U.S. History,
The legal and historic background of copyright, public domain and provenance — encouragement to create in the arts and sciences and to be rewarded — are introduced against the historic and current examples of looting of art, book banning and burning, and banishment and firing of those who make literature and arts accessible. Weekly means for inspiration and access to the arts, books and culture are also explored in Post Arts, Style and Entertainment.
When Associate Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement from the Supreme Court, President Joe Biden nominated Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson, the first Black female, to fill the pending vacancy. The Senate hearings, Court history of all White men until the confirmation of Thurgood Marshall and all male until the confirmation of Sandra Day O’Connor, Court influence on society and recusal option provide lessons, resources and activities.
Maps tell the past and present story of a land and people. Through video and dispatches we meet The Post’s eyewitnesses who are not embedded, yet send daily news reports, photographs and videos from across the country to tell the story of Ukrainians under siege. We also listen to experts and leaders to gain perspective.
Beginning with 5,558 congressmen who had served in the U.S. Congress and were born before 1840, The Post created the first database of lawmakers confirmed to be enslavers — 1,739 and increasing as readers help in the search of records. Students explore the database, learn about cartograms, search for “unknowns” and conduct their own family history search. Articles tell of families and Sen. Tim Kaine facing legacies with irony and openness.
Three stories of summer 2021 — creation of a federal holiday, commemoration of a city’s race massacre and a cheerleader’s Supreme Court case — provide case studies of race relations, a nation’s values and rights of students outside of the school campus.
The 2020 Census will impact the 118th Congress, taxation, allocation of federal funding and public policy. Since 1790 conducting a census has reflected the representative government and face of the American people.
The U.S. Constitution provides the framework for governing, including the oath of office the president takes every four years as a peaceful transition of power occurs. Realizing the rituals of inauguration faced challenges during pandemic surges but creative plans took shape to include the entire country in safe celebration. President-elect Biden rolled out his nominees for Cabinet leadership. Attacks on the Capitol on January 6 reminded everyone that democracy requires vigilance and commitment to protect it.
The power and potential of words is our theme. Rhetoric with rhetorical devices and rhetorical modes influences our reactions and actions. Language — adding new words, changing meanings and demoting others to footnotes. The way we express ourselves with words, communicates our culture and reflects our character.
From Abigail Adams to Febb Burn women asked men to remember the ladies in their legislative endeavors. Along the difficult journey to their enfranchisement, women took their pursuit into their own hands — they organized, petitioned and protested in front of the White House; they marched, they sang, and were arrested. They voted and ran for office. We focus on the 19th Amendment, women in the Supreme Court and a 2020 Election Toolkit.
There is always change, but 2020 was a year of extraordinary changes — global deaths due to a pandemic, marches for racial equality and justice, name changes of schools and teams, a woman of Indian and Jamaican heritage on the Democratic ticket, NASA’s return to space shuttles — and mundane curtailments that influenced culture. Students read, discuss and debate, and write about these changes and those who made a difference.
