Why Fighting for a Cause in Important:

This domain will introduce students to several ordinary people who stood up for what they believed in and who fought for a cause, even when faced with immeasurable odds. Students will learn how members of very powerful groups have often excluded members of other groups from exercising certain rights. They will learn about some key historical figures who fought for various causes such as the abolition of slavery, the right for women to vote, and the welfare of migrant workers. Each of these individuals struggled for a cause, their struggles later helped change many laws, and they all practiced nonviolence. These historical figures also had an impact on the ability of others in our nation to exercise their individual rights. Students will understand the connection between ideas and actions, and how ordinary people can do extraordinary things, changing people’s awareness throughout an entire country. Students will also learn the terms civil rights and human rights, and what these terms mean.

The Fighting for a Cause domain will introduce students to seven historical leaders:

• Susan B. Anthony • Eleanor Roosevelt • Mary McLeod Bethune • Jackie Robinson • Rosa Parks • Martin Luther King Jr. • Cesar Chavez

Students will learn about the dedication and sacrifice of these historical leaders, as well as the significant impact they had on the fight for civil rights and human rights. This domain will also lay the foundation for review and extended learning of equal rights in later grades.