Rise of New Labour and Tony Blair
Students will examine how the debate over affirmative action intensified during the Reagan era, reflecting a broader conservative shift in American politics.
Key Questions
- Explain why the debate over affirmative action intensified during the Reagan era.
- Analyze the conservative critiques of affirmative action policies.
- Predict the long-term impact of judicial and political challenges to affirmative action.
National Curriculum Attainment Targets
About This Topic
This topic investigates the origins of mass incarceration in the United States and its profound racial dimensions, focusing on the 'War on Drugs' launched in the 1980s. Students examine how the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine, along with 'three strikes' laws and mandatory minimums, led to a dramatic increase in the imprisonment of African Americans. This study highlights the transition from 'Jim Crow' to what some historians call 'The New Jim Crow'.
At Year 13, students evaluate the social and political consequences of mass incarceration, including the destruction of Black families and the disenfranchisement of millions of former felons. They consider the extent to which 'tough on crime' rhetoric was a response to the gains of the civil rights movement. This topic is best taught through collaborative data analysis of incarceration rates and by debating the systemic vs. individual causes of the prison boom.
Active Learning Ideas
Inquiry Circle: The Crack-Cocaine Disparity
Groups research the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act and the 100-to-1 sentencing ratio between crack and powder cocaine. They present on how this specific law led to a racialised explosion in the prison population and why it was eventually changed.
Think-Pair-Share: The New Jim Crow?
Students read excerpts from Michelle Alexander's 'The New Jim Crow'. They discuss in pairs whether the prison system functions as a modern form of racial control similar to Jim Crow and what the key differences are.
Stations Rotation: The Impact of Felon Disenfranchisement
Stations feature maps of states with strict disenfranchisement laws and data on the number of Black men who have lost the right to vote. Students rotate to calculate the impact on Black political power in key swing states.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionThe prison boom was a direct response to a massive increase in crime.
What to Teach Instead
Incarceration rates continued to soar even when crime rates were falling. Peer discussion of the 'War on Drugs' helps students see that policy choices, rather than just crime levels, were the primary driver of mass incarceration.
Common MisconceptionMass incarceration only affects the individuals who are in prison.
What to Teach Instead
It has devastating effects on families, communities, and the political power of the Black community. Using a 'ripple effect' activity helps students see the broader social and economic costs of the prison-industrial complex.
Suggested Methodologies
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the 'War on Drugs'?
Why was the sentencing for crack cocaine so much harsher?
What is felon disenfranchisement?
How can active learning help students understand mass incarceration?
Planning templates for History
5E Model
The 5E Model structures lessons through five phases (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate), guiding students from curiosity to deep understanding through inquiry-based learning.
unit plannerThematic Unit
Organize a multi-week unit around a central theme or essential question that cuts across topics, texts, and disciplines, helping students see connections and build deeper understanding.
rubricSingle-Point Rubric
Build a single-point rubric that defines only the "meets standard" level, leaving space for teachers to document what exceeded and what fell short. Simple to create, easy for students to understand.
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