Given the Past, What Should Be Done to Ensure the Right to Vote is Fair and Accessible in America?
Voting has always been an essential part of citizenship in the United States. Unfortunately, everyone has not always had the right to vote here. For example, Black Americans were denied the right to vote for generations, and it was through protest and civic engagement that they were enfranchised within the U.S. political system. Despite progress, issues of accessibility, disenfranchisement, and equity continue to arise. Given the issues, what can and should be done to ensure fairness in the voting process? What has history taught us about what works and does not work? How can we learn from the past to not repeat the same mistakes in the future?
In this inquiry, students will consider historical voting rights and how they relate to the present. Students will analyze how voting rights legislation has changed over time. These activities culminate in a challenge for middle school students to use their historical knowledge to act and work out the best solution for their state, local, or national community.
Helpful Hints
- Historical Empathy
- When reading and discussing issues, encourage students to try taking the perspective of people from that time period when discussing point of view.
- Discussion Questions
- The discussion questions are the key element of the lessons. It is imperative that students discuss questions amongst themselves with the teacher acting as the facilitator. Please refer to guidelines on transactive discussion tips and techniques.
- Writing prompts
- Writing prompts are also key in reinforcing the new information and the discussion that has taken place. The prompts allow students to integrate the perspectives they have heard into a cohesive argument.
- Make sure students complete writing prompts even if it means assigning the prompt as homework.