State of the Field for Busy Teachers: Post-1970s US History

State of the Field for Busy Teachers: Post-1970s US History
AHA Learn
Wednesday, May 6, 1:45–3 p.m. ET

Secondary teachers interviewed and surveyed for the AHA’s American Lesson Plan (2024) consistently identified the last few decades of US history as one of the most difficult periods to address in introductory courses. Academic standards for K–12 US history often thin out after the Vietnam War, and faculty who teach chronological surveys in higher education often run out of time before they can get to the recent past.

What do students lose when they lack context to connect the content they discuss in history courses to contemporary issues and concerns? What themes, topics, and sources can help structure lessons or a unit on post-1970s US history? How do we prioritize content that students need amidst the push and pull between different expectations placed on introductory courses at all levels?

The AHA’s State of the Field for Busy Teachers series provides a forum for history teachers at all levels to interact with leading historians and discuss content, sources, and trends in scholarly interpretation on a theme related to topics commonly addressed in the history classroom. The discussion will be moderated by AHA staff, with a robust audience Q&A. We anticipate a lively exchange in which all participants can walk away with new insights and resources.

Moderated by Whitney E. Barringer (American Historical Assn.) and featuring Gregory Daddis (Texas A&M Univ.), Walter Greason (aka Sage Gray) (Macalaster Coll.), Mindy Lawrence (Pace Academy), and Lee Vinsel (Virginia Tech), this 75-minute online event is free and open to the public. To attend, register here. Can’t make it? Sign up anyway and view the recording on the AHA’s YouTube channel after the event.