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Inquiries Filed Under:

Guatemalan Justice

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About the inquiry

This inquiry leads students through an investigation of Guatemala’s recent history, with emphasis on the coup of 1954, and the resulting effects that ripple into the present. At the center of this project is the question: How can we pursue justice? This compelling question is explored in the context of Guatemala’s history and the advocates who sought to address injustices since the CIA-backed overthrow of Guatemala’s democratically elected government in 1954. 

Compelling Question

How can we pursue justice?

Staging Question

Hold a class deliberation to create a working definition of justice.

1
Supporting Question

Why did the United States give rise to and support a violent civil war in Guatemala?

Formative Tasks

Create a list of motivations for United States involvement in the Guatemalan Civil War.

Sources

Source A: President Arbenz’s Speech
Source B: CIA Officer’s Firsthand Account

2
Supporting Question

What effects has the civil war had on guatemaltecos?

Formative Tasks

Write a paragraph, using evidence, that answers the supporting question.

Sources

Source A: Guatemalan Leader’s Congressional Statement
Source B: Overview of the Guatemalan Civil War

3
Supporting Question

How have guatemaltecos advocated for justice in Guatemala?

Formative Tasks

Create a presentation that explains how guatemaltecos have advocated for justice in Guatemala.

Sources

Source A: Irma Flaquer’s Contemporary Newspaper Article
Source B: Rigoberta Menchú Tum’s Nobel Prize Speech

4
Supporting Question

How have guatemaltecos advocated for Guatemalan justice after migration?

Formative Tasks

Participate in a Socratic seminar after writing an evidence-based claim that answers the supporting question.

Sources

Source A: Why Do Children Leave My Country?
Source B: Fleeing Guatemala Video

Summative Performance Task

Argument: Construct an argument (e.g., detailed outline, poster, essay) that addresses the compelling question using specific claims and relevant evidence and information from historical and contemporary sources.

Extension: Write a speech that explains what pursuing justice means for a guatemaltecos, using specific claims and relevant evidence from sources while acknowledging competing views.

Taking Informed Action

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