Procedures

• SET UP

  This lesson offers several options for you to use with your students whether you are teaching in class, using a hybrid model, or engaging through distance learning. It can be completed in steps as a class, or students can move at their own pace and complete the activities independently.

  You can post links to the videos in the lesson along with the related Graphic Organizer and Choice Board and engage in discussion to share responses on a discussion board or learning management system.

  You can also save and share the following Google resources for students to use with this lesson.

  Graphic Organizer: What are Congressional Investigations? (Google Doc)

  Choice Board Activity: What are Congressional Investigations? (Google Slides)

  In Google, choose "File" then "Make a Copy" to get your own copy. You can make any needed adjustments in the instructions such as which activities students need to complete, when it is due, etc. and then make it available to them via Google.

• WARMUP

  Pose the following questions to your students, directing them to record their responses on the Google Doc, share with a partner, and then with the class if they choose.

  • What is an investigation?

  • Why do authorities conduct investigations?

• VOCABULARY

  Direct your students to their graphic organizers to view and define the vocabulary terms that will appear in the lesson in the chart in their graphic organizer handout. The vocabulary words are also listed to the right on this webpage.

  Additional vocabulary terms related to each specific congressional investigation can be found with each clip that students can define prior to viewing their selected video.

• INTRODUCTION:

  Have students view the two video clips below that provide an overview of congressional investigations and the process involved in conducting them. Students can take notes on their graphic organizers. Use the accompanying prompts to guide class discussion.

  Video Clip 1: Why Are There Congressional Investigations? (1:34)

  • According to Christine Blackerby, what are the four main reasons Congress may conduct investigations?

  • Explain the constitutionality for Congress to conduct investigations as Christine Blackerby explained.

• After viewing the video below, discuss the following steps that are typically found in congressional investigations as Christine Blackerby highlighted:

  Spark, Authorization to Investigate, Hearings, Report, Legislation

  Video Clip 2: Steps in Congressional Investigations (2:25)

• EXPLORATION

  Direct students to the Exploration section of their handout and have them review the list of congressional investigations that are featured and listed below. They should choose at least two topics to view videos to learn more about them and complete the related section in the chart. Once completed, engage in a class discussion so students can share their findings. This section can also be a jigsaw activity.

• Video Clip 3: 1st Congressional Investigation (2:09)

  Christine Blackerby talked about the first investigation conducted by Congress in the late 1700s regarding a military defeat by a group of Native American Tribal Nations.

• Video Clip 4: Titanic (2:37)

  Christine Blackerby reviewed the process involved in the congressional investigation following the sinking of the Titanic in April 1912.

• Video Clip 5: Stock Market Crash (2:49)

  Christine Blackerby discussed the congressional investigation into the stock market crash of 1929 which was a catalyst to the Great Depression.

• Video Clip 6: Pearl Harbor (2:16)

  Christine Blackerby explained why a congressional investigation was conducted in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

• Video Clip 7: National Defense Program (2:28)

  Christine Blackerby talked about the congressional investigation into appropriations for war preparation prior to the United States entering World War 2.

• Video Clip 8: Japanese Internment Camps (3:05)

  Christine Blackerby discussed the Japanese American incarceration camps that were built during World War 2 and the subsequent investigation into them by Congress.

• Video Clip 9: Domestic Communism (3:03)

  Christine Blackerby talked about the congressional investigation into domestic Communism in the early 1950s.

• Video Clip 10: Organized Crime (2:55)

  Christine Blackerby highlighted the congressional investigation led by TN Senator Estes Kefauver into organized crime in the United States in the 1950s.

• Video Clip 11: Watergate (5:36)

  Christine Blackerby explained what occurred during the Watergate scandal in 1972 during President Nixon's administration and the congressional investigation that followed.

• Video Clip 12: September 11, 2001 (2:47)

  Christine Blackerby talked about the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001 and the subsequent investigations into how this occurred.

• CONCLUSION

  Ask students to view the following video clip. Then, engage in class discussion to wrap up the lesson.

  Video Clip 13: Significance of Congressional Investigations (0:59)

  According to Christine Blackerby, why is it important for the public to learn about congressional investigations?

• REFLECTION

  Have students consider the information they learned from viewing the videos as well as class discussion and write a response to the following prompt:

  Explain the significance of Congress conducting investigations and how it impacts the country.

  Students should be sure to include evidence from the video clips in the lesson.

• EXTENSION ACTIVITY

  Have students research a congressional investigation of their choice and identify why it was conducted and the outcome of the inquiry. Students can explore the C-SPAN Video Library to create video clips related to their topic and present their findings to the class.