khruschev, one of the Cuban exiles involved in the invasion, or an average American citizen. Write a letter to President Kennedy telling him your thoughts after the failed invasion at Bay of Pigs. Are you angry? Do you

5 support him? Do you expect to retaliate? Please keep the letter appropriate. Write it as if it has only been a few days since the failed attempt. 2. b. Cuban Missile Crisis Watch the movie Thirteen Days about the Cuban Missile Crisis. Write down ten examples of things discussed in class that you saw in the movie. Also, recast the movie. Assign the roles of John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara and Kenny O Donnell to current actors. 2. c. Space race In groups, travel to different stations around the room. Each station has a primary document that deals with the Soviet Union launching its satellite Sputnik into space. Summarize the document, telling what the reaction of the group writing this was. Why was the launching of Sputnik a big deal to this particular group? (Documents found here: 3. a. Legislation With a map to scale of the Freedom Ride ( determine how far the riders traveled before reaching certain points like first violence, the bus being attacked and the arrests. Think about how far you could have made it before turning back. 3. b. Martin Luther King, Jr. questions: After listening to King s I Have a Dream Speech and reading along, answer the following

6 -How would you summarize King s dream in your own words? -What specific acts of injustice against African-Americans does King cite in his speech? -Why does King name many different states toward the end of his speech? What effect does this have? -If you had been in the crowd that day, what kind of impact would King s speech have had on you? Why? 3. c. Malcom X In the whole class group, gives ideas about Martin Luther King and Malcolm X in separate columns for the instructor to write down. Later, read a handout with different quotes and guess whether the quotes were said by King or Malcolm X. (Quotes at: