Era 14: Contemporary United States: Domestic Policies (1970–Today)

Summary: This lesson uses the topic of cell phone service to illustrate how government and the economy are related. Students learn the difference between market, command, and mixed economies. Building on the idea of a mixed economy, the lesson discusses government limits on economic activity, including antitrust laws, tariffs, and consumer protection. Having studied cell phone service as an example, students apply what they’ve learned by showing how the principles of a mixed economy work in the...

Summary: In this interactive lesson, students will be able to analyze how federal tax and spending policies affect the national budget and the national debt; explain how corporate, income, and payroll taxes support the economy as a function of the government; describe various types of projects and services provided through federal taxes; and explain how federal departments request funding for discretionary projects in their department.

Overarching Questions:

ECONOMICS: How well does the...

Summary: Students will utilize the Structured Academic Controversy method to explore the issue of income inequality in America. Through reading and civil discourse, a clear understanding of the concept and its causes will emerge. In addition, students will realize that while the existence of the problem is broadly embraced, people disagree on a remedy. Students will gradually construct their own opinions as they uncover compelling arguments on both sides of the debate.

Overarching Questions:

CIVICS: Have...

Summary: Students will analyze arguments concerning income and corporate taxes and the impact of national debt. After an extensive overview of federal taxation, students will analyze political cartoons, prioritize criteria for evaluating taxes, and develop and debate arguments for the best application of taxation to the national debt.

Overarching Questions:

ECONOMICS: What is the proper role of government in the economy? (Especially with regard to economic crises, national defense/security,...

Summary: In this economics lesson, students will revise a federal budget to understand its contents. Students will play the roles of Economic Advisors to the President of the United States. In that role, students will distinguish between discretionary and non-discretionary spending, identify major sources of revenues, and debate budget priorities. Then as individuals, pairs, and in groups, students will use a National Budget Simulator (2017) to construct their budget recommendations for the...

Summary: In this lesson, students are presented with a claim made on Twitter about the popularity of the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. Students use the internet to evaluate the trustworthiness of the claim and to determine whether the Equal Rights Amendment had popular support in the 1970s and whether it does today.

Overarching questions:

CIVICS: Have the concepts of justice and/or equality changed during this time period, and, if so, how and to what effect? CIVICS: Have individuals and...

Summary: In this activity, students will analyze photographs taken as part of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) DOCUMERICA project. They will identify the environmental issues facing the United States in the early 1970s, and speculate what legislation and regulations Congress and the EPA would have passed and enforced based on the state of the environment as documented in the photos.

Overarching questions:

CIVICS: How well does the government balance individual rights...

Summary: In this lesson, students will identify the role of Governor of New Jersey, as well as the sources of the governor’s power. In addition, students will compare the powers of the New Jersey governor with those from other states and will explain how the position changed from one of the weakest to one of the strongest in the country. This inter-state analysis will include a graphic organizer to draw evidence from informational texts (the New Jersey Constitution and a video prepared by...

Summary: In this lesson, students will identify the requirements of being a member of the New Jersey State Legislature, describe the role of the legislature, and explain how a bill becomes a law in New Jersey. In addition, students will identify a public policy issue; collaborate on the development of a proposal to address an issue or problem facing New Jersey; participate in a legislative hearing on such an issue or problem; and present a public policy proposal to the appropriate governmental...

Summary: In this lesson, students will identify the role of the judiciary, describe how the judicial system in New Jersey is structured, and examine the jurisdiction of the New Jersey courts. In addition, students will compare and contrast the proceedings of New Jersey’s trial and appellate courts, explain the importance of judicial independence, and engage in a mock trial or moot court proceeding.

Overarching questions:

CIVICS: How well does the government balance individual rights and the...

Coming soon.

Summary: In this lesson, students will, through several activities, address a compelling question: When should the government limit individual use of private property for public purposes? Toward that end, students will identify the source of the right to own property, as well as the government’s authority to take property for a public purpose. Students will also explain and analyze the term “eminent domain” and describe the current state of eminent domain law in New Jersey. Finally, students...

Summary: A series of interactive lessons enables students to describe the difference between de jure and de facto discrimination and explain why de facto discrimination might be harder to eliminate. Students will also connect the Hedgepeth-Williams v. Trenton Board of Education decision to fight to end segregation in NJ schools and explain how that decision contributed to Brown v. Board of Education. Finally, students will explain how school funding works in New Jersey, how school...

Summary: In this lesson, students will be able to explain how the Electoral College was designed and works and why it was included in the U.S. Constitution in 1787. In addition, students will apply active listening to Identify the problems that have arisen with the Electoral College through our history and in the modern day. Finally, students will take and defend a position on whether the Electoral College should be replaced by a national popular vote.

Overarching questions:

CIVICS: How have the concepts of...

Summary: Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, killing hundreds of people and causing billions of dollars in damage. The effects of the storm are still felt today in Louisiana and Mississippi, and the government response to the storm remains a politically charged issue. In this lesson, students learn about the storm and consider whether a range of online sources provide reliable information about the effects of Hurricane Katrina. As this lesson has students...

Summary: In this multi-layered lesson, students consider what happens when money becomes less available or “when liquidity dries up.” Students begin with simulations that demonstrate the circular flow model and liquidity while analyzing the harm to the economy when liquidity dries up. Students then assess the impact of COVID-19 in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut simulate the purchase of assets in the markets. Finally, students compose a briefing for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors on the...