America Since 1975

SS5H9
Developments in
Since 1975
© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

Standards
SS5H9 The student will trace important developments
in America since 1975.
a. Describe U. S. involvement in world events; include
efforts to bring peace to the Middle East, the collapse
of the Soviet Union, the Persian Gulf War, and the War
on Terrorism in response to September 11, 2001.
b. Explain the impact the development of the personal
computer and the Internet has had on American life.

Table of Contents
Title Pages
Read My Lips 4-5
Who’s and What’s 6-8
CLOZE Notes 9-17
America Since 1975 Notes 18-76
America Since 1975 Questions 77-79
Middle East Events: Snapchats 80-81
A Novel Event 82-83
Dumpster Diving 84-85
Commemorative T-Shirt 86-87
Find Someone Who Knows About… 88-90
Ticket Out the Door – Tweet All About It 91-92

Teacher Directions – Read My Lips
• Print out the Read My Lips activating strategy
handout for each student.
• Have the students make predictions about what

they think the words mean and write them down.
• AFTER the unit, have the students use a different

color and write down everything that they would
say about the words if they were explaining their
meanings to someone else.
Directions: BEFORE the presentation, write down what you think the words below mean. AFTER the unit, you will use a different color and write down
everything that you would say about the words if you were explaining their meanings to someone else.

Teacher Info – Who’s & What’s
• Print off the Who’s & What’s handouts for each student.
(Print front and back to save paper.)
• BEFORE the unit, have students fill in the squares with what
they think each term means.
• AFTER the presentation, the students will write down new
(factual) information about each term.
• Check the answers as a class.

Who’s & What’s
Directions: BEFORE the unit, write what you think each term means. AFTER the
presentation, you will write down new information about each term.
Peace in the Middle East Persian Gulf War
What I think this means:
What I think happened:
Definition:
Definition:
War on Terrorism September 11, 2001
What I think this is: What I think happened:
Definition: Definition:
Soviet Union Collapse Computers & Internet
What I think happened: How I think these impacted
America:
Definition:
Definition:
Peace in the Middle Land area in Southwest Asia where much conflict has occurred over land rights; the
East US has tried to work with the countries to bring peace to the area
Persian Gulf War The US was protecting its oil interests by driving Iraq forces out of Kuwait in 1990.
War on Terrorism George W. Bush declared this in response to Sept. 11 attacks; goal was to find
terrorists and come up with plans to prevent future attacks
September 11, 2001 The US was subject to terrorist attacks in NYC, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania; #1
suspect behind hijackings was Osama bin Laden
Soviet Union Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev opened up freedom of speech & many people began
Collapse speaking out against communism; Berlin Wall gates were opened in 1989; December
25th, 1991– USSR collapsed and became Russia & 15 other independent countries; most
are democratic now
Computers & Computers changed American society when they were brought into homes in the late
Internet 1970s; the internet is a global computer network that allows people to play games,
research topics, buy things, etc.

Teacher Directions – CLOZE Notes
• The next pages are handouts for the students to use

for note-taking during the presentation. (Print front
to back to save paper.)
• Check the answers as a class after the

presentation.

