1. Loving v. Virginia (1967)
“Almighty God created the races…and he placed them on separate continents…”

2. Passage of Time
National Level
Communal Level
Individual Level

3. What is this Supreme Court case about?
History Skill: Prediction
What is this Supreme Court case about?
Consider the time period. What civil rights issues haven’t been addressed?
Thinking about the previous chart, what issues impact individuals?
Consider issues that are hot button issues today. What may have been considered offensive and unnatural before the Civil Rights Movement?

4. Essential Question
What drives individuals to action?

5. Timeline of Black-White Relations
“cohabiting as man and wife, against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth…”
Kirby vs. Kirby
(1921)
Racial Integrity Act (1924)
Perez v. Sharp
(1948)
Emmett Till murdered
(1955)
Lovings sentenced under miscegenation laws
(1959)
Loving v. Virginia decided
(1967)
Miscegenation
mis - sidg - in - ation
n. the interbreeding of people considered to be of different racial types.

6. Accessing Prior Knowledge
What arguments do you predict would be made for and against interracial marriage?

7. Countdown Timer
What arguments do you predict would be made for and against interracial marriage?

8. For Interracial Marriage Against Interracial Marriage
Arguments
For Interracial Marriage
Against Interracial Marriage
Violates the 14th Amendment Due Process Clause
Interracial breeding will lead to the spread of many illnesses such as sickle-cell anemia
Violates the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause
The forefathers understood the necessity to separate the races
Laws are aimed towards a society of white supremacy
The Bible says it is wrong
It is illegal to make laws in which race distinguishes the legality of an act
It leads to a slippery slope of other degenerative behavior
Criminalization of love
Interracial marriage is unnatural
Interracial couples have existed throughout history
Communists support interracial marriage
The laws are inherently based in ignorance
Lower the quality of the white race

9. Mock Trial The following optional roles need to be filled:
Newspaper reporter
Audience member(s) against miscegenation laws
Audience member(s) for miscegenation laws
The following roles need to be filled:
1 Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (Earl Warren)
8 Supreme Court Justices (4 if smaller class size)
1 Mildred Loving
1 Richard Loving
1-2 Lawyer(s) for Defense
1-2 Lawyer(s) for Prosecution

10. Timeline of the Mock Trial
Prosecution Opening Statement
Judicial Questioning
Defense Opening Statement
Statement from the Lovings
Audience & Reporter Feedback
Closing Statements
Supreme Court Decision

11. Connection to the present
How is Loving v. Virginia relevant to this day?