Mississippi Government

Was Mississippi A Part of Progressivism? Lesson Plan

OVERVIEW

Progressivism was a political movement that originated as a response to the economic, political, and social problems brought about by industrialization. Poverty, child labor, unsafe factories, and crowded living conditions are just a few of the issues that Progressives worked diligently to reform. Mississippi led the nations in two areas of Progressive concern, but lagged behind the nation in the areas of woman suffrage and race relations. Progressivism came to a close in the state of Mississippi as well as the nation as the United States entered World War I.

Constitutions of Mississippi Lesson Plan

OVERVIEW

Throughout the school year, students will analyze Mississippi's four constitutions to determine the various forces that influenced the writing of each one. They will identify specific examples in the documents that indicate how the writers responded to those forces. Students will seek to answer these questions:

  • How do the "times" affect the writing of a constitution?
  • Does it matter who writes a constitution?

CONNECTION TO STANDARDS

Mississippi Studies Framework: Competencies 1,3,4; Objectives 01, 03.

Presidential Elections: Mississippi's Voting History Lesson Plan

GUIDING QUESTION

Historically, how do the voters of Mississippi vote in presidential elections?

CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS

Mississippi Studies Framework Competencies:

  1. Explain how politics have influenced the development of Mississippi.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to use graphic tools.
  3. Explain how civic responsibilities are important to Mississippians as citizens of the United States.

TEACHING LEVELS

Grades 7 through 12.

Capitals and Capitols: The Places and Spaces of Mississippi's Seat of Government Lesson Plan

OVERVIEW

The capital of a nation as well as a state has sentimental meaning to its citizens. It is this significant status given to capitals that can cause regional conflict within a state or nation. Mississippi is no exception to these political struggles in the establishment of its state capital. Mississippi’s capital was relocated for various reasons throughout the history of the state even after the current capital of Jackson was selected in 1821.

CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS

Mississippi Studies Framework: Competencies 1, 3 and 4.

Betsy Love and the Mississippi Married Women's Property Act of 1839 Lesson Plan

OVERVIEW

With every social and cultural change in our American society there are individuals and events that serve as catalysts for these circumstances. Betsy Love is certainly a woman who helped bring change not only to Mississippi, but also to our nation. Her role in the lawsuit Fisher v. Allen served as a precedent in establishing the protection of property that belonged to married women. It was Love’s Chickasaw heritage and the tribal law of her culture that helped change the Mississippi state law concerning the property of married women.

Was Mississippi a Part of Progressivism?

Theme and Time Period

Progressivism was a political movement that swept America beginning about 1900. Progressives were people who believed that politicians should combine human compassion with the latest scientific and medical advances in order to tackle tough problems and supply solutions to those problems. Among the most famous Progressives nationally were U. S. presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.

The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission: An Agency History

Theme and Time Period

The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission was created in March 1956 by an act of the Mississippi Legislature. It came in the wake of the May 1954 Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka public school desegregation ruling by the U. S. Supreme Court. The court ruled that laws enforcing segregated schools were unconstitutional and called for desegregation of schools “with all deliberate speed.”

The Equal Rights Amendment and Mississippi

Theme and Time Period

Definitions for Equal Rights Amendment

  1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
  2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article
  3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

—full text, the Equal Rights Amendment

William Forrest Winter: Fifty-eighth Governor of Mississippi: 1980-1984

Theme and Time Period

For all of William Winter’s many contributions to the state of Mississippi, he will best be remembered for the Education Reform Act of 1982. After the legislature failed to enact his educational reforms during the regular session in 1982, Governor Winter called a special session. Under the authority given him by the state’s 1890 Constitution, Governor Winter restricted the legislation that could be introduced in that special session to education bills.

The Language of Flags: Glossary

Theme and Time Period

Banner
A synonym for flag.

Border
An edging around the field of a flag that is a different color from the field.

Bunting
A woolen cloth used in making flags.

Canton
The upper corner, or quarter, of a flag next to the flag staff.

Color guard
Soldiers who are assigned to protect the color bearer and defend their colors.