Middle East
• The ___________________ was on the losing side of World War I.
• In 1920, European politicians broke the empire apart into
____________________________________________________________ .
• Today, this land area is called the ___________________ , or Southwest Asia.
• Since the end of WWII, the area has been a consistent ___________________ .
Palestine
• Much of the conflict centers around the ___________________ in Israel and
Palestine.
• In 1948, the United Nations carved the new country of
_____________________________________ land in Palestine.
• The UN felt the Jews ______________________________ after all of the suffering
caused by the ___________________ .
Israel
• The Arab countries in the Middle East _________________________________ of
Israel from their land and attacked Israel in 1948.
• Israel won the war and took over much more land in ___________________ .
• Since then, there has been ____________________________ in the Middle East.
1978
• The _________________________________ has made many efforts to bring peace
to the Middle East.
• In 1978, President ___________________ , Israeli Prime Minister Begin, and
Egyptian President Sadat met at Camp David in Maryland.
• This meeting led to a peace treaty, called the
_________________________________ , that was signed in 1979.
• The agreement outlined a framework to ___________________ between Egypt
and Israel.
1993
• In 1993, President Bill Clinton, ___________________ Prime Minister Rabin, and
___________________ leader Arafat met at the White House.
• A __________________________ was signed between the two countries.
2003
• In 2003, a “___________________ ” for peace was created by the US, European
Union, United Nations, and Russia.
• President George W. Bush met with Israeli and Arab leaders, and they all agreed
to ________________________________ with the ideas.
Kuwait
• In ___________________ , the country of Kuwait was created.
• As a result, Iraq lost its access to the ______________________ .
• ________________________________, Iraq’s dictator, wanted to get this access
back, as well as acquiring Kuwait’s __________________________________.
• Iraqi forces ____________________________ in August 1990.
Persian Gulf War
• The US was concerned about this invasion, as a lot of the
______________________________ came from Kuwait & Saudi Arabia.
• In _______________________________ , the United States and a group of other
countries started “Operation Desert Storm”, a military mission to
______________________________ .
• They were able to drive Iraq out of Kuwait in just ___________________ .
Afghanistan
• In 1996, the ___________________ established power in Afghanistan.
• The anti-American Taliban was thought to be harboring Osama bin Laden’s
terrorist group ___________________ .
Osama bin Laden
• The U.S. government identified _________________________ as the terrorist
responsible for the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon.
September 11, 2001
• al-Qaeda attacked __________________________ in the United States.
• The terrorists hijacked _______________________ .
• Two planes crashed into the _____________________________ in New York City.
• Another airplane crashed into the ___________________ in Virginia, just outside
of Washington, DC.
• The fourth plane was intended to hit the ______________________ , but crashed
in rural Pennsylvania.
• Over ___________________ were killed in these attacks.
War on Terrorism
• President ___________________ announced that America would
___________________ .
• He committed to a ________________________ in response to September 11
attacks.
• His plan involved finding the _____________________________ for attacking
America, as well as taking measures to ___________________ future terrorist
activities.
U.S. Invasion
• Sources in the U.S. government believed that the Taliban was allowing Bin Laden
and his followers to hide out in the ________________________________ .
• On October 7th, 2001, U.S. troops entered Afghanistan to
___________________________ and locate bin Laden.
• The U.S. defeated the Taliban and helped Afghanistan form a new,
___________________ government.
• Efforts to locate bin Laden failed, and he went into hiding for the
____________________________ .
Iraq
• The War on Terrorism also went to ___________________ .
• Many Americans believed that Saddam Hussein was hiding
__________________________________________ (WMDs) throughout the country,
as well as providing aid to members of al-Qaeda.
• The US government was afraid Hussein would give
____________________________________________________________ .
Results
• Saddam Hussein’s government collapsed quickly, and the military operation was
over in less than ___________________ .
• Osama bin Laden or WMDs were ________________________ in Iraq.
The End
• On May 2, 2011, at 1:00 am, ___________________ raided Osama bin Laden’s
compound in ___________________ .
• Bin Laden was shot and killed in the ___________________ .
Communism in Europe
• In the late 1980s, the Soviet Union began ___________________ over
the communist nations of Europe.
• These countries had serious _____________________________ and
restless citizens who demanded free speech, free press, and
freedom of religion.
• One by one, they began to throw off _____________________________
.
Free Speech
• The leader of the Soviet Union, _____________________________ ,
began to make some changes.
• He allowed _____________________________ for the first time.
• Now that citizens could freely speak out against the government,
they demanded _____________________________ for their countries.
Berlin Wall
• In 1989, the communist East German government
_____________________________ between East Berlin (communist)
and West Berlin (democratic).
• The German people immediately _____________________________ and
started climbing the Berlin Wall and breaking it apart.
• On _____________________________ , the Berlin Wall, a symbol for
communism, was taken down.
U.S.S.R. Collapses
• The Soviet Union broke up into _____________________________ and
a number of _____________________________ .
• By the _____________________________ , the Soviet Union had
collapsed.
Computers
• Computers _____________________________ almost everything
humans do.
• Both the Germans and the Americans developed the first true
computers _____________________________ .
• After the war, scientists around the world continued to
_____________________________ .
• Computers changed the way millions of people do
_____________________________ .
• Today, computers are the basis of _____________________________ .
Silicon Valley
• The use of computers has created new
_____________________________ .
• One of the most important high-tech areas in the US is
_____________________________ in California.
• It is the home of Apple, _____________________________ , and many
other high-tech companies.
Personal Computers
• Personal computers were first sold in the late
_____________________________ .
• At first they were mainly used for business, but then people started
using them _____________________________ .
Internet
• In _____________________________ , scientists created the first
