Overview:  "Has the United States lived up to its democratic ideals in the 21st century?"

 This unit will focus on the dynamic and often complex world of the United States in the 21st century. Students will explore how the nation grappled with the aftermath of 9/11, the rise of new technologies, ongoing social movements, and a changing global landscape.

The 21st century dawned with a sense of optimism, but the horrific events of 9/11 shattered that illusion. The US was thrust into a new era of heightened security concerns, launching the "War on Terror" and enacting the Patriot Act, which sparked debates about civil liberties. Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq dominated headlines for years, raising questions about American interventionism. Yet, amidst the turmoil, hope emerged with the election of Barack Obama, the nation's first African-American president.

Technological advancements like social media have revolutionized communication and social movements. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter empowered voices for change, from the Black Lives Matter movement demanding racial justice to the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, culminating in the legalization of same-sex marriage. However, the digital age also brought its share of challenges. The Great Recession, a severe economic downturn, highlighted the fragility of the globalized world. Cybersecurity threats loomed large, and the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina exposed social inequalities.

Students will analyze how a polarized American society deals with issues of immigration, climate change, and healthcare. Understanding these key events and trends is crucial for navigating this complex and ever-changing world. This unit will equip students with the tools to analyze the 21st-century US and contribute to shaping its future. 

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)

• Investigate the historical development and impact of major scientific and technological innovations in the Industrial Age, the Space Age, and the Digital Age. For example: Scientific innovations by diverse individuals, creation of mass production/assembly line process, creation of the atomic bomb, NASA, and the introduction of mass media and the Internet. (1.2.e)

• 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)