Movie List for History 1302
To receive extra credit, you must watch one or two of these movies and write a 1½ to 2 page (Times New Roman, 12
pitch, double-spaced) reflection describing – what is the movie about, how is the movie accurate or inaccurate, what does
it conclude about the subject, and what do you think of the conclusion? You may receive credit for only 2 movies.
Pre WWI:
Far and Away (1992) PG-13 – Irish Immigrants in America
Joy Luck Club (1993) R – Chinese immigrants to America
WWI:
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) NR – Germans on the French front and at home
Legends of the Fall (1994) R – 3 brothers in Western U.S. deal with national/world events
World War II:
Patton (1970) PG – Gen. George Patton during the war years
Bridge On the River Kwai (1957) PG – British prisoners of Japan in Burma
Midway (1976) PG – Battle of Midway from beginning to end
Sink the Bismark (1960) NR – story of the sinking of the biggest German battleship
Das Boot (1981) R – German submarine (U-boat) in WWII
Schindler’s List (1993) R –Holocaust and the efforts of a man to be humane in an inhumane situation
Diary of Anne Frank (1959) NR – Dutch Jewish family is victimized by the Nazis
Twelve O’Clock High (1949) NR – US bomber crews fly over Nazi Germany
Tuskegee Airmen (1995) PG-13 – first African American flying squadron (remade in 2011)
The Great Raid (2005) R – attempt to free prisoners of Japanese in Philippines
A Bridge Too Far (1977) PG – Allied forces struggle to defeat Germans in Belgium
Saving Private Ryan (1998) R – D-Day and its aftermath as Allies move into France
Windtalkers (2002) R – Native American radio operators using codes in Pacific war
Pearl Harbor (2001) PG-13 – story of events leading to the attack on Pearl Harbor
Empire of the Sun (1987) PG – English prisoners of Japanese in Shanghai, China
MacArthur (1977) PG – description of Gen. MacArthur’s service in Pacific
Korean War:
Bridges of Toko Ri (1955) NR – air war over Korea
Truman (1995) PG – shows Pres. Truman’s career as President after WWII
Cold War:
Dr. Strangelove (1964) NR – satirical look at cold war
Fail Safe (1964) NR – bombers sent to destroy USSR by mistake
Hunt for Red October (1990) PG – Soviet submarine nears US
13 Days (2000) PG-13 – Cuban missile crisis
Seven Days in May (1964) NR – plot to overthrow the President
Salt of the Earth (1954) NR – Hispanic mine workers in New Mexico become victims of red scare McCarthyism
Bridge of Spies – (2015) PG-13 Exchange of Soviet spy for Gary Powers after the U-2 Indicent
Vietnam War:
Born on the 4th of July (1989) R – Marine veteran from Vietnam war becomes protester
We Were Soldiers (2002) R – story of US Army’s first major battle in Vietnam
Forest Gump (1994) PG-13 – chronicles news events of 1950s to 1990s
The Fog of War (2003) PG-13 – documentary about Robert McNamara’s (Sec. of Defense) role in Vietnam war
Return with Honor (1999) NR – story of American prisoners of North Vietnam including John McCain
Civil Rights:
Malcolm X (1992) PG-13 – the life and times of Malcolm X
Mississippi Burning (1988) R – FBI investigation into murders of civil rights activists in Mississippi
42 (2013) PG-13 Life story of Jackie Robinson, first African-American to break the color barrier in sports.
The Butler (2013) PG-13 – White House butler’s account during the tenure of eight presidents.
Selma (2014) PG-13 – story of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Post-Cold War:
9/11 (2002) NR – documentary shows firefighters in New York during attack
United 93 (2006) R – crash of United Flight 93on the day the World Trade Center and Pentagon were destroyed
U.S. History 1302 – Presentation Topics
The following is a list of suggested topics for presentations. Topics must apply to US history since 1877. If you choose a
topic other than one of these, you must receive approval from me.
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Kennedy Assassination – Warren Commission vs. Conspiracy theories
Cuban Missile Crisis – what if?
Decision to bomb Japan – what were the alternatives?
Berlin Wall – impact on post-war Germany/Europe/Cold War
Civil Rights – MLK vs. Malcolm X
Brown vs. Board of Ed – the case and its impact
Student Protests and Vets against the War in Vietnam – Affects on US Policy
Watergate – what happened, who, when, effects?