_____________________________ .
• A computer network is a _____________________________ connected
to each other.
• Today, the largest network in the world is the
_____________________________ .
• More than _____________________________ throughout the world use
the Internet.
• The Internet was first developed for the
______________________________________ .
• It was used mainly to share
______________________________________________ .
• Today, you can get almost
________________________________________ you want on the
Internet.
Middle East
• The Ottoman Empire was on the losing side of World War I.
• In 1920, European politicians broke the empire apart into many smaller
countries.
• Today, this land area is called the Middle East, or Southwest Asia.
• Since the end of WWII, the area has been a consistent trouble spot.
Palestine
• Much of the conflict centers around the control of land in Israel and Palestine.
• In 1948, the United Nations carved the new country of Israel out of Arab land in
Palestine.
• The UN felt the Jews needed a homeland after all of the suffering caused by the
Holocaust.
Israel
• The Arab countries in the Middle East opposed the creation of Israel from their
land and attacked Israel in 1948.
• Israel won the war and took over much more land in Palestine.
• Since then, there has been continual conflict in the Middle East.
1978
• The US government has made many efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.
• In 1978, President Jimmy Carter, Israeli Prime Minister Begin, and Egyptian
President Sadat met at Camp David in Maryland.
• This meeting led to a peace treaty, called the Camp David Accords, that was
signed in 1979.
• The agreement outlined a framework to bring peace between Egypt and Israel.
1993
• In 1993, President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Rabin, and Palestinian leader
Arafat met at the White House.
• A peace accord was signed between the two countries.
2003
• In 2003, a “Road Map” for peace was created by the US, European Union, United
Nations, and Russia.
• President George W. Bush met with Israeli and Arab leaders, and they all agreed
to go forward with the ideas.
Kuwait
• In 1920, the country of Kuwait was created.
• As a result, Iraq lost its access to the Persian Gulf.
• Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s dictator, wanted to get this access back, as well as
acquiring Kuwait’s large oil reserves.
• Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait in August 1990.
Persian Gulf War
• The US was concerned about this invasion, as a lot of the country’s oil came
from Kuwait & Saudi Arabia.
• In January 1991, the United States and a group of other countries started
“Operation Desert Storm”, a military mission to recapture Kuwait.
• They were able to drive Iraq out of Kuwait in just 6 weeks.
Afghanistan
• In 1996, the Taliban established power in Afghanistan.
• The anti-American Taliban was thought to be harboring Osama bin Laden’s
terrorist group al-Qaeda.
Osama bin Laden
• The U.S. government identified Osama bin Laden as the terrorist responsible for
the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
September 11, 2001
• al-Qaeda attacked three targets in the United States.
• The terrorists hijacked four planes.
• Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City.
• Another airplane crashed into the Pentagon in Virginia, just outside of
Washington, DC.
• The fourth plane was intended to hit the White House, but crashed in rural
Pennsylvania.
• Over 3,000 people were killed in these attacks.
War on Terrorism
• President George Bush announced that America would fight back.
• He committed to a War on Terrorism in response to September 11 attacks.
• His plan involved finding the people responsible for attacking America, as well as
taking measures to prevent future terrorist activities.
U.S. Invasion
• Sources in the U.S. government believed that the Taliban was allowing Bin Laden
and his followers to hide out in the mountains of Afghanistan.
• On October 7th, 2001, U.S. troops entered Afghanistan to disable the Taliban and
locate bin Laden.
• The U.S. defeated the Taliban and helped Afghanistan form a new, democratic
government.
• Efforts to locate bin Laden failed, and he went into hiding for the next ten years.
Iraq
• The War on Terrorism also went to Iraq.
• Many Americans believed that Saddam Hussein was hiding weapons of mass
destruction (WMDs) throughout the country, as well as providing aid to members
of al-Qaeda.
• The US government was afraid Hussein would give WMDs to the terrorists.
Results
• Saddam Hussein’s government collapsed quickly, and the military operation was
over in less than two months.
• Osama bin Laden or WMDs were never found in Iraq.
The End
• On May 2, 2011, at 1:00 am, Navy SEALS raided Osama bin Laden’s compound in
Pakistan.
• Bin Laden was shot and killed in the raid.
Communism in Europe
• In the late 1980s, the Soviet Union began losing control over the communist
nations of Europe.
• These countries had serious economic problems and restless citizens who
demanded free speech, free press, and freedom of religion.
• One by one, they began to throw off communist rule.
Free Speech
• The leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, began to make some
changes.
• He allowed freedom of speech for the first time.
• Now that citizens could freely speak out against the government, they
demanded independence for their countries.
Berlin Wall
• In 1989, the communist East German government opened up the border between
East Berlin (communist) and West Berlin (democratic).
• The German people immediately began celebrating and started climbing the
Berlin Wall and breaking it apart.
• On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall, a symbol for communism, was taken down.
U.S.S.R. Collapses
• The Soviet Union broke up into Russia and a number of different countries.
• By the end of 1991, the Soviet Union had collapsed.
Computers
• Computers have changed almost everything humans do.
• Both the Germans and the Americans developed the first true computers during
WWII.
• After the war, scientists around the world continued to improve computers.
• Computers changed the way millions of people do their jobs.
• Today, computers are the basis of American industry.
Silicon Valley
• The use of computers has created new high-tech jobs.
• One of the most important high-tech areas in the US is Silicon Valley in
California.
• It is the home of Apple, Google, and many other high-tech companies.
Personal Computers
• Personal computers were first sold in the late 1970s.
• At first they were mainly used for business, but then people started using them
at home.
Internet
• In 1969, scientists created the first computer network.
• A computer network is a series of computers connected to each other.
• Today, the largest network in the world is the Internet.
• More than 2.8 billion people throughout the world use the Internet.
• The Internet was first developed for the government and universities.
• It was used mainly to share research information.
• Today, you can get almost any kind of information you want on the Internet.
SS5H9a
Peace in the

