Change and the Individual Unit 1 – Part 3C

Objectives Students analyze how the struggle to earn voting rights evolved for different groups with the U.S. population.

Voting Rights Timeline Work as a group to analyze your assigned page of the timeline. Each member to answer the questions on their individual paper.

Change can happen in a number of ways What careers would allow you to participate in the promotion of justice and equality? Which methods of working for change are open to youth? What does this timeline tell you about the nature of democracy and our legal system?

Dissent Publicly disagreeing with a law or government decision is called dissent. Dissent is a part of the democratic process. Democracy is designed to be open to differing views and diversity of opinions. Historically, dissent expressed by ordinary people and advocacy groups has paved the way for changing unjust laws, such as voting rights laws. Dissent can take several forms: Vocal disagreement and civil disobedience (nonviolent resistance, or collective refusal to obey a law or policy).

Strategies for Change If you wanted to change something about a rule at school, what methods would you try first? Why?