US 1945-Present
Postwar United States, 1945-Present
The assessments below focus on people and events in the post-World War II United States, 1945-Present. During this period, the United States became a world power and was increasingly involved in world events. Additionally, different groups of Americans, including African Americans and women, fought for civil rights at home. Source topics include the Korean, Vietnam, and Middle East wars, along with the Civil Rights, Feminist, and Peace movements.
Standard 1 Assessments (Cite Evidence)
Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
Standard 2 Assessments (Determine Central Idea)
Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
A. Philip Randolph to NAACP Secretary Walter White (Letter), 1941
"March on Washington" (Photograph), 1963
"Pickford, Vietnam War" (Interview), 2012
"Jim Crow Laws for the Sunny South" (Cartoon), 1913
Jim Crow Laws, "Demonstrators Marching in the Street" (Picture), 1963
Standard 3 Assessments (Analyze Steps or Series of Details)
Identify key steps in a text's description of a process related to history/social studies (e.g., how a bill becomes law, how interest rates are raised or lowered).
Bates, Little Rock Letter, 1957
Aragon, Vietnam War (Interview), 2003
Jim Crow Laws, "Demonstrators Marching in the Street" (Picture), 1963
Standard 4 Assessments (Determine Word or Phrase Meaning)
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.
Standard 5 Assessments (Analyze Structure)
Describe how a text presents information (e.g., sequentially, comparatively, causally).
Students React to Attack on Ships by North Viet Nam (Newspaper), 1964
Standard 6 Assessments (Analyze Point of View)
Identify aspects of a text that reveal an author's point of view or purpose (e.g., loaded language, inclusion or avoidance of particular facts).
"Would You Like to Supersize" (Cartoon), 2003
Pickford, Vietnam War (Interview), 2012
Standard 7 Assessments (Integrate Information from Diverse Formats)
Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
Standard 8 Assessments (Evaluate or Compare Claims)
Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment in a text.
Standard 9 Assessments (Compare and Contrast Sources)
Analyze the relationship between a primary and secondary source on the same topic.
Coming soon
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Southern Illinois University has been a proud member of the Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) program. Content created and featured in partnership with the TPS program and other collaborators listed here does not indicate an endorsement of the Library of Congress, the National Science Foundation, or any other agency.