Social Issues of 2013

Each era is remembered for something: 1920’s – Roaring Twenties, Ford Model T 1930’s – The Great Depression 1950’s – car, tv, rock n’ roll, rise of middle class America 1960’s – Space Race, Civil Rights 1970’s – Vietnam, protests 2013?

Slavery At the time, there were many sides to the story, many opinions – Southerners, Northerners, free African Americans, business owners, workers, plantation owners, Quakers, indentured servants, poor whites – Politicians hesitant to lay down the law ( fearing the loss of their own job )

Slavery It took hundreds of years to build up to the conclusion of overt slavery in America – Some argue covert forms of slavery still exist today around the world dex.html dex.html

Slavery At the debate’s height, thousands spoke out against slavery…abolitionists A person who favors the ending of a practice or institution (ex. capital punishment or slavery) – Not all abolitionists felt the same: total freedom, earned freedom (payment), “50 acres and a mule,” freedom but not equality, etc.

Abolitionist The movement stalled many times along the way to gaining equality for African Americans Especially, when the group (abolitionists) are splintered themselves about: – How to end slavery (state or federal govt.) – To what degree should slavery be stopped – Who will take care of all these newly freed persons – Where will they all go – etc.

Abolitionists The fight was long and messy 1865 – Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery 1870 – Fifteenth Amendment right to vote: black, adult males 1960’s – Civil Rights movement – Equality in pay, jobs, education, etc. – Equal opportunity

Abolitionists SWBAT: Define abolition SBWAT: Identify a historic abolitionist and his/her relationship with slavery/civil rights How? – Creating a mirage of pictures that illustrates a researched abolitionist