On August 3, 1981, almost 12,000 members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) went on strike. The union, which represented the workers who direct airplanes to ensure flight safety, demanded higher wages and better working conditions. President Reagan ordered PATCO members to return to work, and when they did not, he fired them. In this inquiry, students will investigate the compelling question, “What is the legacy of the PATCO strikes?
6-8
The Heart of Social Studies
Inquiries
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On August 3, 1981, almost 12,000 members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) went on strike. The union, which represented the workers who direct airplanes to ensure flight safety, demanded higher wages and better working conditions. President Reagan ordered PATCO members to return to work, and when they did not, he fired them….
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In 1972, five men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington D.C., while trying to bug the offices and collect information about the upcoming election. The break-in led to a series of investigations that revealed a pattern of similar illegal activity. Then, officials in the Nixon administration were accused of…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the ways in which people resisted the Nazi’s during the Holocaust. Students analyze two sources to understand different ways people showed courage by resisting the Nazis themselves or in groups and the strategies they use. Overall, students will be challenged to think about the role people play…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the ways in which artists of the Harlem Renaissance shared their voices and how they felt empowered to do so. Students analyze different types of art produced during the Harlem Renaissance. Students start to think about the role artists can play in shaping a decade and their…
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Even with all the pop culture excess of the 1980s, musicians found ways to use their influence to help others. The famine in Africa during the mid-80s is a perfect example of how artists turned their popularity into a force for good. British and American musicians came together to record songs, create music videos, and…
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The 1980s brought a mix of bold and unforgettable fashion trends, from preppy styles and neon windsuits to color-block outfits and sharp power suits. A lot of these trends were driven by the rise of MTV, where musicians weren’t just making hits—they were setting fashion standards. People started to move away from traditional styles, using…
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The 1980s brought a fresh wave of creativity and change to the music scene. After the protest songs of the 60s and 70s that challenged the Vietnam War, the 80s arrived with a bold and sometimes unexpected counterculture that left a lasting mark. New musical genres exploded in popularity, and the launch of Music Television…
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Technology shapes society and identity, both in the past and present. Americans have embraced technology like steam engines, railroads, and the telegraph to solve problems and push boundaries. But technology can also have negative impacts on American society. By exploring the role of technology in history, we can better understand how it has shaped the…
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Artists during the 19th century portrayed the values of Manifest Destiny—the belief that the expansion of the United States across the North American continent was both justified and inevitable—through symbolic imagery, dramatic landscapes, and depictions of progress and civilization overcoming wilderness. What they choose to include, and how they chose to depict those objects, influence…
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Westward Expansion, a defining chapter in American history, was the 19th-century movement of settlers, entrepreneurs, and immigrants across the North American continent. Westward Expansion was a complex and transformative era that reshaped the United States geographically, economically, and socially. While it brought economic growth and the realization of national ambitions, it also left a legacy…