Divided Decades: Teaching the History of the Late 20th Century

The final three decades of the 20th century provide key insight into the social movements, political factions, and media challenges that exist in the United States today. Through both independent work and synchronous Zoom sessions with scholars, this fully online course will investigate the pivotal events, movements, and cultural touchpoints of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. By analyzing the mobilization of African Americans, women, LGBTQ communities, Indigenous peoples, and the disabled in pursuit of political power and civil rights; investigating the rise of conservatism and increased polarization of American society; and considering the changes in telecommunication that affect how we consume and share information, ideas, and opinions, educators will engage with approaches to teaching the history of the recent past. Our study will take us beyond a top-down narrative, moving out of the White House and into the lives, experiences, and cultural expression of people in the United States. The course will draw from rich primary sources, art, music, media, and film of the time period.

This course aligns with Massachusetts history and social studies framework standards USIIT.4 and USIIT.5