APUSH: Period 9, 1980-Present - Contemporary Social and Political Movements, Black Lives Matter, MeToo, Immigration Reform, Debates over Healthcare and Climate Change

Why This Matters

The contemporary social and political movements of Black Lives Matter, MeToo, Immigration Reform, Debates over Healthcare, and Climate Change are significant for understanding the larger period of the 21st century. These movements reflect the ongoing struggle for American Identity, as defined by the AP theme, and demonstrate the ongoing impact of Migration, Politics and Power, and Globalization on American society. By examining these movements, students can see how the United States continues to grapple with issues of equality, justice, and the role of government in addressing social and economic problems.

Key Events & People

• Black Lives Matter (2013): A social movement that emerged in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the murder of Trayvon Martin, with the goal of ending systemic racism and police brutality.
• Tarana Burke (2006): Founder of the MeToo movement, which aims to end sexual harassment and assault by empowering survivors to share their stories.
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (2012): An executive order signed by President Barack Obama that allowed certain undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children to remain in the country without fear of deportation.
• Affordable Care Act (ACA) (2010): A comprehensive healthcare reform law signed by President Barack Obama that expanded health insurance coverage to millions of Americans.
• Paris Agreement (2015): An international agreement signed by nearly 200 countries to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources.
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (2018): A Democratic congresswoman who has been a leading voice on climate change and has proposed the Green New Deal, a comprehensive plan to address the issue.
• Donald Trump (2016): The 45th President of the United States, who has been a polarizing figure on issues such as immigration, healthcare, and climate change.
• Supreme Court Decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): A landmark decision that recognized the right to same-sex marriage nationwide.
• March for Our Lives (2018): A student-led protest against gun violence that took place in Washington, D.C. and other cities across the United States.
• #MeToo Movement (2017): A social movement that went viral on social media, with millions of people sharing their experiences of sexual harassment and assault.

Cause & Effect Chain

• Cause: The rise of social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook created new opportunities for people to share their experiences and mobilize around social causes.
• Effect: The #MeToo movement was able to go viral and reach a global audience, leading to a surge in awareness and activism around issues of sexual harassment and assault.

• Long-term consequence: The #MeToo movement has led to increased accountability for perpetrators of sexual harassment and assault, as well as changes in policies and laws to prevent and address these issues.

• Cause: The growing awareness of climate change and its impacts led to increased pressure on governments to take action.

• Effect: The Paris Agreement was signed by nearly 200 countries, committing them to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy sources.

• Long-term consequence: The Paris Agreement has led to increased investment in renewable energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, but its effectiveness is still uncertain.

• Cause: The growing awareness of police brutality and systemic racism led to increased protests and activism.

• Effect: The Black Lives Matter movement was able to mobilize millions of people and bring attention to issues of police brutality and systemic racism.
• Long-term consequence: The Black Lives Matter movement has led to increased accountability for police departments and changes in policies and laws to address issues of police brutality and systemic racism.

Essential Vocabulary

• *Systemic racism*: A term used to describe the ways in which racism is embedded in institutions and systems, leading to unequal outcomes for people of color.
• *Intersectionality*: A term used to describe the ways in which different forms of oppression (such as racism, sexism, and homophobia) intersect and impact individuals and groups.
• *Social justice*: A term used to describe the pursuit of a fair and just society, where all individuals have equal access to resources and opportunities.
• *Activism*: The act of taking action to bring about social change, often through protests, boycotts, and other forms of direct action.
• *Mobilization*: The process of organizing and mobilizing people to take action on a particular issue or cause.
• *Accountability*: The process of holding individuals or institutions responsible for their actions or policies.
• *Intersectional feminism*: A term used to describe the ways in which feminism intersects with other forms of oppression, such as racism and homophobia.
• *Climate justice*: A term used to describe the pursuit of a just and equitable response to climate change, where the impacts of climate change are distributed fairly and equitably.

Common Student Mistakes

• What students often get wrong: The #MeToo movement was founded by a single person, Tarana Burke, in 2006.
• Correction: The #MeToo movement was actually revived and went viral in 2017, with millions of people sharing their experiences of sexual harassment and assault.
• What students often get wrong: The Black Lives Matter movement was founded by a single person, Alicia Garza, in 2013.
• Correction: The Black Lives Matter movement was actually founded by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, and was inspired by the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the murder of Trayvon Martin.
• What students often get wrong: The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush.
• Correction: The Affordable Care Act was actually signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010.

DBQ / LEQ Connections

• Possible essay prompt: Analyze the role of social media in mobilizing social movements, using evidence from the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements.
• Possible evidence: The #MeToo movement's use of social media to share personal stories of sexual harassment and assault, the Black Lives Matter movement's use of social media to organize protests and rallies.
• Possible essay prompt: Evaluate the effectiveness of the Paris Agreement in addressing climate change, using evidence from the agreement itself and the responses of different countries.
• Possible evidence: The Paris Agreement's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the responses of different countries to the agreement, such as the United States' withdrawal from the agreement.
• Possible essay prompt: Discuss the impact of the Affordable Care Act on healthcare in the United States, using evidence from the law itself and the responses of different groups.
• Possible evidence: The Affordable Care Act's expansion of health insurance coverage, the responses of different groups to the law, such as the healthcare industry and advocacy organizations.

Quick Self?Check

1. What was the main goal of the #MeToo movement?
2. Correct answer: To end sexual harassment and assault by empowering survivors to share their stories.

3. Explanation: The #MeToo movement aimed to create a culture of accountability and support for survivors of sexual harassment and assault.

4. What was the significance of the Paris Agreement?

5. Correct answer: It was an international agreement signed by nearly 200 countries to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources.

6. Explanation: The Paris Agreement was a major step forward in addressing climate change, as it committed nearly 200 countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy sources.

7. What was the main impact of the Affordable Care Act?

8. Correct answer: It expanded health insurance coverage to millions of Americans.
9. Explanation: The Affordable Care Act was a major healthcare reform law that expanded health insurance coverage to millions of Americans, including those who were previously uninsured or underinsured.

Last?Minute Cram Sheet

• The #MeToo movement was founded by Tarana Burke in 2006.
• The Black Lives Matter movement was founded by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi in 2013.
• The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010.
• The Paris Agreement was signed by nearly 200 countries in 2015.
• The Green New Deal was proposed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2019.
• The March for Our Lives was a student-led protest against gun violence that took place in 2018.
• The Supreme Court Decision in Obergefell v. Hodges recognized the right to same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015.
• DACA was an executive order signed by President Barack Obama in 2012.
• The Paris Agreement committed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy sources.
• The Affordable Care Act expanded health insurance coverage to millions of Americans.