HS206 Protest in America

Exploration of popular protest movements from Colonial times to the present, including episodes of resistance against established legal, political and cultural codes and practices, and movements seeking social change and justice. Examples of cases include Revolutionary-era rebellion, Civil Rights movements, Abolitionism, women’s equality campaigns, antiwar protests, Native American rights struggles, gay rights, and labor-activism conflicts. The evolution of public demonstrations from radical roots to mainstream assimilation will also be addressed. Students gain understanding of tensions between enshrined rights and their controversial interpretations, and explore the cultural, political and legal contexts of popular protest movements. They also gain perspectives on protest movements we witness today.