HRVH Primary Sources for Educators: The African-American Vote

Author: Verderico Manganiello (Eastchster High School)

Subject: Social Studies

Grades: 11th Grade, 12th Grade

NY State Standards: SST1, SST2, SST3, SST4, SST5

A Closer Look at the African-American Vote in New York

Essential Question(s): To what extent did the principles of democracy expand or contract for African-Americans since colonial times?

Content Understanding(s):

• Students will answer scaffolding questions that refer to the political struggles African-Americans experienced and continue to endure regarding the right to vote.
• Students will analyze documents and evaluate the political progress made in the U.S. as it applies to African-Americans, through the composition of a DBQ essay.

Vocabulary: Suffrage, Disenfranchised

Suggested Time Frame(s): May vary

Narrative:

Throughout American history there has been a struggle among certain groups of citizens and freed peoples to gain political rights and freedoms. Among these freedoms, the right to vote (suffrage) is an integral component of a Democratic Republic. African-Americans and women have struggled for legal, political, and social equality since early colonial times. After the Civil War, blacks were granted freedom, but were continually faced with obstacles that denied them equal access and opportunity. Similarly, women fought long to be included in the political process and exercise the right to vote.

Supplies Used:

"A Closer Look at the African-American Vote in New York" document found in the Worksheets & Attachments

What Should Students Know At The End of This Lesson:

To what extent did the principles of democracy expand or contract for African-Americans since colonial times

What Should Students Be Able To Do at the End of This Lesson:

Write a DBQ that is analytical, descriptive, and evaluates the information presented.

How do you assess student learning?

A DBQ rubric may be created using the NYS U.S. History Regents Exam scoring chart as a model.

RESOURCES

Students

• Freakonomics Why Vote? NY Times [Link]

Essential

• 1896 Election Ballot [http://www.hrvh.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/chs/id/1273/rec/2]
• 2008 Florida Vote [http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/09/opinion/martin-black-vote]
• Negro Suffrage [http://www.hrvh.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/hhs/id/600/rec/2]
• Revive Old Voting Machines [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/30/nyregion/new-york-city-wants-to-revive-old-voting-machines.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0]
• Voting Right Act 1965 [http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=100&page=transcript]

Recommended

• Supreme Court Strikes Blow to Voting Rights Act: [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/government-elections-politics/supreme-court-strikes-blow-to-voting-rights-act-whats-next]