The world came to a halt in 2020 due to the COVID-19 virus. This timely book looks at how governments jumped into action, adapting their strategies as the pandemic evolved and changed. It also explores historical pandemic responses, the problems and challenges related to carrying out pandemic strategies, and how we can learn from the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare for the future. Free downloadable Teacher's Notes.
We know that countries enter into alliances and make treaties and agreements--but why are these important and how do they affect our lives? From the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to the Paris Agreement, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and free trade agreements (FTAs), this comprehensive book explores the reasons for and impacts of alliances and treaties. Free downloadable Teacher's Notes.
Learn about the brave people who make their living protecting their fellow citizens in this essential police force careers guide. Detailed bios and descriptions of operations and incidents faced by police give readers a realistic picture of what police force workers do.
From forensic scientists and intelligence agents in the field to cyber action teams and counter-terror workers, this exciting book examines the kinds of work done by people in undercover operations. Special attention is given to the skills and education required to do these specialized, often secretive, jobs. Real life stories in this book about the diverse careers in special operations will help you picture whether one of these jobs is for you.
From its roots in ancient Greece to its revitalization in the Age of Enlightenment and beyond, democracy as a form of government has changed over time. Find out what threats democracy faces today, and how it is a process that requires constant upkeep and renewal.
Democratic governments and processes are based on shared ideals for the common good of all citizens. Find out what these democratic values are and how to take part in democracy in your own country and community.
What is the difference between a representative democracy and an autocracy or dictatorship? Are all democracies equal? Why are some people attracted to authoritarian governments? This fascinating book explains why democracy can be a fragile form of government, requiring constant effort and attention from its citizens. Students are encouraged to investigate the ways their own governments respond to the needs and wants of its people.
Young people all over the world are doing it. Whether through anti-racism protests, taking part in model governments, or joining global climate strikes, youth are strengthening democracy by exercising one of the fundamental democratic rights: participation. This thoughtful book uses real life examples to show how citizens can exercise their rights and make their communities and countries more democratic, just, and fair--even when they are not yet old enough to vote.
What makes a protest and why are protests important to democracies? This timely book examines the phenomena of protests historically and discusses the different ways people voice their opinion to effect change.
Vaccines are substances that help protect people from diseases and they have been proven to save lives. So why has something that should reassure people become so controversial? This useful and timely book looks at the facts, viewpoints, and perspectives surrounding vaccines and how they became a crossroads between science and individual rights.
It is estimated about 150 million people around the world are homeless. What homelessness means, why people become homeless, and how governments and organizations work to end homelessness are some of the topics addressed in this detailed examination of a complex problem.
The act of segregation was a common thread woven throughout the world, directed at people of color. It takes great courage to stand up against racial injustice and many Black leaders sacrificed their lives to demand equality. Read about men and women who worked on behalf of all people of color including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Barack Obama, the founders of Black Lives Matter Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi, Patrisse Cullors, and many more.
Although there are benefits to buying and selling goods and services from country to country, many people are concerned that a global economy contributes to unfair wages and working conditions in many parts of the world. This interesting title examines the global economy and technological innovation, the exploitation of workers, and the 2008 economic crisis. Readers will gain an understanding of key concepts, such as fair trade, and find out how each of us can have a positive impact on workers around the world.
Laws are rules made by government. When followed, laws should ensure that people are treated fairly and equally—a pillar of justice in our society. This book explains how laws and legal systems work here and in different countries, and introduces readers to the relationship between law and justice. Using meaningful examples and compelling case studies, the book also tackles difficult questions about such things as civil rights, capital punishment, and prison systems. Discussion prompts encourage readers to examine their own beliefs.
A government is a group of people who provide rules and authority for the society they serve. Readers will learn that there are many different kinds of governments. Examples of governments around the world frame a discussion of why it is important that citizens have a say in who governs them and the decisions that get made. Activities encourage further discussion.
