How to Teach on Voting Rights
Teaching children about voting rights can open their eyes to the various political changes that have shaped the history of voting in the United States. Over the years, there have been many historic events related to the right to vote. Many assumptions about who should and who shouldn't have this right have been changed. Learning to present the story of voting rights as a coherent and enjoyable lesson is a good way to get children interested in politics and to teach them about the evolution of the democratic process.
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Instructions
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Explain the basic principles of voting in the United States. Before you go into detail about issues related to voting rights and the changes that have taken place, it's important to explain how voting works in the U.S. You can also use this opening to explain what makes America a democracy and touch on some of the other forms of government.
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Teach them about the concept of state rights and the Electoral College. Tell them about the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed discriminatory voting practices across the country. Point out that, originally, only white male property owners could vote. Cover the basics of the Electoral College, but don't go into too much detail. They need only a fundamental understanding of the specific voting process in order to understand issues related to voting rights.
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Divide the children into race and gender groups that are vaguely representative of the general population. Don't consider the children's' actual race or gender in this division; simply randomize the process. Explain the process for amending the rules regarding voting rights because you are about to run through the major amendments that have been made to the voting system over the years.
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Tell all the children to stand up, and then instruct each group to sit down in an order consistent with when that group was prohibited from voting based on your earlier random race and gender assignments. This includes all children assigned to be girls, non-whites, and anyone who didn't own property. Point out how many people in the room don't get the chance to vote. Ask them how they would feel about being denied a say in how their country is run because of their gender, race or economic status..
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Ask the children to stand in the order of amendments to the voting rights that would allow their specific group to vote. Between 1776 and 1847 the property rights requirement was removed. Then, in 1870, people were allowed to vote regardless of "race, color or creed." Point out that there were stringent literary tests and other requirements that had the effect of preventing many non-whites from voting. In 1920, women were granted the right to vote, and Native Americans got the vote in 1924. Finally, explain that all non-citizens do not have the right to vote. Convicted criminals are prohibited from voting in most states, but in 13 states (and Washington D.C.) those who have served their time and are no longer on parole are allowed to vote. In Maine and Vermont criminals can vote even when in jail.
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Ask them what they have learned about voting rights from this exercise. Point out that many people fought for the right to have a say in how their country is governed. Help the children understand the dramatic changes that have occurred through out the history of the country. A prominent example of these changes is the election of President Barack Obama in 2008. There was a time in our nation's history when he would have been prohibited by law from voting in any U.S. election.
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References
- Photo Credit register to vote image by Christopher Martin from Fotolia.com
