In this video segment, poet Sonia Sanchez recites her poem Malcolm, as a eulogy to the slain civil rights leader, Malcolm X. Recorded for Eyes on the Prize.

Before there was Brown v. Board, there was Barbara Johns, a teenager who organized a student walkout for better conditions for her segregated school. Use this new video to discuss the history of school desegregation and the role of young people in leading change. [2:05]

After viewing video excerpts from American Experience: The Abolitionist, students will complete a lesson on abolitionism and reflect on the meaning of patriotism and civil rights. [6:55]

Students have the right to have fun in this lesson in which they create a PowerPoint presentation about civil rights and the Supreme Court.

Students study select court transcripts and other primary source materials from the second Scottsboro Boys Trial of 1933, a continuation of the first trial in which two young white women wrongfully accused nine African American teenagers of rape.

This video [5:08] from American Masters: Harper Lee: Hey, Boo describes what life was like for those who challenged the system of segregation in the South in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Highlighting observations from cultural and literary icons as well as average American citizens, this video features important commentary that addresses the issues presented in To Kill a Mockingbird and how the public reacted to the novel when it was first published in 1960. Teaching materials are included.

Arrested for taking down the Confederate flag at the South Carolina State House grounds in 2015, Bree Newsome describes how she became an activist, in this video from Eyes on the Prize: Then and Now. While she has always been politically conscious, Newsome says the Trayvon Martin case forced her from the sidelines and into the streets. She describes her own iconic moment, like Rosa Parks' before her, as deliberately intended to capture attention and focus the conversation on human rights. Support materials are provided. [3:00]

One of the most compelling novels of the twentieth century, Beloved by Toni Morrison has been read in classrooms across the country since its publication in 1987. The novel follows Sethe's escape to freedom, the murder of her child, and her difficult psychological journey as she copes with her past as a slave.  As both an historical account of the experiences of slavery and an insightful novel about a supernatural ghost, this text is ideal for upper level high school students and students in AP programs.

Public addresses, letters, and narratives about the absence of and the need for citizenship rights for African Americans. Links to resources used to lobby for equal rights are provided at the top of the page.

Primary resource material explores the outcome of civil rights protests and the Civil Rights Movement and examines what remains yet to overcome. Links to supplemental materials, discussions questions and notes.

Series of 10 primary resources explores African American identity from 1917 to 1968, examining the changing notions of identity and affects on the definition of African American community.

The classic American drama Twelve Angry Men can be used to frame discussion of the constitutional right and civic function of the trial by jury. The lesson explores the specific provisions associated with this right as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the system.

U.S. History is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of most introductory courses. The text provides a balanced approach to U.S. history, considering the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the United States from both the top down (politics, economics, diplomacy) and bottom up (eyewitness accounts, lived experience). U.S. History covers key forces that form the American experience, with particular attention to issues of race, class, and gender.Senior Contributing AuthorsP. Scott Corbett, Ventura CollegeVolker Janssen, California State University, FullertonJohn M. Lund, Keene State CollegeTodd Pfannestiel, Clarion UniversityPaul Vickery, Oral Roberts UniversitySylvie Waskiewicz

The Kennedy Promise
Lyndon Johnson and the Great Society
The Civil Rights Movement Marches On
Challenging the Status Quo

This curated set of US history lesson plans, units, and C3-style inquiries is designed to help you incorporate the themes of democracy and freedom into your US history course.

These resources introduce voices not often included in textbooks, examine historic and ongoing injustices, and explore the lived experiences of many Americans. Primary sources throughout the collection highlight the work of those in our country who have demanded greater freedom and expanded civil and human rights.

Collection Essential Question: What do democracy and freedom mean in US history and in our society today?

U.S. History is designed for a two-semester American history sequence. It is traditional in coverage, following a roughly chronological outline, and using a balanced approach that includes political, economic, social, and cultural developments. At the same time, the book includes a number of innovative and interactive features designed to enhance student learning. Instructors can also customize the book, adapting it to the approach that works best in their classroom.

A document on Reconstruction written by Fredrick Douglass. He argues particularly for voting rights for blacks as the most necessary step to avoid the kinds of state's rights conflicts that brought about the Civil War.

Explore the history of voting rights in the United States through an interactive PowerPoint presentation highlighting landmark changes. Following the presentation and class discussion, students apply the new knowledge of how voting legislation evolved to individual scenarios through a class activity.

Love this lesson? Explore all of our free election curriculum and teaching resources at our Election Headquarters. LESSON OBJECTIVES: Explain how voting rights expanded and contracted over time *Identify the laws and amendments that altered U.S. voting laws *Evaluate obstacles to voting *Determine whether individuals living at various times in U.S. history would have been able to vote