How Did the African Americans Impact Voting Within South Carolina Politics? Developed July 2017
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How did the African Americans impact voting within South Carolina politics? Developed July 2017 Historical Question How did the African Americans impact voting within South Carolina politics? Analyze the following sources to develop sound advice for the President of the United States when faced with the issues that arise with African American voting rights. Introduction to DBQ In the years following the American Civil War, there were many changes made to incorporate the newly emancipated African Americans. This situation was very tumultuous in the state of South Carolina. One of the many changes was the right to vote. Historical Thinking Skill: Continuities and Changes By questioning the impact of African American voting in South Carolina politics, students will be shown that while there were many vital changes that came with the Reconstruction Amendments, there is a consistency in the suffrage of voting rights of African Americans. Students will be able to assess the different primary sources that are provided in order to formulate a convincing argument from the perspectives of the advisors of President Lyndon B. Johnson. SC Standard(s) 8-3 The student will demonstrate an understanding of the South Carolina’s role in the development of the new national government. 8-5 The student will demonstrate an understanding of the impact of Reconstruction, industrialization and progressivism on society and politics in South Carolina in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. 8-7 The student will demonstrate an understanding of the impact on South Carolina of significant events of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. DOK Level 4 Applying information from one text to another text to develop a persuasive argument. How did the African Americans impact voting within South Carolina politics? Developed July 2017 Key Vocabulary Materials - Right - DBQ Packet - Suffrage - Advise the President Rubric - Platform - Props (optional) - Suppression - Emancipation - Ratification - Gerrymandering Teacher Guide Analyzing Primary Sources When implementing DBQ’s in your classroom, students should always try to observe, reflect and question all primary sources. Observe Reflect Question Ask students to identify and Encourage students to make Get students to ask “5 W” note details and test questions about sources Examples: Examples: Examples: What do you see first? Why was this source Who? What didn’t you expect to created? What? see? How was this created? When? Is there anything Why is this important? Why? interesting that you How? noticed? The Library of Congress has an excellent graphic organizer for your students to use to help with this process. (http://www.loc.gov/teachers/primary-source-analysis-tool/) Remind students that this process should be ongoing and they can go in any order. How did the African Americans impact voting within South Carolina politics? Developed July 2017 Thesis Preparation In working through this DBQ, students will be presented with a perfect opportunity for practice in forming a working thesis. Thesis statements could be used in a variety of student products such as essay and research papers, debates and timelines. Advising President Lyndon B. Johnson The Situation: The year is 1964. Racial tension is on the rise as more and more violent acts erupt following the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Because of the increase in violence, many people are forcing members of congress and the President, Lyndon B. Johnson to sign into law rights that would enforce the 15th Amendment (created in 1869). Your Task: As a prominent leader from South Carolina, you are the voice for the people of your state. With the issue of racial divide and voting boiling over from years of violence, it is up to you to give President Johnson sound advice on what he should consider before deciding to sign a voting rights bill into law. You can choose: Senate Ernest F. Hollings (D) Strom Thurmond (R) House of Representatives W.J.B. Dorn (D) Albert Watson (R) A link to a similar activity can be found here: http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/cabinet/ How did the African Americans impact voting within South Carolina politics? Developed July 2017 Source B Second. The recent amendments to the national Constitution should be cordially sustained because they are right, not merely tolerated because they are law, and should be carried out according to their spirit by appropriate legislation, the enforcement of which can safely be entrusted only to the party that secured those amendments. Third. Complete liberty and exact equality in the enjoyment of all civil, political, and public rights should be established and effectually maintained throughout the Union, by efficient and appropriate State and Federal legislation. Neither the law nor its administration should admit any discrimination in respect of citizens by reason of race, creed, color, or previous condition of servitude The Republican Party Platform of 1872, June 5th, 1872. **Key Words** Sustained- Continuing without interruption. Tolerated- To put up with 1. Which amendments is this document referring to? 2. The 15th Amendment was drafted in 1869. Why would the Republican Party have to restate the objective of the amendment? 