The Cold War had a significant impact on domestic life in the decade after the WWII; however, for most Americans, economic prosperity and social aspects such as pop culture and the building of suburban lifestyles by the middle class dominated thoughts of anti-Communist fear. Even though the 1950s were known as a time of unprecedented prosperity, not every subgroup of American society benefitted. The urban poor, Mexican Americans, and Native Americans were left untouched by the economic boom, living in poverty.

In this lesson, students learn about the apalling conditions that existed in the meat-packing industry in the early 20th century. They will also review progressivism and the emergence of muck-rakers such as Upton Sinclair. A set of discussion question is provided. In an associated activity, students will take on the role of a muckraker and write an editorial that details the injustices to workers and what Congress should do about them.

Using the City on a Hill allusion from John Winthrop's famous sermon as a starting point, this lesson
gives students a paradigm, The American Dream, through which to view their study of American
literature in the classroom and in their own reading as well. This series of lessons was designed to meet the needs of gifted children for extension beyond the standard curriculum with the greatest ease of use for the educator. Assessment strategies and rubrics are included at the end of the unit.

Students gain an understanding of midterm elections and discuss reasons why voter turnout remains low.

In this lesson, students will analyze the rhetorical strategies Malcolm X used in his speeches, such as tone, emotional appeal, and descriptive language. They will also consider the strategies used by African American leaders during the Civil Rights Movement and the social implications of these strategies, contrasting the leadership and ideology of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X in the Civil Rights Movement and evaluate their legacies. They will identify personal values and use them to determine appropriate behaviors for protecting their individual rights.

This inquiry uses the New Deal and the expansion of federal government programs designed to stimulate the economy and support citizens in need as a context for considering the larger question about the proper role of government. Students examine a wide range of historical sources while focusing on questions concerning the extent to which government should take care of its people.

This annotated inquiry leads students through an investigation of the civil rights movement using the lens of nonviolent direct-action protest. The compelling question “What made nonviolent protest effective during the civil rights movement?” asks students to grapple with the means of achieving the various ends of the civil rights movement—an end to segregation as well as the achievement of voting rights and true equality as citizens.

This interactive timeline highlights the stories of the women of Vance Birthplace in the mountains of North Carolina. From prehistory to the twentieth century, students can explore each woman's experience of life in the Reems Creek Valley through videos, primary and secondary sources, and graphics.

This lesson is designed to introduce students to the social life of the Roaring Twenties thru slang terms.