This Voting Rights Amendments Reading & Review for Civics and American History resource introduces students to the United States Constitution’s Voting Rights Amendments: the 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments. This resource is perfect for middle school students learning about the Voting Rights Amendments in their American History, American Government, or Civics classroom!
Each of the five Voting Rights Amendments are introduced in a short, one-page, easy-to-digest reading passage. The primary source text of each Constitutional Amendment is included! Review questions in the margins check comprehension of the language, content, and historical context of the Amendment, and a reflection question asks students to consider each Amendment’s broader impact.
Pair with my Voting Rights Amendments One-Pager for a fun lesson that incorporates both comprehension and creativity! Or, pair with my Voting Rights Amendments Digital Activities for Google Slides for even more enrichment!
Aligned to the Florida State Standard for Middle School Civics:
- SS.7.CG.2.3 Identify and apply the rights contained in the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
This Voting Rights Amendments Reading & Review for Civics & American History resource includes:
✯ Five one-page Voting Rights Amendments Reading Passages.
- Reading Passages cover the 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments to the United States Constitution.
- Each worksheet includes the original text of the constitutional Amendmentand a 2-3 paragraph, easy-to-understand reading passage that summarizes the key facts, historical context, and impact of the Amendment.
- Margin questions break down the text, asking students to define key vocabulary terms from the article and the Amendment, as well as answer comprehension questions from the reading.
- A final short-answer reflection question asks students to consider the broader impact of the Amendment.
✯ The margin questions ask guiding questions that help students close-read the text. Vocabulary from both the primary source text of the Amendment itself and the reading passage are included, and comprehension questions make sure students are understanding the main points of the article.
Sample margin questions for the 19th Amendment include:
- Define suffrage.
- When was the Seneca Falls convention held?
- Why was Susan B. Anthony arrested?
- When was the 19th Amendment ratified?
- To whom did the 19th Amendment give the right to vote?
✯ Each Voting Rights Amendment reading passage includes a reflection question, intended for students to consider the importance of the Amendment or predict the Amendment’s historical impact.
For example, here’s the reflection question for the 24th Amendment (eliminating poll taxes):
- The 26th Amendment banned poll taxes in federal elections, and in 1966, the Supreme Court case Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections banned poll taxes in state and local elections as well. The Supreme Court determined that poll taxes violated the 14th Amendment. Considering what you have learned about poll taxes, explain how they violated a citizen’s 14th Amendment rights.
This Voting Rights Amendments resource makes a great lesson introducing these crucial constitutional amendments to your students. You can read each article with your students as a class or have students work independently. Encourage students to highlight vocabulary or underline main ideas as they read. These articles can be used as your Voting Rights Amendments lesson, homework for extra enrichment, or as print-and-go sub plans!
This resource comes as a non-editable, printable PDF and includes an Answer Key!
Other Happy Teacher Resources You Might Enjoy:
✩ Voting Rights Amendments One-Pager
✩ Voting Rights Amendments Digital Activities for Google Slides
