Use this lesson after covering 9/11 to discuss the post-9/11 United States and the implications for domestic and foreign policy. This lesson can be used with the The USA PATRIOT Act Narrative; the U.S. Military Intervention in Afghanistan Decision Point; the Does the Threat of Terrorism Justify Increased Surveillance? Point-Counterpoint; and the Was the Invasion of Iraq Justified? Point-Counterpoint.

Objectives:

• Students will be able to identify the purposes and limitations of government in the American Founding by interpreting founding and contemporary documents.
• Students will determine if the Founding principles were consistent with the U.S. government’s response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

• Handout A: National Security and Founding Principles
  • Document 1: U.S. Constitution
  • Document 2: Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
• Handout B: U.S. National Security after the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001
  • Document 1: Authorization of Use of Military Force, Joint Resolution 107-40, September 18, 2001
  • Document 2: Address to a joint session of Congress by President George W. Bush, September 20, 2001
  • Document 3: Department of Justice summary of USA PATRIOT Act, October 26, 2001
• Handout C: Placing the War on Terror in a Constitutional Context
  • Document: “Surveillance under the USA PATRIOT Act,” by the American Civil Liberties Union

Students should have access to internet-connected devices so they may explore the documents provided in the handouts as well as the full-text versions, as necessary.

This lesson should be presented after the historical events of 9/11 and the U.S. response have been taught. This lesson is designed to interpret the larger constitutional questions posed by that response.