The Expansion of Empire

Teaching Activity PDF. By Gayle Olson-Raymer. 15 pages.
Questions and teaching ideas for Chapter 12 of Voices of a People’s History of the United States on internal dissent over American expansionist policies.

Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

Rethinking the U.S. Constitutional Convention: A Role Play

Teaching Activity PDF. By Bob Peterson. 14 pages.
A role play on the Constitutional Convention which brings to life the social forces active during and immediately following the American Revolution with focus on two key topics: suffrage and slavery. An elementary school adapation of the Constitution Role Play by Bill Bigelow.

Democracy & Citizenship, Laws & Citizen Rights, Native American, Slavery, Women's History

Lessons from Freedom Summer: Ordinary People Building Extraordinary Movements

Book – Teaching Guide. Edited by Kathy Emery, Linda Reid Gold and Sylvia Braselmann. Foreword by Howard Zinn. 2008. 456 pages.
Readings and lessons on the 1964 Mississippi Summer Project.

Civil Rights Movements, Education, Organizing

The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers

Film. By Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith. 2009. 94 minutes.
The riveting story of how a Pentagon official risks life in prison by leaking 7,000 pages of a top secret report to the New York Times to help stop the Vietnam War.

Media, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

Bayard Rustin Poster

Poster. By Ricardo Levins-Morales.
Bayard Rustin, long time peace activist, labor organizer, and civil rights activist.

Individuals in US History, Labor, Organizing

Simple Justice: The History of Brown v. Board of Education and Black America’s Struggle for Equality

Book – Non-fiction. By Richard Kluger. 2004. 880 pages.
One of the first texts, now a classic, on Brown v. Board.

African American, Civil Rights Movements, Education, Laws & Citizen Rights, Racism & Racial Identity

Vicky Starr: “Back of the Yards”

Film clip. Vicky Starr’s “Back of the Yards” about organizing in the 1930s, read by Christina Kirk.
From Voices of the People’s History of the United States.

Labor, Organizing, Women's History

Hidden in Plain Sight: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Radical Vision

Teaching Activity. By Craig Gordon. 2003. Urban Dreams and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project.
Lesson to introduce students to the speeches and work of Dr. King beyond “I have a dream.”

Civil Rights Movements, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

Ninth Ward

Book – Fiction. by Jewell Parker Rhodes. 2010. 217 pages.
Through this historical fiction, middle and high school readers can learn about the devastation caused by the levees breaking in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and the how people drew on their wits, community, and history to survive.

Howard Zinn: You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train – DVD

Film. By Deb Ellis and Denis Mueller. 2010. 78 minutes.
Documentary on life and work of Howard Zinn.

Individuals in US History, Labor, Organizing, Social Class, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

Students on Strike: Jim Crow, Civil Rights, Brown, and Me

Book – Non-fiction. By John A. Stokes with Lois Wolfe. 2007. 128 pages.
First person description of the student led movement to desegregate schools in Prince Edward County.

Civil Rights Movements, Education, Organizing

Scraps of Time: Abby Takes a Stand, 1960

Book – Fiction. By Patricia McKissack. 2006. 112 pages. For ages 9+.
Historical fiction about the lunch counter sit-ins.

African American, Civil Rights Movements, Organizing, Racism & Racial Identity, Social Class

Mario Savio: Memorial Lecture Fund

Website. Mario Savio: Memorial Lecture Fund and Young Activist Award.
This website provides information about the free speech activisit as well as information about nominating students for the Young Activist Award.

Making a Killing: Philip Morris, Kraft and Global Tobacco Addiction

Films & Video. By Kelly Anderson and Tami Gold. 2001.

Environment & Food, Media

John Lewis: “Original Text to be Delivered at the Lincoln Memorial”

John Lewis’ “Original Text of Speech to be Delivered at the Lincoln Memorial” (1963) read by Brian Jones. From Voices of People’s History of the United States.

African American, Civil Rights Movements

Stenciling Dissent: A Student Project Draws on the Language of the Streets

Teaching Activity PDF. By Andrew Reed. 5 pages.
Teaching activity connects students to history of art as a means of protest and gives them opportunity and skills to create their own stencil with a powerful message.

Art & Music, Civil Rights Movements, Individuals in US History, Laws & Citizen Rights, Organizing

Americans Who Tell the Truth

Website.
Portraits and bio of individuals who have taken a stand for justice.

Organizing

Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union: Black and White Unite?

Teaching Activity PDF. By Bill Bigelow and Norm Diamond. 12 pages.
Role play on farm labor organizing in the 1930s shows how racism had to be challenged to create effective worker alliances.

African American, Labor, Organizing, Racism & Racial Identity

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave Written by Himself: A New Critical Edition by Angela Y. Davis

Book – Non-fiction. By Frederick Douglass and essays by Angela Davis. 2009. 254 pages.
The classic biography of Frederick Douglass with an introduction and critical analysis by Angela Davis

African American, Individuals in US History, Slavery

Soldiers in Revolt: GI Resistance During the Vietnam War

Book – Nonfiction. By David Cortright. 2005. 355 pages.

Wars & Related Anti-War Movements