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Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 20th Century United States History

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Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Chapter 16: 1980-Present

Has Francis Fukuyama’s “End of History” Thesis Been Proven Correct?

Does the Threat of Terrorism Justify Increased Surveillance?

Was the Invasion of Iraq Justified?

Is Affirmative Action Justified?

Is it in the Interest of the United States to Maintain Its International Obligations?

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.

Ronald Reagan, Address to the Nation on the Challenger Disaster, January 28, 1986

Ronald Reagan, “Tear Down this Wall” Speech, June 12, 1987

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.

Herblock, Cartoons of Ronald Reagan, 1984–1987

AIDS Memorial Quilt, 1987

Francis Fukuyama, “The End of History?”, 1989

George H. W. Bush, Address to the United Nations General Assembly, September 23, 1991

Maya Angelou, “On the Pulse of Morning,” January 20, 1993

Republican House Representatives, “Republican Contract with America,” 1994

Barack Obama, Keynote Address at the Democratic National Convention, July 27, 2004

New Yorker Covers, 2001–2011 (Reflections on 9/11)

Chapter 16 of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, BRI's U.S. History Curriculum Resource, invites students to explore how the American experiment plays out in the foreign and domestic policy of modern America.

How does the American experiment play out in the foreign and domestic policy of modern America?

Chapter 16: 1980-Present Inquiry Organizer

Answer Key for Chapter 16 of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Chapter 16 Answer Key

How did the end of the Cold War impact U.S. global influence?

Chapter 16 Introductory Essay: 1980-Present

Did supply-side economics end stagflation?

Ronald Reagan and Supply-Side Economics

Explores the Iran-Contra scandal of Reagan's presidency.

The Iran-Contra Affair

Explores the tragic Challenger space shuttle disaster.

The Space Shuttle Program and the Challenger Disaster

Rodney King and the Los Angeles Race Riots

The 1992 Presidential Election and the Rise of Democratic Populism

Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City Bombing

What constitutional debates emerged around the PATRIOT Act?

The USA PATRIOT Act

What has the impact of fossil fuels been on the U.S.?

Fossil Fuels, Foreign Policy, and Climate Change

What caused the digital technology boom of the 20th century?

Tech Giants: Steve Jobs and Bill Gates

How did President Reagan help win the Cold War?

“Tear Down This Wall”: Ronald Reagan and the End of the Cold War

How did U.S. foreign policy change after the Cold War?

U.S. Foreign Policy in Somalia and Rwanda

Explores the war on terror in Afghanistan.

U.S. Military Intervention in Afghanistan

Use this lesson to have students analyze strategies behind campaign advertising and how current events shape the way campaign advertising is designed.

Comparing Presidential Campaign Advertising 1964-1980

Use this lesson toward the end of the unit with the Barack Obama, Keynote Address at the Democratic National Convention, July 27, 2004 Primary Source to discuss the idea of the "American Dream" and its impact on immigration. 

Continuity and Change: Immigration in the United States

Use this lesson after covering 9/11 to discuss the post-9/11 United States and the implications for domestic and foreign policy. This lesson can be used with the The USA PATRIOT Act Narrative; the U.S. Military Intervention in Afghanistan Decision Point; the Does the Threat of Terrorism Justify Increased Surveillance? Point-Counterpoint; and the Was the Invasion of Iraq Justified? Point-Counterpoint. 

Security, Liberty, and the USA PATRIOT Act LLPH

Use this lesson at the end of the unit to review foreign policy throughout U.S. history.

George Washington’ Foreign Policy: Comparisons across U.S. History

Use this lesson at the end of the unit to have students review executive powers throughout U.S. history.

Executive Power in Times of Crisis

Use this lesson after students have read the introductory essay to introduce foreign policy milestones during Reagan's presidency. This lesson can be used with The Iran-Contra Affair Narrative; the "Tear Down This Wall" Ronald Reagan and the End of the Cold War Decision Point; and the Ronald Reagan, "Tear Down this Wall" Speech, June 12, 1987 Primary Source.

Cold War DBQ (1947-1989)

This lesson is best used at the end of the unit as a review of key events of the period and how they connect to Founding principles.

Unit 8 Civics Connection: Civil Discourse and Contentious Issues

Use this lesson as a conclusion to the unit.

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Chapter 16: 1980-Present

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