The Path of Justice: Selma & the Voting Rights Act

Use this activity while teaching about the Civil Rights Movement, communication methods, or the role of the President. For grades 7-12. Approximate time needed is 45-60 minutes.

Before beginning the activity, students should understand the early events of Civil Rights Movement and know about the March on Selma.

Ask students to complete the activity individually or in pairs, either in class or independently outside of class. They should begin by reading President Johnson’s speech. Remind students to click on “View Primary Source Details” to view all four pages of the speech.

Students should answer the questions below the speech, which will guide them through the process of document analysis. If necessary, check in with your students at each step in the process and model analysis if required:

• Meet the document.
• Observe its parts.
• Try to make sense of it.
• Use it as historical evidence.

After students have answered all of the analysis questions, they should click on “When You’re Done.” Facilitate a class discussion based on the question:

• Notice that the speech has underlined words and phrases by President Johnson. What do these words and phrases say about the situation in Selma and the greater movement for civil rights? Explain your thinking.

Discuss the events of Selma and the position that LBJ found himself in, including the following:

• What is a common thread for the important words and phrases that the President underlined in his speech?
• What is he trying to get the nation to do after hearing this speech?
• Are there any sentences that stand out as 1) the current problem within the nation or 2) a call to action?