What is Worth Fighting For? The Cold War and Civil Rights

Readings with Related Assignments

 

Handout -- Reading on Early Cold War Events

                  Note Check and Group Connect the Ideas Collage

Read pages 797-800 and 802-806 on the Kennedy and Johnson Presidencies

Read pages 807-814 on Cold War Foreign Policy Events (Cuba, Berlin and Peace Corps)

Read pages 785-788 on Brown v. Board and Boycotting Buses

        Note Check and paragraph on a quote that speaks to a students belief

Read pages 826-830 on Freedom Riders and Birmingham Clashes

        Reading Quiz

Read pages 831-835 on Victories in Civil Rights

       Note Check and 2 events or people who have made you a better person – what did you learn from them?

Read pages 836-840 on Malcolm X and Black Power

       Reading Quiz

Read pages 845-850 The Women’s Rights

                  Note Check and a list of 5 rights that you think every person on the planet should have and why

Read pages 852-861 Civil Rights for Latinos and Native Americans

       Note Check and Paragraph on a rule that you think should never be broken

Read pages 807-814 Fighting Communism in the 60’s

        Reading Quiz

Read pages 872-877 on the Vietnam Conflict

       Note Check and Describe 3 attitudes/ ideas that you think lead people to long term happiness

Read pages 878-885 on the Effects of Vietnam at Home and Abroad

       Paragraph using notes: Describe the evolving US policy on Vietnam from Kennedy to Johnson and American reaction to the War

Short Essay: This I Believe

This era was formed and pushed forward by the strong beliefs and ideals of individual people who came together to make change.  While we study this time period I would like you to consider what you strongly believe in – what ideas or principles guide your life?  You will pick one of your beliefs and then write an essay following the guidelines below.

Be Brief: Essay should be between 300-400 words or about 2 minutes in length when read out loud at a natural pace. (You will not be required to read this in class)

Tell a story: Be specific. Consider moments when your belief was formed or tested or changed. Think of your own experience, work, and family, and tell of the things you know. Your story need not be heart-warming or gut-wrenching but it should be real.

Name your belief: If you can't name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about belief. Also, rather than writing a list, focus on one core belief, because three minutes is a very short time.

Be positive: Tell us what you do believe, not what you don't believe. Speak in the first person.

Be personal: Write in words and phrases that are comfortable for you to speak. We recommend you read your essay aloud to yourself several times, and each time edit it and simplify it until you find the words, tone, and story that truly echo your belief and the way you speak.

And Lastly: Be prepared after you finish your essay to find a person or event in US History that depicts or embodies the belief you have just discussed