The Big Idea Activity

How does a nation protect its freedoms?

Invent a Quiz Show

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Invent a quiz show in which contestants guess the name of a person who worked to protect our nation's freedom. Examples include Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., or Dolores Huerta.

Research RoadmapPrint the Research Roadmap. Use it to take notes and hand it in to your teacher when you make your presentation.

 

Topic Finder

Need help finding a person for your quiz? Explore these ideas for research...American Humanitarians.

Case Study

Here's an example of a topic you could choose for the Big Idea Activity: There are many quiz question that you can use to give hints that Abraham Lincoln is your person. Did you know that he was born in Kentucky, that he grew up in poverty, or that he signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1864? According to this timeline of his life, Abraham Lincoln was elected as a representative from Illinois, but lost two Senate elections. He was opposed to slavery and, in the last speech he made before he died, he spoke in favor of voting rights for blacks.

Fun Facts Abraham Lincoln was the first president to wear a beard while in office.

 
 

How has technology changed your life? Create a timeline about how people send and receive messages. Be sure to include the latest trends: Email and Instant Messages!

Timeline of Abraham Lincoln's life

Explore an Internet Timeline of Slavery in America

 
 

Slavery has Ended

Heading Toward Civil War

The people who ran the underground railroad risked their own lives to help bring slaves to freedom.

The Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation was the final step in the fight to end slavery. Do you think that a combination of violent and nonviolent ways to oppose slavery was necessary?

Unequal Rights

The civil rights movement has a long history. Use this timeline to find some of the people who worked for equality.

Newcomers Help Build the Nation

Coming to America

Many of the early labor organizers were women who fought against unfairness to employees. Did you know that many of the laborers in the early 1900s came from other countries?

American Cities Grow and Change

Many of the people on this list of "heroes of the 20th Century" are listed because of their work to ensure the rights of others. How many of their names do you recognize?

Immigrants Today

As new immigrants come to the United States, leaders emerge who work to be certain that everyone has same rights.

The Promise of Democracy

Our Core Democratic Values

One of the core values of democracy is equality for everyone. The women's rights movement is a fight for equality for women.

Equal Rights for All

The history of the civil rights movement is the story of working to guarantee rights of everyone and end discrimination based on race.

Present-day Challenges

The struggle for rights for everyone continues as rights leaders and organizations attack discrimination and unfairness. Civil rights groups today help the disabled, immigrants, migrant farm workers, and many others have a voice in democracy.