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USA PATRIOT Act of 2001

Lesson Plan

The events of 9/11 changed the government’s approach to fighting terrorism. In this mini-lesson, students gain an overview of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and how it changed the way government security agencies function. After analyzing the Act’s impact on terrorism, students consider the government’s dual role to protect people and individual rights.

How to use this lesson: Use this lesson by itself or pair it with more iCivics resources, like the Supreme Court case Clapper v. Amnesty (2013) or You’ve Got Rights!. For more suggestions, see the downloadable teacher resources below.

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Teacher Resources

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Patriot Act Lesson Plan - What is the Patriot Act?
Patriot Act Lesson Plan - Patriot Act Activities

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