Civics

Era 6: The Emergence of Modern America: Progressive Reforms (1890–1930) - Article

Racial Violence in America: Lynchings, 1877-1920

Summary: This lesson focuses student attention upon the history and role of racial violence in American history. Specifically, the lesson introduces students to the reasons behind racial violence, provides images of the violence, and to African-American and mainstream society's response to the violence. This lesson could be used to accompany a discussion of racial violence in any period though it is most useful for the post-Reconstruction to post-WWI period. In this lesson, students will evaluate evidence of racial violence using texts, images, audio, and video and develop understanding of both the African-American community's response to racial violence and the responses of segments of mainstream society.

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?
  • ECONOMICS: How has technology (e.g., ships, canals, railroads, newspapers, telegraphs, radio, television, the internet and social media) spread ideas and influenced public opinion, the economy and/or the government? Did the changes strengthen or weaken democratic institutions?

NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies:

  • 6.1.12.HistoryUP.4.a: Relate conflicting political, economic, social, and sectional perspectives on Reconstruction to the resistance of some Southern individuals and states
  • 6.1.12.CivicsDP.5.a: Analyze the effectiveness of governmental policies and of actions by groups and individuals to address discrimination against new immigrants, Native Americans, and African Americans
  • 6.1.12.CivicsDP.6.a: Use a variety of sources from multiple perspectives to document the ways in which women organized to promote government policies designed to address injustice, inequality, and workplace safety (i.e., abolition, women’s suffrage, and the temperance movement).

Link to Lesson: Racial Violence in America: Lynchings, 1877 to 1920 | History Teaching Institute (osu.edu)