Chapter+42+Americans+Face+a+New+Century


 * Summer Materials for Chapter 42 Americans Face a New Century:**

Chapter 42 (the last chapter of the textbook) is all about characteristics //of// and trends //in// American society in recent times. I'm asking you to read it for the purpose of accumulating evidence of themes in American society.

Read this chapter as quickly as you can (limit yourself to 45 mins) with the chart below in front of you. (Imagine that you are in college and have to read a great deal of text in a short time.) As you go, jot down specific facts, trends or characteristics and put them in the appropriate boxes.
 * [[file:APUSHChapter42Themes.2012..pdf]]

As an example, here's what I come up with for the first two paragraphs:

-innovation, entrepreneurship, risk-taking -globalization of American market
 * Economic:**

-longest democratic govt -mass democracy
 * Political:**

-new immigrants change society
 * Social:**

-inventions (computer/communications)
 * Technological:**

(By "Intellectual" I mean philosophies and ideas. Historical examples might include capitalism, communism, Social Darwinism, Keynesian economics, etc.)

When you are finished, look at what you've written. What would you say are overarching themes in American society? We'll talk about these in class.


 * Current Events:** One final request. Please keep your eyes and ears open to the news this summer. Much of what makes history interesting is its connection to current events and we want to talk about those connections. What's happening this summer in U.S. foreign affairs, in the economy, with domestic issues (particularly the presidential campaign), and other social issues? Try to get a sense of the big stories in the news (not necessarily the ones that the news media thinks are important, but the ones you think are significant enough to make it into the next edition of your U.S. history textbook.) Best sources for staying informed are: newspaper (nytimes.com) New York Times, radio (National Public Radio) npr.org and TV (News Hours) pbs.org.