A Best Laid Plan Derailed. Modern Supreme Court interpretation of the Need for the Voting Rights Act
Supreme Court rulings in the Shaw v. Reno (1995) and the Shelby County vs. Holder (2013) cases relied heavily on the reasoning behind the passage of the Voting Rights Act (1965). Students in AP Gov’t and Politics are required to know both cases as part of the cannon of cases and the precedents set as part of the course standards.
Students will be able to identify a few relevant Civil Rights issues AND how the president of that era confronted/handled/resolved the issue, along with causes/effects; then students will reveal how many issues of the past affect their own lives today and explain how.
Truman’s Desegregation of the Armed Services and Executive Order 9981
The students will read background material on civil rights movement relating to the armed services. They will analyze and discuss Executive Order 9981 and learn how the blinding of Sgt. Isaac Woodward affected President Truman. After reading and class discussion, the students will express their thoughts in a writing activity.
Orson Welles and the Story of Isaac Woodard: The Influence of the Media on Presidential Awareness and Decisions
Students will examine primary and secondary source material to draw connections while working individually, cooperatively with a partner, and during whole-group discussion.
Students will discuss the difference between executive orders and bills becoming laws
Students will view examples of executive orders from various Presidents.