Genocide in the 20th Century – Armenians, Jews, Cambodia, Rwandans, etc. (pick one or two)
Immigration policies since World War Two – effects
Women’s rights – ERA, women’s movement, glass ceiling, changing family roles
Weapons of War since 1877 – changes and impact on warfare (be specific – air, ground, sea, etc.)
Alger Hiss and the “Pumpkin Papers”
Invasion of Iraq 2003 and Afghanistan War – compare and contrast
Impeachment of Pres. Clinton – history, issues, results
United Nations – history, structure, is it effective?
McCarthy Era – who was Joseph McCarthy? What happened to him?
Bay of Pigs invasion – explain what happened and the results
Pop music styles – contrast rock and roll with hard rock, disco, retro, etc.
U.S. policies toward China since World War Two – changes, who, when, etc.
Pearl Harbor – what happened and why didn’t the US know it was going to happen?
Japanese internment in World War Two – what, when, who, why?
Berlin Airlift – describe the background and how the city was saved
Zoot suit riots – research and explain what happened and what led to the Hispanic population riots in LA during
WWII
Role of women in the military – history of women’s involvement in military and war since 1877
What happened to the Native Americans after the Civil War? What has been the government’s policy and what is
the status of the Native American community/reservations today?
The Iran/Contra Affair – what was it, who was involved? What happened to Pres. Reagan?
Iranian Hostage Crisis – describe the events and the effects of Americans being held hostage in Iran in the late
1970s.
First and Second Gulf Wars – compare and contrast
9/11 – what happened and who did it, and how did it happen?
Terrorist prisoners at Guantanamo, Cuba – who, why, what can happen to them?
Theodore Roosevelt’s “Big Stick” Policy – effective?, set precedent?
Space Race and subsequent NASA projects and government policies
Black Panther movement – people, events, status
Free speech issues – Schenck vs.US, Espionage Act, Patriot Act, etc.
The Great Depression – effects on growth of government
The Dust Bowl – background and how it affected those in the area.
Media involvement in Vietnam war
Medical advancements since 1900 – effects
Enfranchisement – voting trends since the 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments
Court Packing Plan of Franklin Roosevelt – why? What happened?
Political Cartoons during WWI or WWII
Influence of TV on American culture – compare and contrast the ‘50s and ‘60s with today
Gay Rights – history, “don’t ask, don’t tell policy”, current status in states
Major inventions, new technologies, since WWII – effects on society
Sacco and Vanzetti – explain the case, trial, and effects on society of the ‘20s.
American heroes (you pick some) – Lindberg, Jack Dempsey, Babe Ruth, etc.
Military leaders of WWII – who’s the best? (Patton, Eisenhower, MacArthur, Doolittle, Bradley, Nimitz)
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Rock Stars of the ‘60s – Elvis Presley, James Dean, John Wayne, etc.
Warren Court – Effects of Chief Justice Earl Warren’s Supreme Court decisions
Woodstock – what really happened there in ’69?
US involvement in Central America (1974-1990) – what? when? where? effects
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson – explore the issues and details of the voting in Congress
Railroads – how they affected the American economy from 1877 to 1900.
Labor Unions – concentrate on radical unions and their impact on government policies
U.S. Interventions in Latin America during the Progressive Era (1900-1920)
Assassination of James Garfield – can investigate Guiteau or the medical aftermath
Assassination of William McKinley – who was Leon Czolgosz?
Firebombing of German cities vs. the “Blitz”
Air Warfare – history and tactics since the invention of lighter-than-air craft
History and impact of computer technology
Camp David Accords – Jimmy Carter’s legacy for world peace
Influence of Latin American immigration on US – history, cultural impact
The Mayaguez Incident – what happened? How did Pres. Ford react? Significance.
SALT Treaties – Are we safe from a nuclear holocaust?
Korea – what is the status since the war?
U.S. intervention in Kosovo – why were we involved? what were our interests?
U.S. intervention in Somalia – why were we in Mogadishu anyway?
Influenza pandemic of 1918 – what happened and how bad was it?
Russo-Japanese War – how did Teddy settle it – effects on future wars
Boss Tweed – was he a good guy or a villain?
The USS Maine – what was reported vs. what happened?
The Federal Reserve – how did it start and what does it do?
William Jennings Bryan – what made him tick?
Third Party Candidates in the 20th Century – pick some (how did they affect the elections?)
Francis Gary Powers – U-2 Incident – impact on US policy toward USSR
FDR’s use of Executive Orders – how, when, why?
Truman’s relationship with MacArthur – why did he fire the general?
Best sellers of the 40s, 50s, or 60s (pick one)