ASSIGNMENT: This project will involve RESEARCHING an episode from the relatively recent history of the United States in which the United States performed actions that may not have been in the best interest of its citizens. 

THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS:  The following list shows the project topic assignments for all students. Students will be asked to research, analyze and report on their topic for the rest of the class. :

• Experimentation on Citizens:  U.S. government experimentation on citizens-
  • The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment:  Did the government infect poor black men with venereal disease for over 40 years?
  • Project Sunshine: Did the government actually steal dead bodies to do radiation experiments?
  • Project MKULTRA:  Did the government conduct a 20 year experiment where soldiers and students were given various drugs, hallucinogens and other mind-altering substances?
  • Project SHAD: Did the government really use chemical warfare on our own soldiers?
  • Human Radiation Experiments: Did the government expose thousands and thousands of citizens to radiation over a 30 year period, just to see what might happen?
  • Big Tobacco: Did tobacco companies know the dangers of cancer for cigarette smokers for decades and did they cover it up, with the help of the US Government?
  • Operation Big Buzz/Drop Kick/Big Itch: Did the governement really conduct multiple experiments in the U.S. to test biological warfare using bugs?
  • Poisoning Alcohol: Did the Federal government really poison the alcohol that was sold by the public during Prohibition in the 1920s and '30s?
• Limiting Civil Liberties:  Government limiting the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution.
  • McCarthyism of the 1950s:  Was EVERYONE a communist in the 1950s?  McCarthy thought so and did what he could to find them.
• Foreign Policy Issues: Control or manipulation of foreign agents and government to further United States interests.
  • Operation Paperclip: Did we really recruit a large number of Nazi war criminals to help us design the Atomic Bomb during World War II?
  • The Gulf of Tonkin Incident: Did the United States government invent a military skirmish that eventually led to the Vietnam War?
  • "Family Jewels": Did the CIA really conspire to assassinate country leaders around the world?
  • Project SHAMROCK: Did the government use telecommunications data to spy on American citizens?
  • Operation Northwoods: Did the CIA commit acts of terror within the U.S. and blame it on Cuba, so as to justify military action against Cuba?
  • OPERATION PLUMBBOB: Did the government explode nuclear bombs just to test their effects on soldiers and civilians?
  • The Church Report: Was the CIA responsible for poisoning and assassinating a number of South American leaders in an effort to destabilize governments?
  • Weapons of Mass Destruction: Did the government invent "Weapons" in Iraq to justify a war?
• Control of the Press and Information
  • Cointelpro: The FBI, through the program called "Cointelpro," targets 2000+ prominent citizens for smear campaigns.
  • CIA Kennedy Assassination: Was the CIA responsible for the assassination of JFK and then the coverup afterwards?
  • Watergate:  Did the President cover up office break-ins that he conducted to further his own campaign?
  • The Iran-Contra Affair: Did we sell arms to Iran in exchange for hostages? Did the CIA get the money for these arms by selling illegal drugs in our country? What did the president know?
  • Weapons of Mass Destruction: Did we invent nuclear weapons in an attempt to start a war?

RESEARCH AND PRESENTATION:  Students will be required to research their topic. You can use AI for general information and suggestions of how to put a paper together.

(YOU CANNOT HAVE AI WRITE YOUR PAPER FOR YOU. IF YOU HAVE EVIDENCE OF AI GENERATED MATERIAL, YOU WILL RECEIVE A ZERO ON THIS PAPER.)

You will write a 5 page, double spaced paper that discuss the following information:

• The history of your event/program.  Give basic information regarding what happened, when (dates), how and why? Who was responsible for the program?
• Here is a listing of the REQUIRED ELEMENTS THAT MUST SHOW UP IN YOUR PAPER:
  • BACKGROUND INFORMATION: This section discussed the DATES and background information regarding this conspiracy. Who is involved? What is happening? What does the government claim to be doing, what is their justification?
  • HARM TO THE PUBLIC: This section discusses how the public was hurt or lied to by this situation. This includes harm to US citizens, inappropriate actions by government, misuse of funds, resources, etc. It can also refer to outright lies and manipulations by the government to the people.
  • CONCLUSION: This section discuss whether the conspiracy is TRUE OR FALSE, and why. How was this activity discovered? Please note if the government in any form has admitted their involvement and/or issued apologies for this activity and what changes may have been made to prevent this type of activity in the future.

FORMAT: This paper will be in APA formatting, in 12 POINT TIMES NEW ROMAN font, double spaced with an extra space between paragraphs, complete with INLINE CITATIONS and a proper SOURCES PAGE with at least SIX credible, historical sources.

SUBMISSION: Please SHARE your completed paper with Mr. B., so that he can link them for the other members of the class!

GRADING: The paper will be judged based on three criteria: 

1. PRESENTATION: Professional and well documented paper. Proper formatting, sources page and citations. TOTAL= 50 pts.
2. INFORMATION imparted on the presentation: How thoroughly does the student address the required points above and impart that information in their paper. How knowledgeable does the writer appear to be regarding the subject? TOTAL= 50 pts.