anniversary of Bloody Sunday when peaceful Civil Rights marchers were attacked by police and deputized citizens at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.
The March 7th march was the first of three 54 mile voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama organized by SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) leader James Bevel.
Use primary sources to learn what happened on Bloody Sunday.
On March 9, 1965 - Martin Luther King, Jr. led marchers in a symbolic march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Once they reached the police barricade they, as planned, turned back.
Marchers demanded protection for the 3rd march and a federal voting rights law.
On March 15, 1965- President Johnson asked a joint session of Congress for the introduction and passage of a voting rights bill.
March 21, 1965 - The 3rd march began. The marchers were protected by 2,000 U.S. Army soldiers and 1,900 members of the Alabama National Guard under Federal command. Alabama Governor Wallace refused to provide protection for the marchers.
March 24, 1965 - 25,000 marchers arrived in Montgomery, Alabama in support of voting rights. Martin Luther King, Jr. addressed the marchers.
August 6, 1965 - President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law and spoke to the nation.
The above links will take you to some great primary sources about Selma and the March to Montgomery that you can use in your own lesson.
If you'd like a lesson that has already been created, you might like:
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