When, if ever, is the government justified in restricting individual rights? When, if ever, should the "greater good" trump individual rights? To prepare to discuss this hot-button topic, class members examine primary source documents, including Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation suspending the Writ of Habeas Corpus, Supreme Court decisions, and Executive Order 9066. After an extended controversial issue discussion of the questions, individuals present their own stance through an argumentative essay supported by evidence drawn from the documents.

Concepts

civil rights, constitutional rights, human rights, wartime, governments

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

social studies

Show More Show Less

Pros

• Good practice for the FRQs on the AP United States Government and Politics exam
• Although designed to be used during the review period leading up to the US Government and Politics exam, the lesson would also work well within other units
• Specific directions for how to prepare for the extended controversial issue discussion are included
• Text-based discussion questions are included for each primary source document

 

Cons

• None

Common Core

RI.11-12.1 W.11-12.1.a W.11-12.1.b W.11-12.1.d W.11-12.1.e RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.6 RH.11-12.7 RH.11-12.9