African Americans quest for equal rights has been a journey that began in the sixteenth century, and continues today. Most of the journey for equal rights has been traveled in the courts of this country. The Supreme Court has been intricately involved in the struggle of African Americans. We will study three of the most important cases, to impact the lives of African Americans. The cases are Dred Scott vs. Sanford 1857 Plessy vs. Ferguson 1896 and Brown vs. The Board of Education 1954. We will also study The Little Rock Nine to show one result of the Brown case. This group will familiarize themselves with Brown vs. Board of Education, so they will understand the issues that caused Central High School to be integrated.

You are to prepare a research paper or historical fact book. You will need to include the following information:

1. What are the facts and issues of each case?
2. What are the arguments supporting and opposing the decision.
3. What was the impact of the decision of the African American community?
4. What was the decision in the case?
5. Was there a dissent in the case? If so what did it say?
6. What was the reaction of the people of Little Rock to the desegregation order?

You will work in groups. Each group member will search the Internet for information on the topic. One person will be chosen for recorder. The group will coordinate the information for their Research Papers or Historical Fact Books. The students searching the Internet will generate the resources. One of the main purposes of this assignment is to familiarize you with using the Internet as a research tool.

The first lesson of Equal Protection Race, including the glossary of terms, will be taught to the entire class. This lesson will give them the background they need to understand the assignment. The students will work on this lesson in groups. Portions (The handouts) of the Tips lesson plans will be used for back round information for Dred Scott, Plessy vs. Ferguson and Brown vs. Board of Education. Each group will get the handouts and answer the questions. The students researching the Little Rock Nine will get their introduction from the Internet.

http://www.Maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/lessons/Epr/epr1.html

http://www.Maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/lessons/Epr/epr2.html

http://www.Maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/lessons/Epr/epr3.html

http://www.Maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/lessons/Epr/epr5.html

http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/BHM.little_rock/intro.html

http://gme.grolier.com/egi-gme_bp?artbaseid=0089550

http://www.cyberessays.com/politics/123.htm

http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/dred-harriet.html.

http://ww.worldbook.com/fun/aajourny/html

http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/dred.htm

http://encarta.msn.com/index/conciseindex/23

http://www.historyplace.com/lincooln/dred.htm

http://gme.grolier.com/egi-bin/gme_bp?artbasseid=023580

http://www.blackvoices.com/feature/bhm-00/plessy.htm

http://www.campus.northpark.edu/history/webchron/usaplessyferguson.html

http://oyez.nwu.edu/cases.cgi?command=show&case_id=307&page=abstract

http://gme.grolier.com/egi-bin/gme_bp?artbasseid=0044130

http://wow.gro9cities.com/Athens/Olympus/3515/brown.html

http://encarta.msn.com/events/black.historymonth/encarta/

http://cp.virtualscholar.com/cr6.htm

http://www.centralhigh57.org/thetiger

http://www.wmich.edu/politics/mlk/littler.html

The quest for equal rights has not been an easy one. African Americans have had their share of successes and failures. What is important about the quest is that they will never stop demanding equal rights as citizens of this country.