🗳️ Lesson 5 – Democracy and Civil Rights

This lesson traces the evolution of democratic participation and civil rights organizing among free Black Philadelphians in the early 19th century. Students examine primary documents such as the Mother Bethel ballot box, Colored Convention minutes, and 1838 PAS census reports to understand how Black communities exercised and defended their civic power. They follow the trajectory of the 1838 civil rights movement—its proposals, setbacks, and public mobilizations—and then explore the powerful community response to Black disenfranchisement. By the end, students draw direct connections between 19th-century protest strategies and modern movements for justice and equal rights.

🎯 Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Describe the democratic practices and civic rituals developed by Black communities in Philadelphia.

• Analyze how Black leaders organized politically before and after the loss of voting rights in 1838.

• Interpret petitions, speeches, and public memorials as tools of protest and political strategy.

• Evaluate how data and reports (e.g. census, trades, appeals) were used to counter racist narratives.

• Create persuasive products (flyers, speeches, op-eds) that connect 1838 civil rights struggles to modern issues of voter suppression and racial justice.