America today is seen as a land of opportunity and freedom for everyone, regardless of “race, religion, creed, or color.” Equality under the law has been guaranteed by the highest courts in the United States.
But…
It was not always that way. Until the American Civil War, which took place from 1861-1865, African Americans (black people) were treated as, or worse than, animals. They were held as slaves in southern states, viewed as pieces of property, not people. The civil war ended slavery, but – unfortunately – it could not end the racism in America.
Many people expected racism to fade away as African Americans gained their freedom and began living like other people, but white Americans, especially in the south, had no intention of allowing Africans the same freedoms as other people. It wasn’t,in fact, until almost 100 yearsafter slaves were freed that they were granted the same rights as white people in America, and the last dregs of racism are still evident in America, today. The novel we will be reading, To Kill a Mockingbird, has a great deal to do with racism and prejudice during the 1930s in southernAmerica. It is important, then, that we understand the context before we begin to read.
Therefore, we will be taking a trip through time and going on a scavenger hunt to learn about the laws and attitudes that people had during the 1930s.
Scavenger Hunt!
For this scavenger hunt, you will become a "specialist" on one of four topics, and share this information with your group. In groups, decide on who will specialize in each of the following. Then follow the following steps:
1) Go to the following links and read about your significant events/theme/situation of the 1930s in America. Try to focus on individual events as more than just isolated incidents, but rather: as indicators of what the social climate was like in the American South in the 1930s.
2) Write down some bullet point notes of what you think to be significant. Aim for about 8-10 notes overviewing the important facts. Additionally, try to find 2-3 pictures that can help convey the feelings of the time or event to your group, as well. You may have to search elsewhere for these.
3) I will tell you, after about 30 minutes, to get together with others who are the same "specialties" as you. You will have 5-10 minutes to discuss and compare notes.
4) You will return to your groups, and for the last 30 minutes, you will each take about 5-8 minutes to quickly give an overview of your specialty.
You, therefore, are responsible for teaching your specialties to one another so that everyone understands all of these!