• The Ottoman Empire was on the losing side of
World War I.
• In 1920, European politicians broke the empire

apart into many smaller countries.
• Today, this land area is called the Middle East,

or Southwest Asia.
• Since the end of WWII, the area has been a

consistent trouble spot.
Southwest Asia (Middle East)

• Much of the conflict centers around the control
of land in Israel and Palestine.
• In 1948, the United Nations carved the new

country of Israel out of Arab land in Palestine.
• The UN felt the Jews needed a homeland after

all of the suffering caused by the Holocaust.

• The Arab countries in the Middle East opposed
the creation of Israel from their land and
attacked Israel in 1948.
• Israel won the war and took over much more

land in Palestine.
• Since then, there has been continual conflict in

the Middle East.
• The US government has made many efforts to
bring peace to the Middle East.
• In 1978, President Jimmy Carter, Israeli Prime
Minister Begin, and Egyptian President Sadat met
at Camp David in Maryland.
• This meeting led to a peace treaty, called the
Camp David Accords, that was signed in 1979.
• The agreement outlined a framework to bring
peace between Egypt and Israel.
Camp David Accords

• In 1993, President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime
Minister Rabin, and Palestinian leader Arafat
met at the White House.
• A peace accord was signed between the two

countries.

President Clinton Watches Rabin and
Arafat Shake Hands

• In 2003, a “Road Map” for peace was created
by the US, European Union, United Nations, and
Russia.
• President George W. Bush met with Israeli and

Arab leaders, and they all agreed to go forward
with the ideas.

Operation Desert Storm
• In 1920, the country of Kuwait was created.
• As a result, Iraq lost its access to the Persian
Gulf.
• Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s dictator, wanted to get

this access back, as well as acquiring Kuwait’s
large oil reserves.
• Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait in August 1990.

August 2nd, 1990 –
Iraq invades
Kuwait

• The US was concerned about this invasion, as a
lot of the country’s oil came from Kuwait &
Saudi Arabia.
• In January 1991, the United States and a group

of other countries started “Operation Desert
Storm”, a military mission to recapture Kuwait.
• They were able to drive Iraq out of Kuwait in

just 6 weeks.
A US Nighthawk – one of the key players in
Desert Storm.
Afghanistan & Iraq

• In 1996, the Taliban established power in
Afghanistan.
• The anti-American Taliban was thought to be

harboring Osama bin Laden’s terrorist group
al-Qaeda.
• Al-Qaeda’s goal was to bring an end to Western

influence in the Middle East.

Afghanistan

• The U.S. government identified Osama bin
Laden as the terrorist responsible for the
September 11th, 2001 attacks on the World
Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Al-Qaeda
Osama bin Laden

• On September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda attacked three
targets in the United States.
• The terrorists hijacked four planes.

• Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in
New York City.
• Another airplane crashed into the Pentagon in
Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC.
• The fourth plane was intended to hit the White
House, but crashed in rural Pennsylvania.
• Over 3,000 people were killed in these attacks.

World Trade Center –
Before and After
• President George Bush announced that
America would fight back.
• He committed to a War on Terrorism in

response to September 11 attacks.
• His plan involved finding the people responsible

for attacking America, as well as taking
measures to prevent future terrorist activities.

Two days after the
September 11 attacks,
U.S. President George
W. Bush stated: "The
most important thing is
for us to find Osama bin
Laden. It is our number
one priority and we will
not rest until we find
him.”

• Sources in the U.S. government believed that
the Taliban was allowing Bin Laden and his
followers to hide out in the mountains of
Afghanistan.
• On October 7th, 2001, U.S. troops entered

Afghanistan to disable the Taliban and locate
bin Laden.

• The U.S. defeated the Taliban and helped
Afghanistan form a new, democratic
government.
• Efforts to locate bin Laden failed, and he went

into hiding for the next ten years.

U.S. troops in Afghanistan in
2001.

2004 – Hamid Karzai became the first democratically elected
president of Afghanistan.
• The War on Terrorism also went to Iraq.
• Many Americans believed that Saddam Hussein

was hiding weapons of mass destruction
(WMDs) throughout the country, as well as
providing aid to members of al-Qaeda.
• The US government was afraid Hussein would

give WMDs to the terrorists.

Iraq
U.S. marines fire a M198
Medium Howitzer.
U.S. marines enter a palace

in Baghdad.

• Saddam Hussein’s government collapsed
quickly, and the military operation was over in
less than two months.
• Osama bin Laden or WMDs were never found in

Iraq.
• In December 2003, Hussein was captured,

tried, and sentenced to death.
• He was executed in December 2006.
Saddam Hussein was found
hiding in a hole armed with a
pistol, an AK-47 assault rifle, and
$750,000 cash.

• On May 2, 2011, at 1:00 am, Navy SEALS raided
Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan.
• Bin Laden was shot and killed in the raid.
• His body was taken to Afghanistan for

identification, then buried at sea within 24 hours.
• According to U.S. officials, bin Laden was
buried at sea because no country would accept
his remains.
Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan
where he was found in 2011.
SS5H9a
Collapse of the

• In the late 1980s, the Soviet Union began losing
control over the communist nations of Europe.
• These countries had serious economic

problems and restless citizens who demanded
free speech, free press, and freedom of
religion.
• One by one, they began to throw off

communist rule.
• The leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail
Gorbachev, began to make some changes.
• He allowed freedom of speech for the first time.
• Now that citizens could freely speak out against

the government, they demanded independence
for their countries.
• At the time, the Soviet Union consisted of 15
republics.
Mikhail Gorbachev
in a Discussion
with US President
Ronald Reagan

• In 1989, the communist East German government
opened up the border between East Berlin
(communist) and West Berlin (democratic).
• The German people immediately began

celebrating and started climbing the Berlin Wall
and breaking it apart.
• On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall, a symbol

for communism, was taken down.
People Climbing Over the
Wall - 1989

• The Soviet Union broke up into Russia and a
number of different countries.
• On December 25th, 1991, the world recognized the

independence for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Yugoslavia,
Czechoslovakia, and Russia.
• By the end of 1991, the Soviet Union had collapsed.

SS5H9b
and the

• Computers have changed almost
everything humans do.
• Both the Germans and the Americans

developed the first true computers
during WWII.
• After the war, scientists around the

world continued to improve computers.
Z3 Computer
(Created in 1939)

• Computers changed the way millions of
people do their jobs.
• Businesses of all types rely on

computers.
• Today, computers are the basis of

American industry.
• The use of computers has created new high-
tech jobs.
• These are jobs of people who actually create

computers and make them work.
• One of the most important high-tech areas in

the US is Silicon Valley in California.
• It is the home of Apple, Google, and many other

high-tech companies.
Silicon Valley

• Personal computers were first sold in the late
1970s.
• At first they were mainly used for business,

but then people started using them at home.
• Think of all of the ways that your family uses a

computer…
A Personal
Computer &
Printer in 1988

• In 1969, scientists created the first computer
network.
• A computer network is a series of computers

connected to each other.
• Today, the largest network in the world is the

Internet.
• More than 2.8 billion people throughout the

world use the Internet.
• The Internet was first developed for the
government and universities.
• It was used mainly to share research

information.
• Today, you can get almost any kind of

information you want on the Internet.
• It can be used for research, fun, or to

download music and games.
Teacher Info – America Since 1975
Activities
• The following pages are activities that your students can complete
after the presentation.
• Feel free to do them all as a class, to use them in centers, or to just
pick the ones that you have time for!
• For most of the activities, you will need to print copies of the handout
for each student. They are all in black and white to save your ink!
• *The pages with red directions are meant for you to project onto the
screen so that students know exactly what to write in each section.

