History Do Now’s

Week of 4/22/19

Monday - This Week in History

April 25, 1967 - A Democratic freshman state lawmaker introduced a bill that allowed abortions
if the woman’s physical or mental health was threatened, if the unborn child might have birth
defects or in cases of rape or incest. Rep. Richard Lamm said he feared he might be
committing political suicide by introducing the bill to the overwhelmingly male, Republican-
dominated Legislature. Within weeks, Republican Gov. John Love signed the bill into law,
making Colorado the first state to loosen restrictions on abortion — six years before the U.S.
Supreme Court would legalize it nationally.

How does this event connect to current issues?

If you could go back in time and say one sentence to Richard Lamm (The lawmaker who
introduced this bill), what would you tell him?

Tuesday - The Bill of Rights

Sixth Amendment

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an
impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which
district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and
cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory
process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his
defence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n39oIvz_hqM

Write a short (2 sentence) summary of the amendment in your own words.

What was the reasoning for this amendment being included in the Bill of Rights?

Do you think this amendment is an important part of our society? Why or why not?

Wednesday - Supreme Court Case

Roe v. Wade, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on January 22, 1973, ruled (7–2) that
unduly restrictive state regulation of abortion is unconstitutional. The court held that a set of
Texas statutes criminalizing abortion in most instances violated a woman’s constitutional right
of privacy, which it found to be implicit in the liberty guarantee of the due process clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment (“…nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law”).

The case began in 1970 when “Jane Roe”—a fictional name used to protect the identity of the
plaintiff, Norma McCorvey—instituted federal action against Henry Wade, the district attorney
of Dallas county, Texas, where Roe resided. The Supreme Court disagreed with Roe’s assertion
of an absolute right to terminate pregnancy in any way and at any time and attempted to
balance a woman’s right of privacy with a state’s interest in regulating abortion. The court then
attempted to balance the state’s distinct compelling interests in the health of pregnant women
and in the potential life of fetuses. It placed the point after which a state’s compelling interest in
the pregnant woman’s health would allow it to regulate abortion “at approximately the end of
the first trimester” of pregnancy. With regard to the fetus, the court located that point at
“capability of meaningful life outside the mother’s womb,” or viability.

Write a short (2 sentence) summary of the case in your own words.

At the time, what impact did this decision have on society?

Does this decision still have an impact on society today?

Thursday - NY Times News Quiz

https://www.nytimes.com/column/learning-news-quiz

Post a screenshot of your score here