A reading of Patrick Henry's "Speech in the Virginia Convention," Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience," and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" launch a discussion about the price one is willing to pay to endure liberty and justice for all. After the discussion, individuals craft a personal response to the central question.

Concepts

racism, the holocaust, human rights

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Flip the lesson asking class members to read and respond to the materials out of class before returning for small group and then whole-class discussions

Classroom Considerations

• The sixth in a series of 17 related resources tied to a visit to the Museum of Tolerance
• Appropriate for language arts as well as social studies classes, the activity need not be tied to a visit to the museum

Pros

• The two-page packet includes discussion questions and writing prompts

Cons

• The essays are not included in the resource packet; however, links are attached

Common Core

RI.9-10.1 RI.11-12.2 RH.9-10.1 RH.11-12.6