Race, Riots, and Reality

Summer Fellowship Project 2008

By: Amos Lee

Lesson 3: Race Riots in Illinois

Abstract:

In lesson 3 students will learn about the race riots that occurred in Illinois as a result of the tensions between the African American and Caucasian communities. Students will understand the background for the State Commission to Investigate Living Conditions of the Urban Colored Population.

Essential Questions:

· What role does government have to ensure equity and justice among its people?

· What should citizens do when laws are unjust?

· What are legal ways to protest?

· How can people change unjust laws?

· Who is the government accountable to?

· Why did segregation and Jim Crow laws exist?

· Why do racism, discrimination, and bigotry exist?

· What causes a population to riot?

· Is the government responsible for serving all its citizens?

· Why is their so much emphasis on race in our society?

Enduring Understandings:

· Students will understand how the riots led to the State Commission.

· Students will understand the causes and effects of social disorder.

Assessment:

Pre-assessment:

· Use the Frayer Model Worksheet to assess what students have learned about Jim Crow.

Formative Assessment:

· Students will use 3 graphic organizers to help guide their learning. Reviewing these graphic organizers will allow you to see what the students are learning and what they still need to learn.

o Graphic Organizer #1: Notes or Flowchart

o Graphic Organizer #2: Causes and Effects

o Graphic Organizer #3: Timeline 1, or Timeline 2

Procedures:

1. Take students to the computer lab and have them do an online search to find information about the race riots in Illinois.

2. Take a look at the links below in order to guide their online learning.

3. As students study the websites, they will complete three graphic organizers (look at formative assessment for the links to the pdfs).

4. The first graphic organizer will help sort the different riots.

5. The second graphic organizer will help students understand the causes and effects from the different riots.

6. The third graphic organizer will help sort the facts so that the students will understand the timeline of each riot.

Website Links

Link	Description
East St. Louis Riot	Description of the causes and effects of the race riot in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Additional East St. Louis Riot Information	Further information about East St. Louis riot.
Illinois Race Riots	Description of race riots across the country, our focus will be the Springfield, East St. Louis, and the Chicago race riots.
Springfield Race Riot	Description of the race riot in Springfield in 1908.
Springfield Race Riot Thinkquest	Thinkquest that explains the different factors involved during the Springfield race riot.
Chicago Race Riot of 1919	Description of the Chicago race riot of 1919. This site also has excellent links to primary resources such as newspaper accounts, newspaper editorials, and an expansive list of photographs.