How Does the USA Patriot Act Approach Race?

Lesson Plan on Race in America

Objectives:   Students will:

• Define racism and terrorism and discuss the definitions as a class.
• Analyze the Patriot Act as a response to terrorism.
• Describe how the Patriot Act may or may not be viewed as a document that supports racism in the United States.

Required Reading:

Students already have familiarity with The Constitution (particularly the 14th Amendment) and The Bill of Rights. The night before the activity they should review The Bill of Rights.

Handouts:

• Table of Contents to the Patriot Act from Choices curriculum unit, Responding to Terrorism: Challenges for Democracy, pages 46-51.
• The Bill of Rights
• The U.S.A. Patriot Act described—www.legal-database.com/patriot-act.htm
• U.S.A. Patriot Act critique from American Civil Liberties Union—download at: www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.php?ID=11813&c=207#FileAttach
• U.S.A. Patriot Act critique from www.lifeandliberty.gov

In the Classroom:

1. Definitions: racism and terrorism—In groups of 2 or 3 have the students define racism and terrorism. Discuss their definitions as a class.  
2. Investigating Primary Sources—Ask students to skim the table of contents from the Patriot Act. Walk students through the summary of the Patriot Act, helping students to understand why the Patriot Act was written, when, and by whom, and what types of laws this act puts in place.
3. Reviewing The Constitution and The Bill of Rights—Remind students why The Bill of Rights was written.
4. Analyzing the Patriot Act—Break students into pairs or trios and hand out the critiques of the Patriot Act. Ask students to consider the impact of the Act on race, using the The Bill of Right to find support for their opinion. Ask students to consider whether the Act promotes racism in our society.
5. Sharing Responses—Ask groups share their responses and draw some conclusions as a class.  

Homework:

For either homework or a concluding exercise to the class, have students write their own opinion on whether or not the Patriot Act could be seen as a racist document.

Note: The following examples might also be used in addition to the Patriot Act to investigate legislation's affect on race relations.

Alien and Sedition Acts—found in most U.S. history textbooks
Habeas Corpus Act 1679
Lincoln's Suspension of Habeas Corpus
Conscription Act
Hearings from the McCarthy Era
Indian Removal Act of 1830

This lesson was developed by:
Elise McNinch—Williamstown Middle School, Williamstown, Michigan
Janet Reifenberg—Webberville Middle School, Webberville, Michigan
Anne Wade—Williamstown High School, Williamstown, Michigan