Lesson Plan

Government and Your Right To Vote: Voting Rights In America

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Gaining voting rights was difficult over the course of decades, but the debate over who should actually be allowed to cast a ballot remains. Scholars explore the history of the struggle, including the fifteenth and nineteenth amendments, as well as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Using texts of certain laws, as well as modern opinion pieces on whether those who have been convicted of serious crimes should be allowed to vote, pupils consider who should have the right and responsibility of the ballot. 

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Debate whether those convicted of crimes deserve the right to vote after researching the history of voting rights in the United States
Classroom Considerations
  • Teacher must have a thorough understanding of voting history to help guide discussions
  • Learners need access to computers for some research components of the lesson
Pros
  • Sources connect history and modern questions around voting rights
  • Resource is ready to use with necessary graphic organizers to aid discussion
Cons
  • None