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Lesson Plan: Teaching About Selma, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Current Voting Rights Issues

Ann S. Michaelsen

Background

On “Bloody Sunday,” March 7, 1965, approximately 600 civil rights marchers were violently attacked by state and local law enforcement on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. This event, along with subsequent marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., culminated in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Modern Parallels

In recent years, voting rights have once again become a contentious issue in the United States. Policies enacted by various state legislatures have been criticized for disproportionately affecting communities of color.

Contemporary Challenges to Voting Rights:

Related Media:

Lesson Plan

Part 1: Historical Context

  1. Examine the Selma to Montgomery March Route:

  2. Watch the movie “Selma” (available on streaming platforms like Amazon Prime or YouTube Movies).

  3. Review the Alabama Literacy Test (a historically used tool for voter suppression).

  4. Read “The Selma Voting Rights Struggle: 15 Key Points from Bottom-Up History and Why It Matters Today.”

Part 2: Modern Voting Rights Issues

  1. Research recent voting legislation, such as Georgia’s SB 202 or Florida’s SB 90.

  2. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the 1964 Civil Rights Act as Martin Luther King, Jr., and others, look on. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    Compare these modern laws to historical voting restrictions.

    • What similarities and differences exist?
    • Who is most affected by these laws?

  3. Discuss the impact of social media and misinformation on modern voting rights debates.

Part 3: Presidential Roles

  1. Watch the interview with Woody Harrelson and Rob Reiner about LBJ’s role in civil rights. At 18:30 they talk about the transition from Kennedy to Johnson.

  2. Compare and contrast LBJ’s approach to civil rights with recent presidential administrations’ approaches to voting rights.

    • What executive actions have been taken in the past decade?
    • How do different political leaders shape the national conversation on voting rights?

Part 4: Discussion and Analysis

Conclusion

Encourage students to reflect on the ongoing struggle for voting rights and the importance of civic engagement in protecting democratic processes. Assign a reflection paper or classroom discussion on what actions citizens can take to support voting rights today.

Sixty years after Bloody Sunday, civil rights leaders in Selma continue fight” from The Guardian,

  1. What significant event took place on March 7, 1965, in Selma, Alabama, and who were some of the key figures involved?​

  2. How did the events of “Bloody Sunday” influence the civil rights movement and subsequent legislation?​

  3. What contemporary challenges to civil rights and democracy are highlighted by activists during the 60th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday”?​The Guardian

  4. How do current civil rights leaders perceive public engagement in addressing today’s challenges compared to the activism seen during the 1960s?​

  5. In reflecting on the legacy of “Bloody Sunday,” what actions do activists suggest are necessary to confront present-day threats to democracy?

60th anniversary of ‘Bloody Sunday’ marked in Selma amid concerns about future of voting rights

 

 

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