And I will do everything that I can as long as I am President of the United States to remind the American people that we are one nation under God, and we may call that God different names but we remain one nation.
~Barack Obama
~Barack Obama
Essential Questions:
- How has the nature of politics changed post-Cold War?
- How do nations decide their role in a global society while meeting their domestic needs?
TEKS for Unit 14:
2A- identify the major characteristics that define an historical era;
2B- identify the major eras in U.S. history from 1877 to the present and describe their defining characteristics; 2C- apply absolute and relative chronology through the sequencing of significant individuals, events, and time periods; and 2D- explain the significance of the following years as turning points: 1991 (Cold War ends), 2001 (terrorist attacks on World Trade Center and the Pentagon), and 2008 (election of first black president, Barack Obama). 10 E- describe the causes and key organizations and individuals of the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s, including the Contract with America and the National Rifle Association; and 10F- describe significant societal issues of this time period. 11A- describe U.S. involvement in world affairs, including the end of the Cold War, the Persian Gulf War, the Balkans Crisis, 9/11, and the global War on Terror; 11B- identify significant social and political advocacy organizations, leaders, and issues across the political spectrum; 11C- evaluate efforts by global organizations to undermine U.S. sovereignty through the use of treaties; 11D- analyze the impact of third parties on presidential elections; 11E- discuss the historical significance of the 2008 presidential election; and 11F- discuss the solvency of long-term entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. 12A- analyze the impact of physical and human geographic factors on the levee failure in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina; and 12B- identify and explain reasons for changes in political boundaries such as those resulting from statehood and international conflicts. 13B- analyze the causes and effects of changing demographic patterns resulting from legal and illegal immigration to the United States. 14B- identify the roles of governmental entities and private citizens in managing the environment such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Endangered Species Act; 17C- describe the economic impact of defense spending on the business cycle and education priorities from 1945 to the 1990s; 17E- describe the dynamic relationship between U.S. international trade policies and the U.S. free enterprise system such as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) oil embargo, the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). 18A- discuss the role of American entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, Sam Walton, Estée Lauder, Robert Johnson, Lionel Sosa, and millions of small business entrepreneurs who achieved the American dream; and |
18B- identify the impact of international events, multinational corporations, government policies, and individuals on the 21st century economy.
19B- explain constitutional issues raised by federal government policy changes during times of significant events, including 9/11; 19C- describe the effects of political scandals, including Bill Clinton's impeachment, on the views of U.S. citizens concerning trust in the federal government and its leaders; 19D- discuss the role of contemporary government legislation in the private and public sectors such as the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; and 19E- evaluate the pros and cons of U.S. participation in international organizations and treaties. 20B- evaluate the impact of relationships among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, including the presidential election of 2000. 23C- explain how participation in the democratic process reflects our national ethos, patriotism, and civic responsibility as well as our progress to build a "more perfect union." 24B- evaluate the contributions of significant political and social leaders in the United States such as Sandra Day O'Connor, and Hillary Clinton. 27A- explain the effects of scientific discoveries and technological innovations such as satellite communications, petroleum-based products and computers on the economic development of the United States; 27B- explain how specific needs result in scientific discoveries and technological innovations in agriculture, the military, and medicine, including vaccines; and 27C- understand the impact of technological and management innovations and their applications in the workplace and the resulting productivity enhancements for business and labor such as robotics, computer management, and just-in-time inventory management. 28A- analyze how scientific discoveries, technological innovations, and the application of these by the free enterprise system, including those in transportation and communication, improve the standard of living in the United States; 28B- explain how space technology and exploration improve the quality of life; and 28C- understand how the free enterprise system drives technological innovation and its application in the marketplace such as cell phones, inexpensive personal computers, and global positioning products. |