Teacher Info – America Since 1975
Questions
• Print off the Questions handouts for each student.

• They should answer the questions after discussing
the presentation. Afterwards, check and share
answers as a class.
• *You can also use this as a quiz!

1. Before WWII, countries of the Middle East were part of this empire:
2. Why were many Arabs angered by the creation of Israel?
3. Why did the United Nations create Israel in the first place?
4. How has the United States helped to bring peace to the Middle East?
5. Why did Iraq’s dictator, Saddam Hussein, invade the small country
of Kuwait in 1990?
6. Why did the US become involved in the Persian Gulf War?
7. What was the outcome of the Persian Gulf War?
8. What happened to the US on September 11, 2001?
9. Who was the #1 suspect behind the terrorist attacks?
10. What was the purpose of the War on Terrorism?
11. Why did the US invade Afghanistan in 2001?
12. Why did the US invade Iraq in 2003?
13. When and where was Osama bin Laden finally found?
14. Which Soviet leader allowed for freedom of speech throughout the
Soviet Union?
15. What did the citizens demand now that they could speak against
the government?
16. What happened in Germany in 1989?
17. When did the Soviet Union collapse into Russia and several other
countries?
1. Before WWII, countries of the Middle East were part of this empire:
Ottoman Empire
2. Why were many Arabs angered by the creation of Israel?
Because land was taken from them (Palestine) to create Israel.
3. Why did the United Nations create Israel in the first place?
They felt that Jewish people needed a homeland after all of the
suffering that they endured throughout the Holocaust.
4. How has the United States helped to bring peace to the Middle East?
By holding several peace talks between leaders of Arab countries and
Israel.
5. Why did Iraq’s dictator, Saddam Hussein, invade the small country
of Kuwait in 1990?
To take back oil fields and for access to the Persian Gulf
6. Why did the US become involved in the Persian Gulf War?
Because a lot of the country’s oil came from Kuwait
7. What was the outcome of the Persian Gulf War?
US troops drove the Iraqi forces out of Kuwait in just 6 weeks.
8. What happened to the US on September 11, 2001?
9. Who was the #1 suspect behind the terrorist attacks?
Osama bin Laden
10. What was the purpose of the War on Terrorism?
To find the people responsible for attacking US and to prevent future
terrorist attacks
11. Why did the US invade Afghanistan in 2001?
To find bin Laden and to dismantle Taliban government
12. Why did the US invade Iraq in 2003?
To find bin Laden and to find and destroy Iraq’s secret supply of WMDs
13. When and where was Osama bin Laden finally found?
May 2, 2011 in Pakistan
14. Which Soviet leader allowed for freedom of speech throughout the
Soviet Union?
Mikhail Gorbachev
15. What did the citizens demand now that they could speak against
the government?
Independence from Soviet Union and freedom from communist rule
16. What happened in Germany in 1989?
Communist East Berlin government finally opened up the wall to
democratic West Berlin; people celebrated and began destroying the
wall
17. When did the Soviet Union collapse into Russia and several other
countries?
1991
Teacher Info – Middle East Events
Snapchats
• Snapchat is a photo messaging app that is similar to
Instagram. Users take “snaps” and send them to a list of
friends. You can also add captions and draw onto the snaps.
• Have the students take 4 snaps of noteworthy events from

this time period (Peace in the Middle East, Persian Gulf,
September 11, 2001, War on Terrorism) and snapchat them
to their friends to see.
• The snaps should include a picture of the event as well as a

caption that summarizes the event.
Directions: Create Snapchats for the important event from this time period. Each snap should include a picture of the event and a caption (in the gray
textbox) so that your followers know what each picture is showing.
Peace in the Persian Gulf War September 11, 2001 War on Terrorism
Middle East

Teacher Info – A Novel Event
• Have the students create a historical fiction novel
based on one of the events from this time period.
• They will create a title and draw an illustration of

the event on the cover of the book.
• In the textbox, they will write a description of their

book.

