Lesson Plan: Stealing J. Edgar Hoover’s Secrets
Grades 9-12
A break-in at a F.B.I. office in Media, Pa., was followed by a massive leak of documents that provided the first tangible evidence that J. Edgar Hoover’s F.B.I. was systematically targeting and harassing hundreds of American citizens, then known collectively as the New Left. Congressional investigations soon led to more revelations of secret, illegal F.B.I. actions, including the creation of the Cointelpro program. The burglars were never caught, despite a five-year investigation.
In this lesson, students will explore the discovery of the Cointelpro program and its impact on public discourse and policy shifts surrounding the delicate balance between the government’s ability to maintain national security measures while respecting individual privacy and civil liberties.
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