Civil Rights and Civic Action

African American woman being carried to police patrol wagon during demonstration in Brooklyn, New York

Overview

Students deepen their understanding and personal integration of the concept of commitment to civic service by examining the historic contribution of young people in shaping positive changes in America using primary sources from the Library of Congress. Students explore the civic service accomplishments of young people to help bring about social change and identify the potential of young people in creating positive change through civic service. Students then identify characteristics of civic activists as well as current problems or causes about which they are passionate and draft an action plan to affect change.

Related Resources

Grade

High School

Subjects

Civics, Social Studies

Length

60-80 minutes

Topics

civic action, civic activists, civic service, civil conversation, civil rights, protest, youth

Author

Citizen U DePaul

More Lessons

Dangerous Jane

By Tom Bober

Why We Can’t . . .

By Primary Source Nexus

We Shall Overcome

By Primary Source Nexus

What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?

By Tom Bober

Whiskey Rebels: Champions of the Common Man or Treasonous Traitors?

By TPS Eastern Region

A Lady Has the Floor: Belva Lockwood Speaks Out for Women’s Rights

By Tom Bober

Did We Overcome?

By TPS Eastern Region

Bonus Veterans

By Primary Source Nexus

Predicting & Inferring About Woman Suffrage

By Kimberly Heckart

Selma & Voting Rights: Standing Up for Equality

By Citizen U DePaul

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909

By Tom Bober

Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution.

By Tom Bober

Gun Violence and Next-Generation Coalitions

By Citizen U DePaul

Civic Actions to Impact the Future

By Academy of American Poets

Around America to Win the Vote

By Tom Bober

Women’s Rights: Seneca Falls & Beyond

By Primary Source Nexus

The Long Civil Rights Movement

By TPS Eastern Region

Chinese Citizenship in Hawaii

By Primary Source Nexus

The Scientific Method, School Shootings, and Civic Action

By Citizen U DePaul