Directions: Create a historical fiction book based on one of the events from this time period.
Write the title and draw a historically accurate illustration of the event on the cover. Inside the
textbox, write a description of the book.
Book Description:

Teacher Info – Dumpster Diving
• Have the students draw memorabilia to represent
events that have occurred since 1975 inside of the
trashcan.
• Example – an empty oil barrel to represent the
Persian Gulf War.
• In the textbox, they will write an explanation of each

symbol.

Directions: Your history-loving neighbor just cleaned out his garage and has a huge trashcan full of
interesting American memorabilia from the past 35 years. What did you find in the trashcan? Think of
important events that we have learned about in this unit and draw at least 4 symbols to represent the
events. Also, explain the significance of the items. How do they connect to this particular period in
history?
Trash Explanations:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Teacher Info – Commemorative
T-Shirt
• Print off the Commemorative T-Shirt handout for each
student.
• Front of Shirt: The students will design a t-shirt to

represent the collapse of the Soviet Union. The shirt could
include symbols of important events, drawings of key
people, and significant dates.
• Back of Shirt: They will write a paragraph that describes

the shirt’s design and why it is significant to the collapse of
the Soviet Union.
Commemorative T-Shirt
Directions: To commemorate nearly 25 years of the Soviet Union’s collapse, you will design a t-shirt to represent the event. You should include important
dates, key events, and significant people in your design. On the back of the shirt, write a paragraph that describes the design and why it is significant to
the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Front Back

Teacher Directions – Find Someone
Who…
• Pass out the Find Someone Who… handout to each student.
• Give the students several minutes to walk around the classroom and
ask their classmates different questions on the sheet.
• When a classmate knows the answer, the student will write the
answer (that the classmate said) down and the classmate will sign
his/her name in the box.
• They can’t ask the same person more than once!
• When time is up, check the answers to make sure everyone has them
correct.
• *This is also an EXCELLENT study guide!
Find Someone Who Knows About…
Directions: You will have a few minutes to walk around the classroom and poll your classmates about what they know about America Since 1975. If your
classmates know the answers, you write the answer down and they will sign their name in the box. You can’t ask the same person more than once! When
we finish, we will check the answers, so be sure that you are giving the correct answers!
1. In 1978, President Carter 2. The Iraqi invasion of 3. What symbol of 4. What happened to the 5. What happened to most
helped negotiate a peace Kuwait resulted in the: communism was destroyed in Soviet Union in 1991? communist countries in
agreement between Egypt 1989? Eastern Europe after the
and which country? Soviet Union collapsed?
6. The War on Terrorism 7. Why did the US invade 8. What is the global 9. Which US president 10. Who was the #1 suspect
began in response to events Afghanistan? computer network called declared the War on behind the Sept. 11th,
on what date? that lets people research, Terrorism? terrorist attacks?
buy things, play games, etc.?
11. What actions led the US 12. What device changed 13. Which are of the US has 14. What happened on
to invade Iraq in 2003? American society when it Social many high-tech companies, September 11, 2001?
was brought into homes in
the late 1970a?
Studies like Apple and Google?
Rocks!
15. The creation of which 16. Which US President met 17. Which Soviet Union 18. Which Iraqi dictator was 19. In what year did the
country has caused much with Israeli and Palestinian leader opened up freedom of suspected of aiding Soviet Union collapse?
conflict in the Middle East? leaders to create resolutions speech? terrorists and hiding WMDs?
for peace?

