Lesson Plan: Watts Uprising and the Militarization of Policing
Students will learn how racial discontent in the 1960s led to the creation of the nationโs first SWAT team, how the War on Drugs of the 1980s caused SWAT teams to be repurposed for drug raids, and how, in recent years, the SWAT approach to policing has fueled a nationwide trend: the militarization of local police departments.

Sign up to instantly access
โจfree resources for teachers
With 300+ short-form documentaries and dozens of educator-approved lesson plans, Retro Report brings history to life in your classroom.
Register for free to access classroom materials and student activities.
Already have an account? Sign In.
Thank you for registering!
