2_Social Issues

International IssuesPart E

World Power: USA

CONNECT: Dingbats/Say what you see

Home Coming Home Coming Scotland 2009 was a year of events were

scheduled to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns and were meant to attract overseas visitors of Scottish heritage, particularly from the US. It attracted 95,000 new visitors to Scotland.

Scots have travelled the world, settling everywhere from America and Australia to Nova Scotia and New Zealand, influencing life in these and many other countries.

Scotland is to stage a second year of Homecoming in 2014.The event will coincide with the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup, as well as the 700th anniversary of the

Battle of Bannockburn.

Design a poster promoting the 2014 Home Coming.

Arguments for and Against Immigration: Read and pick the top two for each side

FOR: Some of the most intelligent

and ambitious individuals, who are unsatisfied with their own countries bring their skills to the USA.

It increases the diversity and expands the culture of the country

Immigrants often take low-paying jobs, such as food service and hotel cleaning, which many Americans do not want to do at such low wages.

It improves the overall image of the USA internationally

It gives struggling people all over the world an opportunity for a better life.

AGAINST: May result in more

opportunities for terrorists, drug dealers and other criminals entering the country.

Poor immigrants use high levels of resources

National identity and language is disappearing

Emigration to the USA hurts the country that is left

Less-skilled American citizens earn less money and have fewer job opportunities

Obama wanted to make it easier for illegal immigrants to gain legal status once they had been in the USA for a certain length of time. Do you think this was a popular idea? Why or why not?

Mexican Border ControlAfter the 9/11 attacks, further efforts were taken by Homeland Security to strengthen border security. In 2006 1100km of security fencing in areas along the border with Mexico prone to drug trafficking and illegal immigration. It was supposed to be operational by 2011 but technical problems have meant it was stopped at the end of 2011. Taxpayers spent $1bn dollars for protection on 85km of border.

In 2014 there are groups with names like Patriots and Citizen Defenders, who have set up camp on private land along the border at the property owner’s invitation.

To critics, they are militias - vigilantes spoiling for a fight. For would-be migrants, they are another barrier to entry. For the U.S. Border Patrol, they can be either a nuisance or a help in spotting people trying to enter the country illegally.

The topic is the Mexican Border Patrol

You have 10 minutes to study up.

Mastermind

Read the Handout:“Stars and stripes in our eyes: what's so special about the American way?”

Explain how this demonstrates that America influences us socially?

American Dream V American Reality

The USA prides itself on a free enterprise economy and the idea that all citizens are born equal and thus anyone can achieve the American Dream.

Although hard work and self-help can enable American Citizens to prosper and succeed, this is not the reality for many ethnic minorities.

REALITY: The USA is an unequal society and millions of Americans live in poverty.

Education

Success in education often effects what job you get and therefore what wage you earn. Currently whites have greater success in education and therefore better paid jobs.

Why is there inequality in education?

Half of the money that is needed to operate schools comes from the state and the remaining half is raised through local property and sales taxes. Areas which have high property values have high quality schools – latest ICT, best teachers, while poorer areas even find it difficult to fund the basics. Schools in ghettos or barrios are short of resources and teachers.

A lack of role models and home encouragement makes learning difficult, creating a cycle of poverty.

Social Issues: Education

Explain in your own words why there is inequality in education in the USA.

Factors which have an impact on success in education:

Location:

There are more white students in suburban and rural areas. Black, Hispanic and Asian Pacific/Islanders are more likely to be found in cities.

Poverty:

In 2010-11 48% of fourth graders were eligible for free or subsidised lunches, including 77% of Hispanic, 74% of black , 43% of Asian Pacific/Islanders and 29% of white.

Language barriers:

In 2010 69% of Hispanic and 64% of Asian Pacific/Islander spoke another language apart from English at home.

Dropout rate:

Asian Pacific/Islander – 3%

Whites – 5%

Blacks – 9%

Hispanic – 18%

Explain why each of these factors can cause problems for young people in education.

Summary Location Poverty Language barriers Drop out rates

One example of Government Response to tackle inequality.

There have been numerous attempts to reform education to change inequality. With different causes for the inequality it is difficult to resolve.

The American Recovery Reinvestment Act 2012

A promise to invest money in education to provide jobs and provide long term wealth. $77bn dollars to strengthen schools Give all schools highly qualified teachers Give support and help to low performing schools $30bn to make college more affordable

Create a spider diagram to demonstrate the ways in which the American Recovery Reinvestment Act aims to reduce

inequality

Housing

There are huge differences in terms of houses and neighbourhoods in the USA. Housing can have a big impact

on people’s lives.

Why?Ghettos-

Inner city area where nearly everyone is from an ethnic minority. Most ghettos are poor. Some black parts of Queens in New York, are richer than some of the white parts.