Find Someone Who Knows About…
Directions: You will have a few minutes to walk around the classroom and poll your classmates about what they know about America Since 1975. If your
classmates know the answers, you write the answer down and they will sign their name in the box. You can’t ask the same person more than once! When
we finish, we will check the answers, so be sure that you are giving the correct answers!
1. In 1978, President Carter 2. The Iraqi invasion of 3. What symbol of 4. What happened to the 5. What happened to most
helped negotiate a peace Kuwait resulted in the: communism was destroyed in Soviet Union in 1991? communist countries in
agreement between Egypt Persian Gulf War 1989? Collapsed – created Russia Eastern Europe after the
and which country? Berlin Wall and many smaller countries Soviet Union collapsed?
Israel They became democratic.
6. The War on Terrorism 7. Why did the US invade 8. What is the global 9. Which US president 10. Who was the #1 suspect
began in response to events Afghanistan? computer network called declared the War on behind the Sept. 11th,
on what date? They were aiding terrorists that lets people research, Terrorism? terrorist attacks?
September 11th, 2001 (US was looking for bin buy things, play games, etc.? George W. Bush Osama bin Laden
Laden). Internet
11. What actions led the US 12. What device changed 13. Which are of the US has 14. What happened on
to invade Iraq in 2003? American society when it Social many high-tech companies, September 11, 2001?
Hussein was supposedly
hiding WMD and terrorists.
was brought into homes in
the late 1970a?
Studies like Apple and Google?
Silicon Valley
The US was subject to
terrorist attacks in NYC,
Personal Computer Rocks! Washington, DC, and
Pennsylvania
15. The creation of which 16. Which US President met 17. Which Soviet Union 18. Which Iraqi dictator was 19. In what year did the
country has caused much with Israeli and Palestinian leader opened up freedom of suspected of aiding Soviet Union collapse?
conflict in the Middle East? leaders to create A “Road speech? terrorists and hiding WMDs? 1991
Israel Map” to peace? Mikhail Gorbachev Saddam Hussein
George Bush

Teacher Directions – Tweet All
About It…Ticket Out the Door
• Have students write a tweet summary of important
events since 1975 (less than 140 characters).

Write tweets about important events in America since 1975. Keep them Write tweets about important events in America since 1975. Keep them
short and to the point, but include enough information to prove you short and to the point, but include enough information to prove you
understand the event. understand the event.
#PersianGulfWar #PersianGulfWar
#WarOnTerrorism #WarOnTerrorism
#SovietUnionCollapse #SovietUnionCollapse
#Computers+Internet #Computers+Internet
© 2014 Brain Wrinkles © 2014 Brain Wrinkles

Thank you so much for downloading this file. I sincerely hope you find it helpful and that
your students learn a lot from it! I look forward to reading your feedback in my store.
If you like this file, you might want to check out some of my other products that teach social
studies topics in creative, engaging, and hands-on ways.
Best of luck to you this school year,
Ansley at Brain Wrinkles

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles. Your download includes a limited use license from Brain Wrinkles. The purchaser may
use the resource for personal classroom use only. The license is not transferable to another person. Other
teachers should purchase their own license through my store.
This resource is not to be used:

• By an entire grade level, school, or district without purchasing the proper number of licenses. For
school/district licenses at a discount, please contact me.
• As part of a product listed for sale or for free by another individual.
• On shared databases.
• Online in any way other than on password-protected website for student use only.
© Copyright 2014. Brain Wrinkles. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to copy pages specifically designed for student or teacher use by the
original purchaser or licensee. The reproduction of any other part of this product is strictly prohibited. Copying any part of this product and
placing it on the Internet in any form (even a personal/classroom website) is strictly forbidden. Doing so makes it possible for an Internet search
to make the document available on the Internet, free of charge, and is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
Clipart, fonts, & digital papers for this product were purchased from:
Thank you,
Ansley at Brain Wrinkles


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© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• Have the students make predictions about what

• AFTER the unit, have the students use a different

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• Check the answers as a class.

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• The next pages are handouts for the students to use

• Check the answers as a class after the

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• In 1920, European politicians broke the empire

• Today, this land area is called the Middle East,

• Since the end of WWII, the area has been a

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• In 1948, the United Nations carved the new

• The UN felt the Jews needed a homeland after

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• Israel won the war and took over much more

• Since then, there has been continual conflict in

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• A peace accord was signed between the two

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• President George W. Bush met with Israeli and

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s dictator, wanted to get

• Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait in August 1990.

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• In January 1991, the United States and a group

• They were able to drive Iraq out of Kuwait in

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• The anti-American Taliban was thought to be

• Al-Qaeda’s goal was to bring an end to Western

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

Osama bin Laden

• The terrorists hijacked four planes.

• Over 3,000 people were killed in these attacks.

• He committed to a War on Terrorism in

• His plan involved finding the people responsible

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• On October 7th, 2001, U.S. troops entered

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• Efforts to locate bin Laden failed, and he went

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• Many Americans believed that Saddam Hussein

• The US government was afraid Hussein would

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

U.S. marines enter a palace

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• Osama bin Laden or WMDs were never found in

• In December 2003, Hussein was captured,

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

• Bin Laden was shot and killed in the raid.

• His body was taken to Afghanistan for

© 2014 Brain Wrinkles