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Lesson Plans
The American Journey: A History of the United States ©2000
by David Goldfield, Carl Abbott, Virginia DeJohn Anderson, Jo Ann E. Argersinger, Peter H. Argersinger, William L. Barney, Robert M. Weir
Focus Lesson 24
Chapter 31: "Shaken to the Roots, 1965–1980"
AP* Course Description
- Nixon
- Election of 1968
- Nixon-Kissinger foreign policy
- Vietnam: escalation and pullout
- China: restoring relations
- Soviet Union: détente
- New Federalism
- Supreme Court and Roe v. Wade
- Watergate crisis and resignation
Key Components
- Instructor's Manual: pp. 211–217
- Study Guide, Vol. II Since 1877: pp. 114–122
- Test Item File: pp. 356–367
Key Web Sites
Given the changing nature of the Internet, you may wish to preview these sites. Always check PHSchool.com for updated links to U.S. history sites.
Key Words and Terms
- Timothy Leary
- Watergate
- Black Panthers
- Tet Offensive
- OPEC
- Camp David Agreement
- Malcolm X
- Woodstock
- Chicano
- détente
- Helsinki Accords
Suggested Pacing
Allow one week for this chapter.
Test Strategy
During review sessions for the AP* exam, emphasize the importance of reading each question on the exam carefully. Students should read all the answer choices for a question before choosing. They should look for the BEST choice among the options, not necessarily the perfect choice. They should also beware of answers that are partly correct. The "right" answer will be wholly correct, so students need to consider all parts of each answer option. If one part is incorrect, the entire answer is incorrect and should be crossed off.
Key Concepts
- "The year of the gun"
"The year of the gun" is an interesting concept by which to characterize 1968—both domestically and internationally. In Vietnam, 1968 was the year of the Tet offensive. In Europe and in New York City, it was the spring of student and dissident riots. It was also the year that Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy were assassinated, and Lyndon Johnson's political career ended. - From dirty tricks to Watergate
This chapter discusses Nixon's escalating agenda from political retaliation against his supposed enemies to the Watergate break-in and subsequent cover-up. Point out that in attempting to wiretap the Democratic National Committee headquarters, Nixon's purpose was to subvert the political will of the people. Contrast this with the imbroglio of Bill Clinton.
Summing Up Student Understanding
The following activity will help students summarize major events of the 1970s. Divide the class into groups of three to five students and have each group choose one of the following topics: affirmative action, Watergate, the Ford Presidency, environmental issues, the election of 1976, Camp David Accords, and the Iran hostage crisis. Each group will write a five-minute presentation explaining the topic and its importance to U.S. history. Allow students ten minutes to incorporate and write their ideas; then have them make their presentations.
Have groups assess themselves using the following or a similar rating sheet:
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EVALUATION SHEET Project: _______________________________________________________ Captain: ____________________________ Date:_______________________ Class Period: _____________________ Self Grade: _____________ NOTE: Please give numerical grades only, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest.
OTHER COMMENTS: This should include constructive comments concerning the group work process. REMEMBER: Each member's evaluation grade should be based on two criteria:
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
You might also find these additional readings useful in developing students' background knowledge or for DBQ activities:
- American Issues: Vol. II Since 1865, edited by Unger and Tomes—Chapter 15 and 17
- The Power of Words: Vol. II From 1865, edited by Breen—Chapter 12
- Constructing the American Past, Vol. II, edited by Gorn, Roberts, and Bilhartz—Chapter 13
- American Experiences: Vol. II From 1877, edited by Roberts and Olson (secondary source readings)—Part Seven