To understand the origins and impact of the Black Codes in the United States
To analyze the discriminatory nature of the Black Codes
To examine the ways African Americans resisted the Black Codes
To evaluate the significance of the Black Codes in shaping American history
Materials Needed:
Whiteboard and markers
Handouts with primary source documents related to the Black Codes
Computer and projector (optional)
Procedure:
Introduction (5 minutes)
Greet students and get them settled in.
Explain the topic of the lesson--the Black Codes.
Ask students if they have heard of the Black Codes before and if they know anything about them.
Background (10 minutes)
Provide students with a brief history of the Black Codes, including when and where they were implemented.
Emphasize the discriminatory nature of the laws, and explain their purpose in limiting the civil rights and freedoms of African Americans in the post-Civil War era.
Primary Source Analysis (10 minutes)
Pass out primary source documents related to the Black Codes. These may include laws, court cases, or personal accounts.
Instruct students to read and analyze the sources individually, and then discuss their findings with a partner.
Bring the class back together for a group discussion, and ask students to share their observations and interpretations.
Resistance (5 minutes)
Discuss the ways African Americans resisted the Black Codes, such as through legal challenges, protest, and migration.
Highlight the importance of these acts of resistance in the struggle for civil rights.
Conclusion (5 minutes)
Recap the key points of the lesson, and ask students what new insights or questions they have about the Black Codes.
Emphasize the lasting impact of the Black Codes on American history and society.
Assessment:
Assign students a writing assignment in which they analyze the impact of the Black Codes on American history and society.
or Conduct a class discussion or debate in which students argue the significance of the Black Codes.