A Reception History of the '60s and '70s

Teacher: B. Tann
Grade: 11
Subject: US History
Source Requirements: print/database/fiche
Dates: 6/4 – 6/11

“It Was In All The Papers!”
A Reception History of the ‘60s and ‘70s

Background:
Throughout the course of study thus year, we have studied history as a collection of multiple events, people, and stories that have impacted the development and growth of America and its history. We have studied the major issues, conflicts and contradictions of history through examining multiple viewpoints, positions, and historical perspectives, all the while seeking to understand how our American history has impacted us in multiple and varied ways.
As presented at the beginning of the year, history is a collection of stories told by numerous storytellers with endless perspectives and possibilities. But one of the most important “stories” of an event’s history is found right after the event has occurred, how was the event received and perceived by society when it happened. This is called reception history and it is key to understanding how an event will go down in history and be remembered. For it is through an events reception history that we get society’s initial reaction to the event, filled with raw emotion and reaction. We also gain a sense of the strength of the event in terms of its initial impact on society in order to change its power to change and impact society and history. Finally, we see first hand the development of the major opposing forces and interpretation of the event.

Task:
For this assignment, you will choose a major event from either the ‘60s or the ‘70s. You and a partner will be researching the reception history of the event and then draw conclusions from your research about the impact, history, and legacy of the event. You will be presenting your research in the form of a tri-fold museum exhibit. IN addition, you need to create 4 open-ended questions that students will be able to answer from your tri-fold and presentation.

Process:
Topic presentation
Reception history
Opposing viewpoints
Research – Sources
Articles and editorials from ProQuest Historical newspapers
Political cartoons
Magazine articles from time period
Historical interpretation
Research questions
Need to answer within project
Create for classmates
Visual component
AP pictures
Magazines covers
Political cartoons

Project Topics

Civil Rights
Brown v. Board of Ed. Topeka
School desegregation – Little Rock Nine
Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
SNCC & Greensboro Sit In
Freedom Summer
MLK & march on Washington
Malcolm X & Black Panthers

‘60s & Vietnam
Counterculture movement – Summer of Love & hippies
war in Vietnam escalation & winning the war
Vietnam t home – war protest and the draft
LBJ and the Great Society
The space race and new frontier
Warren Court – Miranda v. Arizona
Warren court – Tinker v. Des Moines School District
Vietnamization – withdrawal, fall of Saigon, and soldiers reception at home

1970s
women’s rights – feminism & ERA
Abortion issue Roe v. Wade
Kent State shootings
Nixon and Watergate
Integration of school busing – Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Ed.
Camp David accords
Iran hostage crisis