This interesting book describes the characteristics of a democracy, a political system in which the government's power comes from its citizens. Democratic governments around the world are featured to show examples of direct and representative democracy, how elections work, and the different checks and balances put in place to avoid the so-called "tyranny of the majority."
An important addition to any multicultural collection, this title examines the internment of “enemy aliens” in the United States and Canada during the Second World War. With particular emphasis on “yellow peril” and the plight of Japanese-American and Canadian citizens, the book reveals the events, mindsets, and policies leading up to and following the forced removal of thousands of citizens from their homes into internment camps. Using primary sources including real accounts of survivors, the title encourages readers to examine differing perspectives on the events and think critically about the complex relationship between citizenship and diversity in North America. A final chapter considers the lasting effects of internment - and how harmful stereotypes in today’s global climate run the risk of repeating past mistakes.
This thoughtful book describes the course of events that followed the end of World War II, and the war's long-term legacy. Readers will learn about war crimes trials in Japan and Germany. The Nuremburg Trials detailed the horrifying mass murder of six million Jews by the Nazis during the Holocaust. The Paris Peace Conference in 1947 redrew international boundaries and created the state of Israel in an attempt to ensure the survival of the Jewish people. It also split Germany into two parts, each occupied by different countries and setting the stage for a new kind of war - the "cold war." Discussion boxes describe reconstruction in Germany and Japan, what lessons leaders learned from the mistakes of WWI's Treaty of Versailles, and the founding of the United Nations.
This fascinating title sets the world scene in the two decades between the end of World War I and the start of World War II. Readers will get a snapshot of the political and economic situations around the world. Most countries experienced booming economies following WWI. But Germany, punished under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, suffered under great hardship. With the stock market crash in 1929 and the Great Depression that followed, the world found itself moving again toward war. Find out how the humiliation and poverty of the German people led to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party - and a second world war.
Brief and inspiring, the Gettysburg Address is one of the best-known and most revered speeches in American history. Given on the battlefield at Gettysburg by US President Abraham Lincoln, the speech reaffirms the cause of liberty at a crucial turning point in the Civil War. Readers are introduced to the social and political circumstances of the time, the significance of the bloody battle at Gettysburg, and Lincoln's masterful skill at writing memorable speeches.
Ruling queens and politicians are not unusual today, but the stories of their ancestors are often lost in time. This amazing book brings the remarkable lives of ruling women to light, examining the historic evidence that women have always been great and powerful leaders. Discover rulers throughout history, from the most powerful women in Europe, such as Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife to one king and mother to two others, to Mandukhai Katan, Mongol ruler and “second Ghenghis Khan.”
This highly relevant title examines terrorism in its different forms, from cyber attacks to bombings and state terrorism. Extremism and the ways in which people are convinced to believe extreme points of view are explained, balanced with information on how to combat radicalization. Historic and contemporary examples of terrorism also give readers context.
A Founding Father of the United States, Thomas Jefferson once wrote that a free press is important to a functioning democracy. In other words, without critical and reliable press, a society and government cannot be held to account. This engaging title takes a probing look at what press freedom and censorship means, as well as where people find information, who owns and controls the press in a “free world,” and what makes good, reliable journalism.
In this age of fast-paced social media, news and views are shared throughout the world in seconds. This timely title critically examines the elements of journalism, truth and perspective, sources of news, as well as bias and objectivity to help readers make informed choices about the accuracy of news and information. Readers will gain an understanding of what journalism is and how the medium can shape the message being presented.
This timely title discusses the creation of the atom bomb and the post-World War II nuclear arms race that shaped the consciousness of generations. Primary and secondary source materials such as contemporary photos, speeches, letters, and newspaper accounts are examined, offering readers insight into a world reeling from years of conflict, and the competing political and social ideologies of the former Soviet Union and the United States and its allies. Topics covered include the Manhattan Project, the dropping of the first atomic bombs, and the escalation of the arms race, as well as nuclear treaties and the relevance to today’s nuclear threats.