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Legacy of Jimmy Carter

Angela Lee

Connects back to a previous question about current events - I was wondering how people here were covering Jimmy Carter’s passing, and connecting his his time as president with issues that are still very much in the current spotlight: conflict in the Middle East, with Iran, with Panama and even with climate? These have all been percolating in my mind as I watch footage of him in newscasts as he has been laid to rest.

  • Thanks for starting this thread Angela! In AP World, I'm about to start imperialism in the Middle East in the next few days so I was going to make a brief connection then to Jimmy Carter, especially since our flag will be at half massed. When I go into more detail on the conflict in the region in another month or so, I'll circle back and make more of a deeper connection using primary sources.

  • I teach in Georgia so most of my students had lessons on President Carter in elementary and middle school. On Thursday, I plan on streaming the funeral coverage for my students to watch as they complete their assignments. 

    We are in the middle of the industrial revolution, but I did make a note to circle back to his presidency during Units 8 and 9 for AP World. 

  •   I've been thinking a lot about President Carter's legacy because there are several topics we can connect to our courses. I teach AP Human Geography, and the Carter-Torrijos Treaty, in light of the Panama Canal reclamation, leads to discussions about sovereignty and territoriality. Similarly, his decision to install solar panels on the White House roof made him a pioneer in addressing climate change.

    One of the teachers at my school, a contributor to a local news channel, recently shared with us a short segment highlighting President Carter's policies towards immigrants from Cuba and Haiti during the Cold War. Miami, in particular, became the final destination for thousands of Marielitos, who were welcomed by his administration. Similarly, the Haitian community in Miami remains grateful to him, as many found the city to be a safe haven. Here is the video in case other teachers would like to use it.

    Key changes:

  • in reply to Katie Raby

    Makes sense that students in Georgia would all know about President Carter! I’m in MA and most of my students had no idea at all!

  • in reply to Laura Massa

    Thanks so much for sharing! Pinning the clip for use later when we get into the Cold War. 

  • in reply to Angela Lee

    Thanks,  , for starting this important thread, and   for sharing the resources and historical connections. I would get back to it in my AP World and APUSH classes. 

  • in reply to Mehreen Jamal

      and I am glad the reference is useful. I recently listened to an interview on NPR with an important Cuban artist (I think it was Carlos Alfonzo) from the Mariel Boatlift in 1980, where he expressed his gratitude for President Carter’s decision to welcome them to the U.S.