New
New
Year 11
AQA
Change in Post-War America
I can evaluate interpretations of experiences of life in post-war America.
New
New
Year 11
AQA
Change in Post-War America
I can evaluate interpretations of experiences of life in post-war America.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Most Americans enjoyed rising incomes after WW2.
- Poverty remained widespread and other economic inequalities remained.
- Widespread TV and radio ownership allowed many Americans to access popular culture.
- Teenage identity and interests were considered dangerous by some older Americans.
- The Red Scare threatened many Americans civil liberties.
Keywords
McCarthyism - McCarthyism was the campaign against alleged communists in the USA led by Joseph McCarthy
Communism - communism is the belief that wealth should be shared equally between people
Civil liberties - the freedom people have to do, think, and say what they want is known as civil liberties
Common misconception
There is always a singular accurate interpretation of events and periods in history.
There can be many accurate interpretations of historical periods and these may differ from one another depending on what they focus on.
Students could also be asked at the end of Task A to discuss in pairs or larger groups why interpretations A and B may have come to different views. You may support these discussions by asking pupils to consider the process historians follow to form their views of the past.
Teacher tip
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Write the missing word. Many people investigated as suspected communists during the Red Scare were , meaning they were blocked from getting jobs.
Q2.
Who became a prominent leader in the hunt for communists during the Red Scare?
Dwight D Eisenhower
Harry Truman
Q3.
How many American communist spies were found by the Loyalty programme?
57
378
2136
Q4.
Why was the 'loss' of China important for the second Red Scare in the USA?
reduced fears of communism and led to an end of the Red Scare
revealed that many leading American officials had betrayed the USA
Q5.
Which statement is most accurate?
US presidents led the Red Scare
US presidents did their best to end the Red Scare
Q6.
Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronologoical order.
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
What was the campaign against alleged communists in the USA led by Joseph McCarthy referred to as?
Q2.
What new genre of music was particularly popular with American teenagers in the 1940s and 1950s?
Jazz
Swing
Q3.
Which of the following groups was often targeted by McCarthyism?
African Americans
veterans
Q4.
Which statement is most accurate?
The income of US men rose but women's did not after 1945
The income of US women rose but men's did not after 1945
Q5.
Which statement is most accurate?
There can only be one accurate interpretation of a historical event or period
Only a professional historian's interpretation can be considered accurate
Q6.
Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.