1. Modern American Conspiracy Theories

2. What is a Conspiracy?
A secret plan made by two or more people to do something that is harmful or illegal
The Lincoln assassination
Watergate break-in and cover-up
Conspiracy theories
Cannot be proven or disproven
Can be made increasingly elaborate
“That’s what they want you to think”
Lack evidence or data to support cause

3. Who believes in conspiracy theories?
In general, normal people
About ¼ of Americans on average
Probably many of you…
People who believe in one will usually believe in several
People will believe in contradicting theories
bin Laden was dead before the raid
bin Laden is still alive

4. “Common” Conspiracies
Illuminati and the New World Order
Climate change hoax to increase taxes & gov’t control
Barack Obama is a Muslim/not born in U.S.
Vaccines cause autism
Cell phones cause cancer
bin Laden is alive
Obamacare death panels
Paul is dead
1985 NBA draft
Fluoridation of water
Chemtrails
Gov’t response to Hurricane Katrina
“New” Coca-Cola
The reptilian elite
Common Core is anti-Christian, anti-American
Invention of new diseases

5. Why do people believe?
Hofstadter (1964) “The Paranoid Style of American Politics” – a long history of paranoia
Powerful, secret societies working against the American ideals of liberty, democracy, and equality
Someone is out to get us (Freemasons, Catholics, communists)
The internet and social media allow for rapid and ubiquitous communication
Deep-rooted distrust of authority
Lack of tangible evidence

6. Why do people believe? We want an easy answer
Science/medicine is complicated or upsetting
The brain looks for concrete patterns
To make sense of a tragic event
Has to be more to it… (secret plot)
Can’t accept a cause that is senseless
Dislike of person, people, or organization
Reasonable fears/concerns turn to hysteria
Personal interest

7. Five Options for this Project
The government covered up the crash of an alien spacecraft in Roswell, NM in 1947 and keeps it at Area 51
Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone in the 1963 assassination of JFK
The 1969 moon landing was faked
HIV was created by the CIA to wipe out gay people and African Americans
The September 11, 2001 attacks were an inside job

8. Your Task What is the historical narrative?
What actually happened
Why is the event historically significant?
What is/are the conspiracy theory(ies) surrounding the event?
Why do they have appeal?
What biases or questions exist? (use reasoning)
Evaluate theory. What are the counterarguments?