Over the course of the last few hundred years, America has prided itself as being a country that values freedom and the voice of its people. Although the pillars of the United States Constitution are founded on these freedoms, millions of Americans have had to fight for their right to vote in elections. Using a timeline layout, students will research the history of voting rights in the United States. This activity could be used as a summative review of the unit, or an assignment that helps students learn and teach one another about their findings.
Students may choose to illustrate the following events (among others):
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a timeline that outlines the history of voting rights in the United States.
Student Instructions:
Requirements:
Select and introduce primary source documents such as historic speeches, letters, or government records related to voting rights. Explain their significance to students and discuss how each document reflects challenges or progress in voting rights over time.
Encourage students to identify the author, context, and audience of each primary source. Ask them to consider what perspectives are included or missing, helping them develop critical thinking skills about history.
Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different source. Prompt them to share insights and summarize the main ideas with the class, fostering collaboration and deeper understanding.
Instruct students to use evidence from primary sources to write more detailed descriptions in their timeline cells. Encourage the inclusion of direct quotes or images from the sources to make their timelines more engaging and authentic.
Key milestones in U.S. voting rights history include the 15th Amendment (allowing Black men to vote), the 19th Amendment (women's suffrage), the Indian Citizenship Act, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the 26th Amendment (lowering voting age to 18). Each expanded voting access to more Americans.
Students can create a voting rights timeline by listing major events and amendments in chronological order, adding brief descriptions and images for each. Online tools or storyboard templates help organize the timeline visually for class assignments.
Important voting rights amendments include the 15th Amendment (race), 19th Amendment (gender), 23rd Amendment (D.C. residents), 24th Amendment (poll taxes), and 26th Amendment (age 18+).
Many Americans were excluded from voting due to race, gender, or other barriers. Over time, activists and lawmakers fought to expand voting rights through amendments and legislation, making the system more fair and representative.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark law that outlawed discriminatory voting practices, such as literacy tests, and helped ensure equal access to the polls for all Americans, especially minorities.