Seniors Explore Conspiracy Theories and Their Impact on American Society
Whether it is the magic bullet that killed President Kennedy or the Illuminati controlling the word, everyone has heard many conspiracy theories and maybe even believe some of them. But does a conspiracy theory about the moon landing being filmed on a soundstage by a famous director affect society? How would a conspiracy theory about Pearl Harbor having been orchestrated by the US government affect the American government if proven to be true?
Senior Civics students are researching a plethora of conspiracy theories, including theories about the September 11th Attacks, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Assassination, the development of AIDS, and Area 51. Through this research, students will learn new information about the official stories many report and believe in as well as the alternate stories pushed by a few. Students are discovering new theories and evidence they never knew existed.
Then, students are asking why. Why do these stories exist? Who benefits from these conspiracy theories? Who benefits from the official story? How do we know what to believe in? Each conspiracy theory has a few main individuals and groups working to convince the world their version of events is what really happened- whether it is the official story or an alternate one. Students are analyzing these individuals’ and groups’ theories and what they gain in order to determine credibility.
Finally, students are analyzing the impact these theories may have on society and the American government through a written essay. How do these theories change the way people see the world? Their government? Their surroundings? Does this impact the way they vote? Does it impact the way they behave? As students work through these theories, they are answering these questions and developing an idea of how people come to believe in and view the world around us.