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Government and the Human Experience: Stories from the 20th Century

This three-course series invites students to explore the relationship between government and everyday life through powerful autobiographical literature set in the mid-twentieth century. Rather than approaching history through textbooks alone, students engage directly with firsthand accounts—stories written by individuals who experienced life under some of the most influential political systems of the modern world.

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Across the series, students examine key ideas in government philosophy, including the nature of power, the meaning of freedom, and the responsibilities individuals hold within society. Through guided reading and discussion, they analyze how different systems—authoritarian, communist, and totalitarian—shape belief, behavior, and opportunity. At the same time, students build a strong foundation in world history, studying major events such as the Cultural Revolution, the Cold War, and World War II.

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By combining literature and history, this series helps students develop critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and a deeper understanding of how individuals respond to government authority. Students learn not only what happened in the twentieth century, but also how real people navigated complex political realities—equipping them with the tools to think thoughtfully about government, rights, and responsibility today.

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Course 1:
Understanding Power: The Story of Ji-li Jiang

Format: Two 75-minute class sessions twice a week for six weeks during Summer Session, one 75-minute class session a week for twelve weeks during Autumn Session or Spring Session

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In this introductory course, students explore how governments shape belief, identity, and daily life through the powerful memoir Red Scarf Girl. Set during the Cultural Revolution under Mao Zedong, the course introduces foundational concepts of government, including authoritarian rule, propaganda, censorship, and social control.

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Students examine how political ideology influences education, family relationships, and personal choices while building essential skills in critical reading and historical thinking.

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Academic Benefits

  • Develops critical reading and memoir analysis skills

  • Builds foundational understanding of government structures

  • Strengthens ability to identify bias, propaganda, and perspective

  • Introduces cause-and-effect reasoning in historical events

  • Encourages connections between personal narrative and larger systems

History & Government Concepts

  • Structure of a one-party authoritarian state

  • Role of ideology in governance (communism/Maoism)

  • Use of propaganda and censorship

  • Political movements and youth mobilization

  • Social classification and political persecution

  • Differences between theoretical and practiced government systems

Course 2:
Choosing Freedom: The Story of Brother Andrew

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Building on foundational knowledge of government systems, this course shifts to the question of individual rights and freedom. Through God’s Smuggler, students explore life behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War and examine how communist governments restricted religious expression and personal liberty.

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Students analyze the tension between government authority and individual conscience, evaluating the risks and responsibilities involved in resisting unjust restrictions.

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Academic Benefits

  • Strengthens analytical and ethical reasoning skills

  • Builds understanding of global political systems during the Cold War

  • Encourages evaluation of real-world decision-making under pressure

  • Develops comparison skills between different forms of government

  • Introduces discussion-based and argument-based learning

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History & Government Concepts

  • Characteristics of communist governments in Eastern Europe

  • Natural rights vs. government-granted rights

  • Freedom of religion and expression

  • Civil disobedience and nonviolent resistance

  • Differences between democratic and authoritarian systems

  • The role of individuals in challenging government authority

Course 3:
Acting with Courage: The Story of Corrie ten Boom

(Grades 6–8 and 9–12)

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In the final course, students examine moral responsibility under extreme injustice through The Hiding Place. Set during World War II and the rise of Nazism under Adolf Hitler, this course explores totalitarian government, persecution, and the moral choices individuals face in times of crisis.

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Students engage with complex questions about justice, obedience, and courage, applying their understanding of government systems to real historical decisions.

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Academic Benefits

  • Develops advanced ethical and philosophical reasoning

  • Deepens understanding of World War II and the Holocaust

  • Strengthens skills in evaluating moral dilemmas

  • Builds historical empathy and perspective-taking

  • Encourages synthesis of ideas across the full course series

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History & Government Concepts

  • Structure and characteristics of totalitarian regimes

  • Legal vs. moral responsibility

  • State-sponsored persecution and genocide

  • Civilian resistance under authoritarian rule

  • Justice, law, and human rights

  • The role of individuals in confronting injustice

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