The lesson will have three major goals:
1) Explore the motivations of various Presidents regarding Civil Rights by comparing their “Beliefs” vs. their “Actions”
2) Formulate a deeper level of understanding of Truman and Executive Order 9981 by allowing students to construct their own opinion based upon evidence from primary sources
3) Extend the topic to current events by exploring the issue of affirmative action
Formulate a deeper level of understanding of Truman and Executive Order 9981 by allowing students to construct their own opinion based upon evidence from primary sources
1) We will develop reading and analyzing skills by analyzing multiple primary sources related to Truman and Executive Order 9981.
2) We will develop verbal skills by discussing the sources in class through a jigsaw activity.
3) We will develop writing skills by answering the central question using evidence from the primary sources that were covered in class.
Kansas History, Government and Social Studies Standards
Standard 1: Choices have consequences.
1.1: The student will recognize and evaluate significant choices made by individuals, communities, states, and nations that have impacted our lives and futures.
1.2: The student will analyze the context under which choices are made and draw conclusions about the motivations and goals of the decision-makers.
1.3: The student will investigate examples of causes and consequences of particular choices and connect those choices with contemporary issues.
Standard 4: Societies experience continuity and change over time.
4.1: The student will recognize and evaluate continuity and change over time and its impact on individuals, institutions, communities, states and nations.
Mystery Quotes: Jefferson, Lincoln, Truman and Johnson
“I will then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races…and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races from living together on terms of social and political equality.”
“We (the NAACP) didn’t consider him a friend. We considered him more dedicated to his concept of the role of a Majority Leader in the Senate than he was to the civil rights cause.”
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
“I wish to make it clear that I am not appealing for social equality of the Negro. The Negro himself knows better than that, and the highest types of Negro leaders say quite frankly, that they prefer the society of their own people. Negroes want justice, not social relations.”
“I wish to make it clear that I am not appealing for social equality of the Negro. The Negro himself knows better than that, and the highest types of Negro leaders say quite frankly, that they prefer the society of their own people. Negroes want justice, not social relations.”
- Harry Truman, address to the National Colored Democratic Association (1940)
“I will then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races…and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races from living together on terms of social and political equality.”
- Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln-Douglas Debate at Charleston, Illinois (1858)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
- Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence
“We (the NAACP) didn’t consider him a friend. We considered him more dedicated to his concept of the role of a Majority Leader in the Senate than he was to the civil rights cause.”
- Roy Wilkins, former Executive Director of the NAACP, an oral history taken in 1969 – Speaking of Senator Lyndon Johnson
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President |
Action Taken |
Why Was This Important?
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Thomas Jefferson
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Wrote the Declaration of Independence |
(+) Sets the standard of equality that the United States continues to aspire to.
(-) What about women and African Americans? How are they included in this statement?
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Abraham Lincoln
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Issued the Emancipation Proclamation |
(+) Freed the slaves, but only in areas held by the Confederacy.
(-) Wasn’t this just an act of war?
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Harry S. Truman
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Issued Executive Order 9981
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(+) Ended segregation in the military.
(-) Didn’t baseball have a more successful move toward desegregation, without being forced to, at about the same time?
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Lyndon Johnson
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Pushed Through the Civil Rights Act of 1964
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(+) Ended unequal voter registration requirements and ended segregation in schools, workplaces and public places.
(-) Isn’t this the same guy who was against civil rights legislation in the 1950’s? |
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Idealistic |
Pragmatic |
Shrewd Politician
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President Harry S. Truman – Executive Order 9981 (July 26, 1948)
WHEREAS it is essential that there be maintained in the armed services of the United States the highest standards of democracy, with equality of treatment and opportunity for all those who serve in our country’s defense:
NOW THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, by the Constitution and the statutes of the United States, and as Commander in Chief of the armed services, it is hereby ordered as follows:
1) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale.
2) There shall be create in the National Military Establishment an advisory committee to be known as the President’s Committee on Equality of treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, which shall be composed of seven members to be designated by the President.
3) The Committee is authorized on behalf of the President to examine into rules, procedures and practices of the Armed Services in order to determine in what respect such rules, procedures and practices may be altered or improved with a view to carrying out the