Overview: How did the Vietnam War and the sociopolitical changes of the 1960s-1970s impact American society and government trust, and what lessons can be drawn for the pursuit of a just and equitable society?

In this unit, students will delve into the tumultuous period of US history during the 1960s-1970s, focusing on the Vietnam War and its impact on American society. They will explore key developments such as the Great Society, counterculture, sexual revolution, and the New Left Movement, which challenged traditional norms and values. The unit will also examine the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, the Domino Theory, the Vietcong, Vietnamization, and the Vietnam Syndrome as significant elements of the Vietnam War. Students will study the Watergate scandal, which eroded public trust in the government. Throughout the unit, students will analyze the transformations that occurred in the United States during this time and evaluate the far-reaching effects of change on political, social, cultural, and economic aspects of society.  Students will investigate the policies and initiatives of the Great Society, introduced by President Lyndon B. Johnson, and their impact on American society and analyze the emergence of counterculture and the sexual revolution as a reaction to traditional norms and values.  Students will also explore the New Left Movement and its role in opposing government policies, particularly related to civil rights, the Vietnam War, and social justice issues to understand the power of political movements in shaping public opinion and demanding change.  Students will examine the enduring legacies of this transformative period in American history.  The unit will foster an appreciation for the importance of political engagement, the need for government transparency, and the ongoing pursuit of a just and equitable society.

The highlighted evidence outcomes are the priority for all students, serving as the essential concepts and skills. It is recommended that the remaining evidence outcomes listed be addressed as time allows, representing the full breadth of the curriculum.

Students Can (Evidence Outcomes):

• Formulate compelling and supporting questions after evaluating primary sources for point of view and historical context. (1.1.a)

• Gather and analyze historical information to address questions from a range of primary and secondary sources containing a variety of perspectives. For example: Perspectives of historically underrepresented groups. (1.1.b)

• Gather and analyze historical information from a range of qualitative and quantitative sources. For example: Demographic, economic, social, and political data. (1.1.c)

• Construct and defend a historical argument that evaluates interpretations by analyzing, critiquing, and synthesizing evidence from a wide range of relevant historical sources. (1.1.d)

• Analyze continuity and change over the course of United States history. Including but not limited to: The expansion and limitations of rights, the balance between liberty and security, shifts in internationalist and isolationist policies, debates over the role of government, and the impacts of expansionist policies. (1.2.a)

• Investigate causes and effects of significant events throughout United States history. For example: World and national conflicts (e.g., Spanish American War, the continued conflict over Indigenous lands, and the Tulsa Massacre), urbanization and suburbanization (e.g., Great Migration and Levittown), economic cycles (e.g., The Great Depression and the 2008 Great Recession), and both popular and counterculture movements. (1.2.b)

• Analyze the complexity of events throughout United States history. For example: The Civil Rights Movement (e.g., Double V Campaign, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Stonewall Riots); migration, immigration, and displacement (e.g., immigration and citizenship legislation, Japanese American incarceration, and debates over tribal sovereignty); landmark court cases (e.g., Keyes v. School District #1 Denver, Brown v. Board of Education, and Obergefell v. Hodges), and the war on terror (e.g., 9/11, Afghanistan and Iraq wars, Middle Eastern discrimination, and the evolution of U.S. counterterrorism efforts). (1.2.c)

• Examine and evaluate issues of unity and diversity from Reconstruction to present. For example: The systemic impact of racism and nativism (e.g., Jim Crow, affirmative action, and mass incarceration), the definition and role of patriotism, expansion and limitations of rights, and the role of religion. (1.2.d)

• Evaluate the historical development and impact of political thought, theory, and actions. For example: Shifts in the platforms of political parties, expansion and limitations of suffrage, and the impact of various reform and socio-cultural movements. (1.2.f)

• Analyze how opposing perspectives, compromise, and cooperation have shaped national unity and diversity. For example: The rights and contributions of diverse groups and individuals, including African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQ individuals, women, immigrants, individuals with disabilities, and ethnic and religious minorities, and the role of organizations and government in advancing these rights (e.g., NAACP, American Indian Movement, and United Farm Workers). (1.2.g)

• Analyze and evaluate ideas critical to the understanding of American history. Including but not limited to: populism, progressivism, isolationism, imperialism, capitalism, racism, extremism, nationalism, patriotism, anti-communism, environmentalism, liberalism, fundamentalism, and conservatism. (1.2.h)

• Describe and analyze the historical development and impact of the arts and literature on the culture of the United States. Including but not limited to: the writings of the Muckrakers, political cartoons, Americana, the Harlem Renaissance, the Lost Generation, Jazz, Rock and Roll, protest songs, and American literature (1.2.i)

• Examine and evaluate how the United States was involved in and responded to international events over the course of history. Including but not limited to: the World Wars, the Holocaust, the Nuremberg trials, Cold War policies, Berlin Airlift, Korean War, Vietnam War, and the genocides in Bosnia and Darfur (addressed in 9th grade). (1.2.j)