American Democracy and the Promise of Justice

Introduction

In his book Unfinished Business Michael Klarman illustrates the idea that the expansion of rights is not a steady or even progression. It is characterized instead by fits and starts, steps forward and steps backwards. Although Klarman writes about the African American Civil Rights movement, the same phenomenon can be seen in other movements as well. Regardless of the specific issue or struggle the expansion of rights in the United States has not been a straight line. Why? Because American democracy is difficult and messy. People need to form and maintain coalitions that work together to achieve goals, and people can also be difficult and messy. (1)

This unit will focus on the struggle to seek justice and expand rights within a democratic society including the reasons for and challenges of working together with other people and groups. My students will be investigating both 19^th Century and present day issues about the expansion of rights in the United States. This will help them see the challenges and difficulties in accomplishing progress. In order to strengthen their critical and historical thinking ability students will be asked to make connections between past and present events using multiple historical thinking skills such as the ability to determine historical significance, ideas about change and continuity, and how the study of history helps one to operate in and understand the present.  Students will interact with both primary and secondary sources, take part in collaborative activities and participate in direct instruction as well.

I currently teach at Hoover Middle School in San Jose, California. Students from the downtown area make up a diverse student body of approximately 1,100.  Roughly 67% of our students are from low-income families and  approximately 30% are identified as English Language Learners. The majority are students of color with Hispanic students making up roughly 80% of the total and ~10% are other students of color. Although this unit is written with my students in mind it is broad enough to be adapted for other classrooms looking at issues of civics and government.

Because many of my students identify as belonging to a minority group that is affected by injustice, studying the struggle to expand rights in a democracy will be relevant and engaging to them. Eighth graders are typically very sensitive to things they think are unfair, so this study about injustice will be relatable. Making connections between a present day issue and the historical context will reinforce and increase that relevance. Students will be examining the struggle toward equality of the Transgender community and comparing that with the struggle for the abolition of slavery and expansion of women’s rights in the early and mid 1800s. Students will be asked to think about how groups work together to expand rights. What brings groups together and what issues drive them apart?