3. Who was supposed to protect the citizens in regard to the 15th Amendment? How did the African Americans impact voting within South Carolina politics? Developed July 2017 Source C The United States Constitution, Amendment Fifteen, February 27th, 1869. **Key Words** Abridge- To go around, to bypass Enforce- To make happen 1. How would you summarize Section One of the 15th Amendment? 2. Why would the amendment include “previous condition of servitude”? 3. What are some ways that the 15th Amendment would be ignored? How did the African Americans impact voting within South Carolina politics? Developed July 2017 Source D A Comparison between the US Presidential Election of 1872 and 1964 1872 1964 1. Is there anything you notice about both elections? 2. Why would African Americans in South Carolina vote for Ulysses S. Grant in 1872? 3. Would African Americans vote for Barry Goldwater in 1964? Why or why not? How did the African Americans impact voting within South Carolina politics? Developed July 2017 Source E Excerpt of the Dixiecrats Party Platform August 14th. 1948 - 4 - We stand for the segregation of the races and the racial integrity of each race; the constitutional right to choose one's associates; to accept private employment without governmental interference, and to earn one's living in any lawful way. We oppose the elimination of segregation, the repeal of miscegenation statutes, the control of private employment by Federal bureaucrats called for by the misnamed civil rights program. We favor home-rule, local self- government and a minimum interference with individual rights. - 5 - We oppose and condemn the action of the Democratic Convention in sponsoring a civil rights program calling for the elimination of segregation, social equality by Federal fiat, regulations of private employment practices, voting, and local law enforcement. "Minor/Third Party Platforms: Platform of the States Rights Democratic Party - August 14, 1948." **Key Words** Segregation: the enforced separation of different racial groups in a country, community, or establishment. Fiat: a rule or order that has to be followed. Integrity: being whole and honest. Not divided. How did the African Americans impact voting within South Carolina politics? Developed July 2017 Source F Sundays With The Christianists: An American History Textbook Tells Children About Southern Hero Strom Thurmond”. (May 25th, 2004). 1. Look at Source F. What are some of the things that the Dixiecrat Party are advocating against? 2. In Source G, the Dixiecrat Party are also known as the “States’ Rights Democrats”. Where else have you seen the term States’ Rights and why was it important to them? 3. Why would voting be seen as a threat to people’s rights and liberties? 4. What do you think are some ways that people would be stopped from voting in the 1870’s? 5. What do you think are some ways that people would be stopped from voting in the 1960’s? How did the African Americans impact voting within South Carolina politics? Developed July 2017 Source G Modjeska Monteith Simkins Papers, South Carolina Political Collections, 1966. 1. What other time in history could Simkins’s slogan be appropriate? 2. In this campaign flyer, she calls herself “The People’s Advocate”. Does she mean all people? Explain. 3. Why were instructions included on the reverse side of the campaign flyer? How did the African Americans impact voting within South Carolina politics? Developed July 2017 Source H Ernest Hollings Papers, South Carolina Political Papers, 1960, 1. Hollings uses biblical imagery in this 1966 excerpt. What do you think was the purpose of the picture that he was presenting? 2. Why would Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. be mentioned in this speech? 3. Who would the audience of this speech would be? How did the African Americans impact voting within South Carolina politics? Developed July 2017 Additional Activities and Sources Advising the President Alternatives There are a few ways that you can make this activity fit your classroom. Have students prepare a script prior to advising activity. Students can be given the key vocabulary to use during the advisement. Create a “choose the proper advice” sheet (Like a choose your own adventure book) Giving students a teacher prepared script and have students act it out Living Timeline Students can make a living timeline of the impact of African Americans voting on SC politics by creating a living timeline. You will need: Bulletin board paper Computer and/or textbook Props (SC and US flags and other optional costumes) Procedure: 1. In groups of 4, have students to research about 10 dates that are pertaining to the impact of African Americans voting.