This album was created by a member of the TPS Teachers Network, a professional social media network for educators, funded by a grant from the Library of Congress. For more information, visit tpsteachersnetwork.org.

What’s the Price of Safety?: Understanding the Controversy Surrounding the Patriot Act

Album Description

The lesson focuses on the reasons why the Patriot Act was passed so quickly after 9/11 and the debate surrounding the law, both historically and today. Students will consider why the proponents of the Patriot Act felt that it was necessary to make sacrifices for national security, while others felt the law’s passage changed the fundamental nature of our democracy.

Includes a downloadable PDF lesson and editable Google Doc handouts.

Lesson written by: Claire Shweky, Special Music School, New York, New York 

  9 - 12   Social Studies/History   911   september11   teaching911   bestof 

9/11 Memorial & Museum | Primary Sources | “USA Patriot Act”

9/11 Memorial & Museum | Primary Sources | “Debate in the Senate Over the USA Patriot Act of 2001”

“Bush Signs Anti-Terrorism Legislation.”

What’s the Price of Safety_Understanding the Controversy Surrounding the Patriot Act | DOWNLOADABLE PDF

Teaching Notes

The lesson focuses on the reasons why the Patriot Act was passed so quickly after 9/11 and the debate surrounding the law, both historically and today. Students will consider why the proponents of the Patriot Act felt that it was necessary to make sacrifices for national security, while others felt the law’s passage changed the fundamental nature of our democracy.

Includes a PDF of the lesson and an editable Google Doc of handouts.

Lesson written by Claire Shweky, Special Music School, New York, New York 

  9 - 12    Social Studies/History    911    teaching911    september11  

What’s the Price of Safety?: Understanding the Controversy Surrounding the Patriot Act | GOOGLE DOC HANDOUTS

Teaching Notes

Google Doc handouts to accompany the lesson, "What’s the Price of Safety?: Understanding the Controversy Surrounding the Patriot Act."

Please make a copy of the file to edit.

  9 - 12    Social Studies/History    911    teaching911    september11  

Ann Telnaes,

Reference note

Ann Telnaes. "FBI." Cartoon. The Washington Post, June 25, 2002. From The Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online Catalog. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004666720/

Caption label from exhibit "Humor's Edge":Patriot Act and Privacy. https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/telnaes/telnaes-tab.html

This cartoon takes aim at Section 215 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, which allows federal agents to demand a person's library and bookstore records in the interests of national security. Critics charged that such action was a violation of civil liberties. In the cartoon, the girl who holds a copy of 1001 Arabian Nights, is being questioned by the FBI. "Librarians were great during that time," says Telnaes, "because they actively protested giving up their records."