2. Introduction
This unit of study will
help you learn the
following important
common core
curriculum standards.
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3. Common Core Writing Standard
Write informative/explanatory
texts to examine a topic and
convey ideas and information
clearly.
4. Text Types and Purposes
Write arguments to support
claims in an analysis of
substantive topics or texts using
valid reasoning and relevant and
sufficient evidence
5. Speaking and Listening
Engage effectively in a range of
collaborative discussions with
diverse partners on topics and
texts, building on others’ ideas and
expressing their own clearly
6. Production and Distribution of
Writing
Develop and strengthen writing as
needed by planning, revising, editing,
rewriting, or trying a new approach.
Use technology, including the
internet, to produce and publish
writing as well as to interact and
collaborate with others.
7. Research
Conduct short as well as more sustained
research projects to answer a question or solve
a problem; synthesize multiple sources on the
subject, demonstrating understanding of the
subject under investigation
Gather relevant information from multiple print
and digital sources, using advanced searches
effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of
each source, and integrate the information while
avoiding plagiarism
8. Take Notes
As we proceed through this
unit of study, you will need
to take careful notes. The
information you gather will
be useful in completing
research projects.
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15. The “separate but equal” court
decision kept the races apart
through segregation.
16. Class Discussion
Do you think having separate but equal
schools for boys and girls is fair?
Would it be fair to require Hispanic
students to go to a separate school from
other students as long as the schools were
equal in quality?
Is separation of people based on race
legal under our Constitution?
18. Over a period of 58 years, Americans’
views and legal opinions matured enough
to recognize that SEPARATE WAS NOT
EQUAL. The combined efforts of civil
rights activists and courageous leaders like
Martin Luther King, Jr. led to action by the
Supreme Court.
20. Brown v. Board of Education became a
landmark Supreme Court decision in which
the Court declared state laws that created
separate public schools for black and
white students to be unconstitutional. The
Court ruled that this was a violation of the
Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
21.
22. The decision provided an
opportunity for children of all
races to attend school together.
23. Class Discussion
If you had to argue in front of the Supreme
Court and defend having children of all
races attend school together, what
arguments would you make?
Can you support your point of view with
logical arguments?
24. 1955
In 1955, Rosa Parks was
arrested for refusing to give up
her bus seat to a white man.
At that time, Alabama state law
required African Americans to sit
in the back of the bus and give up
their seats to white bus riders.
25. Rosa Parks drew national attention
to the racial discrimination that
African Americans faced in
southern states. As a result of her
heroic action, other activists were
able to gain support for the civil
rights movement.
26. Class Discussion
Do you think that Rosa Parks should have
broken state law and refused to give up
her seat?
What would you have done in that
situation?
Did Rosa Parks accomplish anything with
her actions?
27. Federal laws and Supreme Court decisions
sometimes come into conflict with state
and local laws. When that happens,
federal law must be followed. However, if
a state refuses to obey the federal law,
the federal government can choose to
send in federal troops to enforced the
implementation of the law. This was the
case in Arkansas in 1957.
30. Federal Troops enforced the integration of
Arkansas high schools and protected the
rights of African American students to attend
class.
31. With federal government support, schools in
the South finally allowed white and black
students to attend classes together.
32. In 1960, the Supreme Court ruled that segregated
public buses were unconstitutional. However, the
southern states ignored the ruling and refused to
enforce the law. As a result, civil rights activists
organized “freedom rides” to demonstrate their
rights to ride integrated buses.
33.
34. The freedom riders rode all over the
South to bring attention to unjust
segregation. Young people of mixed
races rode together to challenge
southern discrimination.
35. In 1963, several hundred thousand people
marched to Washington, D.C. to demonstrate for
civil and economic rights for African Americans.
36. The march on Washington put pressure on
Congress to pass new legislation in support
of civil rights.
37. Class Discussion
Why would legislation be
necessary for civil rights?
How does legislation get passed?
38. During the march on Washington, Martin
Luther King, Jr. delivered one of the most
memorable speeches in U.S. history.
40. • The “I Have a Dream” speech rallied
widespread support for civil rights
legislation.
41. Class Discussion
Most people consider Martin Luther
King, Jr. a very important and
influential leader.
What qualities and characteristics
do you think are important for
great leaders?
42. Martin Luther King Jr.’s
dream for justice began
to be realized in 1964
and is still a work in
progress.
43. The momentum for action
resulted in the landmark “Civil
Rights Act” of 1964.
45. Justice for African Americans
came ten years after
Brown v. Board of Education
and Rosa Parks with the
passage of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964
46. Class Discussion
Which laws have priority, state laws or
federal laws? Why?
Which laws do you think should “ rule the
day”, federal or state?
Are there any laws that states get to
determine for themselves?
48. During the twentieth century civil disobedience has
been used to help change laws that were perceived
by some as unjust. Civil disobedience is defined as
the act of disobeying a law on grounds of moral or
political principle. It is sometimes one of the
methods used to influence society and change
points of view about a law. When civil disobedience
is nonviolent, it can be an effective tool for change.
Illegal street demonstrations and peaceful
occupations of buildings are examples of civil
disobedience.
51. Class Discussion
What is a boycott?
Is it fair to boycott a business
because you don’t like their practices?
In what kind of situations do you
think a boycott might be effective?
52. The Road to Civil Rights
Brown v. Board of Education
Separate but equal struck down 1954
Rosa Parks bus boycott 1955
Lunch counter sit-ins 1960’s
Civil Rights freedom riders 1960’s
Martin Luther King Jr. March on Washington,
D.C. “I have a Dream” speech 1963
Civil Rights Act 1964-Outlawed discrimination
61. True or False 4
In 1957 the President of the
U.S. used federal troops in
Arkansas to force the
governor and state national
guard to step aside and
obey federal law.
67. True or False 7
Brown verses the Board of Education
was a Supreme Court Decision that
guaranteed minorities the right to a free
four year college education.
69. True or False 8
The use of federal troops in Arkansas in
1957 to force the governor to obey the
law to integrate the schools is a good
example of how federal law supercedes
state law when the two are in conflict.
70. True 8
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