Common problems- Increasing rates of unemployment Poverty Violence and gang culture Drug trafficking Deteriorating houses Environmental issues, e.g. rubbish

All of the above can lead to a feeling of resentment, not being part of a community, which can lead to violence or higher

crime rates. It can also lead to political apathy no one cares so there is no point in voting – no one is going to make a

difference.

Why continued…

Suburbs

Areas on the outer edges of the city. People usually share similar backgrounds with regard to race, socio-economic status and age. As suburbs have grown the middle income middle class people have left the cities.

Attractions: New buildings Clean Streets Better funded schools Sense of security Less Crime Less Poverty

Government Response:The Department of Housing and Urban Development has developed a range of responses to try and solve the problems:

72% rental assistance – type of housing benefit to help low income people afford housing.

Budget is $47.9 billion is said to provide housing.

Who experiences inequalities? Which groups do you think are most vulnerable?

• Children

• Ethnic Minorities

• Women

These people don’t have something…What is it?Housing, Medical Care, Education

9.8% of children 13.9% of whites, 33% of Hispanics, 22% of blacks and

18% of Asians/Pacific Islanders

Medical Care

Illness and early death are more likely to be experienced by ethnic minorities

Health

Americans are not all equal when it comes to their health. Private Health care ensures that those with money have the opportunity to be healthier than poorer Americans.

Why unequal?

USA does not have a National Health Service that is free to use. There were 49.9 million uninsured Americans in 2010 (16%

of pop) No private medical insurance 256 million in 2010 27% of people earning less than $25,000 a year were

uninsured.

Why uninsured? Unemployed Employer may not provide healthcare Don’t qualify for Medicare (people over 65) or Medicaid

(poor people) – these schemes are government funded.

Government Responses:

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as ‘Obamacare’, was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in March 2010. This gives people more health security by reducing the cost of medical insurance and improving the quality of healthcare. President Obama estimates the bill will cost $940 billion over a ten year period from 2014.

Was very controversial – Republicans very against it Every state will have a health insurance exchange Insurers must accept all applicants and not charge sick

people more All Americans must take out health insurance if you don’t

you will be fined Low incomes will receive help with the payment Move towards universal coverage

Describe what the ACA hopes to achieve?

Crime and Justice

When we consider the population of ethnic minorities in the USA and compare it with the prison population, there appears to be a link.

What conclusion could you draw about the following figures:

Percentage of prisoners by Ethnic Group –*white 32%*Black 39%*Hispanic 23%

Death row population by race – *Black 42%*Latino 12%*White 43%

Crime continued…Most crimes that are committed in the USA take place in inner city areas.

These are often ghetto areas dominated by blacks and Hispanics.

Arguments that discrimination happens at many levels within the Criminal Justice System:

On arrest When being tried in court In terms of prison sentences The use of the death penalty

Black and Hispanic prisoners are generally younger and imprisoned at higher rates than

white prisoners.

Gun CrimeThe USA has the highest gun ownership rate in the world: there are 89 guns for every 100 Americans, compared to just 6 in England and Wales and 4 in Scotland.

8,583 murders caused by firearms California highest gun murders

Government Response: 2013 Obama made proposals to reduce this after the

Sandy Hook Shootings Expand background checks 54 senators backed the plan, but that was 6 short of the

60 votes needed – the amendment was rejected.

Obama's Response to Sandy Hook Shooting

After the vote, Obama delivered a stinging rebuke to the senators who blocked the proposals, and the National Rifle Association. "This is a pretty shameful day for Washington," he said.

Huffington Post: Obama's response to the failure of the Gun Bill

Family Structure:Family life is very much the image of life in USA. In recent years there has been a change in family structure and a breakdown of the traditional family unit.

80% of children born in ghetto areas are born into single parent families.

Decline in marriage very severe for African-Americans. By 2010 only 55% of black adults had ever married, compared with 64% of Hispanics and 76% of whites.

As the single parent is often the mother, what long term impact can this have on the child and that community?

85% of single parents are mothers As many as half of US children will live in a one parent

household at one point in their life. Poverty is wide spread and severe in single parent

families…and higher for women of colour.

Why?

22% live in extreme poverty

Government Response:

Obama was raised by a single parent, he is committed to trying to encourage fathers to stand by their families. Home visits by professionals Nutritious school meals Flexible work policies, such as paid sick leave Child tax credit to additional 10 million children in

working families Head Start – promotes school readiness of children

from birth to 5 Early Head Start – pregnant women

American Dream? 2011 the official poverty rate was 15% In 2013 more than 19 million whites fell below the

poverty line for a family of four, accounting for more than 41% of the nations destitute.

Hispanic 13% in poverty Blacks 28% Asians 12%

Reflect

Summarise key issues from this lesson cycle