Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free
Ida B. Wells and Anti-Lynching Activism ActivityIda B. Wells and Anti-Lynching Activism Activity
Publisher
Digital Public Library of America
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
9th - 12th
Subjects
Social Studies & History
2 more...
Resource Type
Activities & Projects
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
1 hr
Instructional Strategies
Collaborative Learning
2 more...
Technology
Projection
Internet Access
Usage Permissions
Creative Commons
BY: 3.0
cc
Activity

Ida B. Wells and Anti-Lynching Activism

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Ida B. Wells and Anti-Lynching Activism activity also includes:
  • Legal brief for Ida B. Wells’ lawsuit against Chesapeake, Ohio, and Southwestern Railroad Company, 1885.
  • Portrait of Ida B. Wells, 1893
  • Cover page for Southern Horrors: Lynch Law In All Its Phases by Ida B. Wells, 1892
  • Cover page for A Red Record: Tabulated Statistics and Alleged Causes of Lynchings in the United States, 1892-1893-1894 by Ida B. Wells
  • Illustration with portraits of African American leaders, including Ida B. Wells-Barnett, 1900
  • Political cartoon by Thomas Nast titled “The Union as it Was,” October 24, 1874
  • Lynching announcements from New Orleans States and Jackson Daily News, August 1919.
  • (Warning: graphic material) Photograph showing the aftermath of a public lynching in Columbus, Georgia, June 1, 1896
  • Address about Ida B. Wells’ speaking tour in England, 1894
  • Letter from A. M. Middlebrook to Albion Tourgée, Sept. 28, 1894
  • Letter from Ida B. Wells to Albion Tourgée, Nov. 27, 1894
  • Portrait of Ida B. Wells-Barnett, 1920s
  • Introduction to The Tragedy of Lynching, by the Commission on Interracial Cooperation, 1933
  • Activity
  • Join to access all included materials

A packet of 13 primary sources provides young historians with insight into the anti-lynching activism of civil rights Ida B. Wells. Included are images of Wells, her letters, a political cartoon, newspaper lynching announcements, and a photograph showing the aftermath of a public lynching. Powerful and disturbing, the set provides background information about the push-back to the Reconstruction era.

11 Views 7 Downloads
CCSS: Adaptable

Concepts

women's history month, black history month, african american history, african americans, famous african americans, lynching, activism, social activism, racism, discrimination, primary source analysis, primary source images, primary sources, critical thinking, jim crow laws, segregation, injustice, social injustice, the naacp, women's rights, suffrage, women's suffrage, the ku klux klan, civil rights, civil rights leaders

Instructional Ideas

  • Divide the class into groups, assign each a different primary source to research,h and present their findings to the class
  • If groups have access to computers with internet, load the primary source set on the devices to save on copying costs
  • Have groups investigate more recent instances of lynchings

Classroom Considerations

  • One of the resources carries a warning due to the graphic nature of the images
  • Presumes pupils can discuss the topics safely and respectfully

Pros

  • The packet includes an introduction that provides background information about Wells, the primary source set, and a teacher guide that includes discussion questions and activities

Cons

  • None

Common Core

RI.9-10.1 RI.9-10.10a RI.11-12.1 RI.11-12.2

View 75,742 other resources for 9th - 12th Grade Social Studies & History

© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use