In this lesson, developed by and included with the permission the LBJ Presidential Library, students will examine primary source documents associated with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Lesson Objectives:

• Students will determine the origins of the struggle for voting rights and understand the need for the passage of a voting rights act.
• Students will identify the steps taken by civil rights activists to advocate for voting rights.
• Students will discuss and analyze the interactions between President Johnson and leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and George Wallace.
• Students will assess the impact of the actions of civil rights activists, community leaders, and politicians on the passage of voting rights legislation.
• Students will analyze and evaluate primary source documents related to voting rights.

Resources:

Access We Shall Overcome: The Fight for Voting Rights and accompanying materials on the LBJ Library website.