Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Judiciary in American History

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners investigate the influence of political and societal forces on judicial decisions. Among the topics they examine are the selection of judges and the cause and effect relationship between politics, society, and the law. to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

On the Other Side of the Color Barrier: Segregation and the Negro Leagues

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students study segregation that occurred in the past and that is currently occurring. In this equal rights lesson, students use primary source documents to student segregation of the past. In a culminating activity, students find or draw...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

John Gary Evans and the Politics of Race

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students read letters written by Evans and Gunton regarding race relations. In this Progressive Movement instructional activity, students interpret the intentions and tone of the letters to understand contemporary racial beliefs....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New Kent School and the George W. Watkins School:

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the U.S. Supreme Court case that forced the integration of public schools and meet the individuals who experienced segregation, fought to dismantle the institution, and integrated the public school system of New Kent...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Effect Does A Communities Attitudes/Values/And Beliefs Effect Student Behavior And Influence Curriculum

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how race relations effect the kinds and amount of educational resources individual schools receive within a school district.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Living Constitution

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders explore the Constitution as a "living document." After reading three specific cases, learners consider characteristics that make up a living document. In groups, they conduct guided research on each case. Pupils write a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reconstruction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the historical period of the Reconstruction and the events that surrounded the abolitionist movement. Students use guided questions to conduct research. Then they complete a venn diagram in order to compare two...
Handout
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Supreme Court Landmark Cases: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

For Students 9th - 10th
From a PBS series about the Supreme Court, Plessy v. Ferguson is considered one of the landmark cases in the court's first 100 years. Read about the background of this important case, read about the thinking of the majority of the court...
Primary
Curated OER

History Matters: Separate but Equal: The Plessy v. Ferguson Case

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the judgment of Supreme Court justice, Henry Billings Brown, who wrote for the majority in the Plessy v Ferguson decision that codified the idea of "separate but equal" in the American justice system until it was overturned by Brown...
Primary
Teaching American History

Teaching American History: Plessy v. Ferguson (Excerpts)

For Students 9th - 10th
Find excerpts of the controverisal Supreme Court decision, Plessy v Ferguson along with the dissenting opinion by Supreme Court Justice, John Marshall Harlan.
Primary
This Nation

This nation.com: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ThisNation.com provides Justice Henry B. Brown's full text of the Supreme Court's decision in this landmark case, written by Henry B. Brown.
Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: u.s. Supreme Court Plessy v. Ferguson [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this concise discussion of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Plessy v Ferguson. Find a synopsis of the case, the majority opinion of the court, and the dissenting opinion by Justice Harlan.
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Plessy v. Ferguson

For Students 3rd - 8th
The decision of the Supreme Court in Plessy v. Ferguson kept black and white people separate in all public areas for many years. To find out what that meant, and to see some actual photographs, visit this page.
Handout
Other

Landmark Cases: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

For Students 9th - 10th
Everything you might want to know about this historic Supreme Court decision. Included are great teacher directed activities, background summary, and the text of the majority opinion.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Plessy v. Ferguson

For Students 9th - 10th
A very thorough explanation of the famous Supreme Court decision about Plessy v. Ferguson. It upheld the idea of "separate but equal," which was in effect until Brown v Board of Education in 1954. See who opposed the decision, and read...
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that it was constitutional to keep black and white people segregated as long as the accommodations for each race were "equal." Students learn about the concept of...
Primary
University of Missouri

Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Plessy v Ferguson

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the Supreme Court opinion that solidified the concept of separate, but equal in American law. The dissenting opinion written by Justice John Harlan is also included.
Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Making of African American Identity: Segregation

For Students 9th - 10th
A Supreme Court decision, a chapter from a novel, and an editorial that explore segregation in late-nineteenth-century America. This resource focuses primarily on Plessy v. Ferguson, and the complexities that followed from this ruling.
Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Landmark Decisions

For Students 9th - 10th
This site details the controversial issues regarding slavery and the effects they had on the Civil War amendments as well as on the fifth amendment. The site discusses events such as the Dred Scott case, the addition of the Civil War...
Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Supreme Court Rules on School Desegregation

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This thoughtful unit explores the history of school desegregation legislation, including a discussion of the impact of the Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education decisions. A six-week plan of lessons, along with other sample...
Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Plessy vs. Ferguson

For Students 9th - 10th
Transcript of the infamous Supreme Court decision that established the constitutionality of the principle of "Separate but equal," public facilities for members of different races. This was eventually overturned by the 1954 and 1955...
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Plessy vs. Ferguson Case

For Students 9th - 10th
Article provides an overview and detailed facts about the impact of the 1896 Plessy vs. Ferguson case on racial segregation.
Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

For Students 9th - 10th
The U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld the famous "separate but equal" doctrine by dealing with the issues of racial discrimination and equal protection. This resource provides an abstract containing a concise summary and a link to the...
Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Separate but Equal: A Study of Segregation

For Students 9th - 10th
Given Supreme Court case summaries, students will compare and contrast the impact of the Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education decisions.