In this eye-opening unit study, students will explore the development of surveillance technology in America from the Vietnam War to the present day, examining how government programs and private enterprises have fundamentally changed our relationship with privacy and security.
Learning Objectives
You will learn:
- How the Phoenix Program during the Vietnam War established a precedent for systematic data collection and surveillance that continues today
- The role of early computer systems like PROMIS and Main Core in tracking American citizens deemed potential threats to national security
- How the events of 9/11 transformed surveillance capabilities through programs like Total Information Awareness and expanded NSA powers
- The rise of private surveillance companies like Palantir that bridge government intelligence needs with corporate data collection
The forces in President Trump’s second administration pushing for digital IDs and programmable currencies that may further erode financial privacy
Course Overview
This curriculum provides a comprehensive overview of surveillance technologies that have shaped American society, helping students understand the complex balance between national security and individual liberties in our increasingly digital world.
Unit Study Table of Contents:
1. The Origins of Modern Surveillance: The Phoenix Program in the Vietnam War
2. The Role of the National Security Agency in Domestic Surveillance
3. PROMIS and Main Core: Reagan-Era Surveillance Technologies
4. The Post-9/11 Paradigm Shift: Total Information Awareness and NSA Expansion
5. Palantir’s Rise: Bridging CIA Collaboration and Corporate Surveillance
6. Consolidating Power: Intelligence Overhauls Under Bush and Obama
7. The Push for Digital IDs and Programmable Money
What’s Included
Designed for teens, this unit study provides:
- 7 readings
- Podcast version of readings for flexible learning
- A quiz to solidify your understanding
- Discussion activities to encourage critical thinking and dialogue
- Glossary of key terms for improving vocabulary and comprehension
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