The necessity for candidates for public office to gather money in order to mount effective campaigns has raised concerns that campaign contributions may give some individuals and groups improper influence on the selection of public officials and the making of public policy. Part of this concern stems from the pluralist theory that maintains that…

This handbook is designed to assist California's public school teachers of limited-English-speaking native Cantonese-speaking students in understanding this minority group. The first two chapters address general background factors concerning this language group: immigration history, educational background, and historical and sociocultural factors…

Prior to and during the Civil War, the North and the South differed greatly in the resources they could use. Documents held by the National Archives can aid in understanding the factors that influenced the eventual outcome of the War Between the States. After Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860, the South seceded because they believed…

Explicates the mercantilist ideology of the Japanese elite and its impact on Japanese trade policy. Offers a textured portrait of the world view of a particular elite: Japan's technocrats. Reveals a nationalist ideology that is not advertised by its adherents, especially to foreign observers such as in the United States. (MJP)

Depicts the problems encountered by a Soviet history teacher whose textbooks and materials have not kept pace with the policy of Glasnost and student attitudes. Suggests that textbooks be replaced with original documents, scholarly articles, and memoirs. (SLM)

This guide consists of four units that explore how media are transforming politics in the United States and how citizens can become more analytical of media messages to participate more fully in democracy. Each session is complete with procedural instructions, handouts, and is tied to readings pertinent to the topic. The Awareness and Analysis…

Examines changes in the foreign policy of Portugal from their transition to democracy to more recent years. Maintains that emerging democracies go through a period of change where nationalist cultural and political ideas give way to more internationalist concerns. Reviews the major players, actions, and political theories that have dominated…

Traces the history of the Bill of Rights. Delineates the early arguments proposed for and against the Bill of Rights. Discusses the recent Ronald Reagan-Edwin Meese attack on the applicability of the Bill of Rights. Identifies seven items that every student should know about the Bill of Rights. (RW)

Reports on a staff development project for in-service teachers from former East German states. Describes the project's background, previous in-service teacher education, and the project's organization. Concludes that economic difficulties and the rise of neo-Nazism makes it imperative for German teachers to develop democratic values. (CFR)

This teacher's guide corresponds to the textbook "American Political Behavior" and provides resource materials and teaching suggestions. There is a lesson plan for each lesson in the course. The textbook tries to capture the vitality and drama of politics through the use of cases that describe the political activities of typical citizens…

Because Watergate tested the strength of the U.S. constitutional system and proved that it worked, this unit could serve as a focal point for study of the U.S. Constitution. The three objectives of the document are: (1) to expand knowledge of the governance process through study of the separation of powers, the impeachment process, the right to…

Presents a teacher-initiated model for reaching class consensus on the meaning of confusing or interchangeable concepts in social studies classrooms. Illustrates the model by delineating terrorism. Shows procedural steps that involve students in self and small group interviews where definitions are clarified until consensus is reached. Suggests…

Analyzes the difficulty of depicting a round world on a flat surface by identifying distortions in the traditional Mercator Projection. Questions whether its Eurocentric bias culturally conditions students. Presents other world maps that attempt to resolve more fairly the shape/area problem, including some drawn with computers. Encourages teachers…

Reports on a study of the relationship between moral and political consciousness as evidenced by the ideas and words of 20 middle-school children of average scholastic ability. Finds that the socioeconomic conditions of a community influenced the children's perceptions of issues and problems. (CFR)

Traces the life and career of DeWitt Clinton, who served as mayor of New York City, governor of New York, and U.S. senator. Stresses that Clinton deeply impacted the state and nation as the founder of New York City's public schools, as an advocate of higher education for women, and as a major figure in building the Erie Canal. (NL)