Lesson 5: Day 4 - 1838 Civil Response

Google Doc for This Lesson


Objective (SWBAT):

Synthesize primary and secondary evidence to design a persuasive outreach (op-ed, flyer, or short speech) that helps answer the question:“Pick two specific ways that the democratic practices of Black Philadelphians in 1838 (church ballots, convention procedures, rules of order, and beneficial-society governance, civil rights organizing) function as both practical self-government and a claim to equal citizenship”


Time: 50–60 minutes
Format: Small groups create campaign + presentations & reflective essay


Read Together

As a class, read Thrown out of Democracy  and watch the Transit Rights video

Choose Activities

Brief (5 min): Teacher explains product options — 1 of:

    1. (A) 1-page convincing flyer; 

    2. (B) 2-minute persuasive speech; 

    3. (C) 300-word op-ed for a 19th-century PA newspaper. 


Design (30 min): 

  1. Groups draft product. 

  1. Encourage clear audience targeting and rhetorical devices (ethos, pathos, logos). Circulate and coach on evidence use.

Present (10–15 min): 

Rapid presentations (each group 2–3 minutes).