Summary: In this lesson, students will explore the consequences of the laws passed as part of Radical Reconstruction, and reflect on how those laws affected the strength of American democracy. Students will analyze the definitions of democratic citizenship, how opportunities to participate in civic life are granted and protected, and how citizens choose to participate in its civic life. Students will also assess democracy as an aspiration that nations may strive toward and whether nations can successfully become more democratic without fully achieving the goals of equality and justice.
Overarching Questions:
- CIVICS: Have the concepts of liberty, justice and/or equality changed during the time period? If so, how and what has been the impact?
- CIVICS: How well does the government balance individual rights and the common good, including the need to maintain order, safety and a healthy environment, during this time period?
NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies:
- 6.1.12.CivicsDP.4.a: Compare and contrast historians’ interpretations of the impact of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments on African Americans ability to participate in influencing governmental policies
- 6.1.12.CivicsDP.4.b: Analyze how ideas found in key documents contributed to demanding equality for all (i.e., the Declaration of Independence, the Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Gettysburg Address)
Link to Lesson: Expanding Democracy | Facing History & Ourselves
Supplemental Link: Votes for All Men - YouTube