Studying the US Law of Prohibition in the 1920's by comparing a ban on alcohol to the banning of tobacco in contemporary Britain.
See the Teacher Guidance film at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOHolPVR3t8
Objectives
What was Prohibition?
How did it affect the United States?
Outcomes
Know – What the term mass prohibition means
Understand – how prohibition affected the USA for both good and bad
Be able to – think about the role of law in a democracy and its purpose
Students will be introduced to the reasons for prohibition on smoking and then be asked to consider the consequences of such a law.
Once considered they can consider the impact of prohibition by watching: Homer versus the Eighteenth Amendment to consider the consequences of passing a prohibition on alcohol by studying its impact on all of the residents
Taught as a Year 9 lesson to study the views and opinions of the KKK in the USA as part of a study comparing democracies and dictatorships in the modern world. Students investigate the right and extent of freedom of speech in democratic society. It has additionally been used in both assemblies and Citizenship Lessons. Versions have also been adapted for KS4 and 5
Initially students are to complete the questionnaire on their own political views. This can be read or taught through the link to a video. Some of the questions have concern opinions of immigration, welfare, benefits, race and abortion.
Students are then shown a teacher led presentation on the views, tactics and methods of the KKK in the USA. As they make their notes the students are to consider the Q.:
'How much freedom of speech should be permitted in a democracy?'
When completed the teacher is to survey the opinions of the class based upon the initial questionnaire. Any question that gains the majority of the class will become a law. Any question whose outcome is actually affected by the number of students who chose not to hold an opinion can be used to stress the importance in a democracy to to have opinions.
The plenary twist lies in the fact that the initial 11 questions are based upon expressed views of the KKK and have had the USA replaced with the UK. To agree with the question therefore, is to support the views potentially of the KKK. How many laws that the KKK approve of would be passed by your class
Designed for Year 9 students the lesson introduces the key features of a Democracy and Dictatorship through discussion, quizzing and activities.
Students will then analyse country profiles, to determine the level of democracy and dictatorship in each country by arranging them on a 'washing line'. QR codes link the country profiles to the BBC database to keep the profiles up to date.
Exemplar materials and video are provided for teacher guidance and student self-assessment