ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
How The Seventies Changed America, by Nicholas Lemann
Guiding Questions
How do historians know when a decade begins and ends?
In what ways have the Seventies shaped America today?
To what extent are the political events of the Seventies overshadowed by the economy?
Question Focus Example for Task 24: Although often dismissed as a “frivolous” decade, the Seventies helped define America today.
The Seventies
Teacher-to-Teacher
The Lemann article could be used by teachers to unlock the 70's. It’s a great stepping stone to the political, economic, and social changes taking place during the decade. Discussions could be generated over topics such as when the Seventies began and ended and how do historians know when a decade begins and ends. Additionally students could debate the changes as being overall more positive or negative. The speeches of Carter and Reagan could also be closely examined in a compare and contrast exercise. Connections could also be made between social and political events, such as the Carter speech and the movie poster or the significance of a hockey game in global context. Students can also consider some events of the 1970s that are missing, including rising environmental concerns/awareness evidenced by the creation of the EPA and the Love Canal evacuation.
Literature Connection: All the President's Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut, Watership Down by Richard Adams