Civil Liberties in Wartime
Grade level: 10-12
Subjects: U.S. Government, Civics, Sociology

Introduction
The attacks of September 11, 2001 led to a declaration of a war on terrorism by President Bush. As part of that war the Bush Administration proposed and Congress passed the USA Patriot Act which gives the government increased power to gather information on and detain U.S. residents in order to curtail activities related to terrorism. The act has been criticized by some as infringing on the rights of citizens and giving the government unprecedented powers.

This lesson examines the civil liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and how the conditions of war might affect those liberties. Students will:

• review the rights and responsibilities of a citizen in a democratic system;
• study historical precedents for altering civil liberties during time of war;
• discuss and debate the pros and cons of the wartime curtailment of civil liberties;
• examine the role of the press in keeping citizens informed in light of the government's need to limit information during times of crisis.

Background for the Teacher
Before starting this lesson, if possible, watch Flashpoints USA (episode one - July 15, 2003) and use the information on this Web site for background on the various measures proposed by the Bush Administration in response to the events of September 11.

Learning Objectives
Students will have the opportunity to apply the following critical thinking skills:

• Summarize and re-state complex written material
• Note similarities and difference between historical and contemporary laws and policies
• Form opinions based on critical examination of relevant information
• Communicate orally and in writing
• Analyze and compare different sources of information for fairness and accuracy
• Detect bias in various forms of presentations, e.g., written, oral, pictorial

Tools and Materials
Paper and pen
Computers with Internet access
Student handouts: