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Classroom · Grades 6–12

Barbara Jordan

The Constitution’s promises are held in trust by each generation, including by people it once excluded, and defending them takes both knowledge and courage.

Lesson at a Glance

Grades
Grades 6–12
Time
One class period (20–40 minutes)
Standards
NCSS Themes 6 (Power, Authority, and Governance) and 10 (Civic Ideals and Practices); C3 D2.Civ.4, D2.Civ.10, D2.His.10
Reading
Barbara Jordan (profile)

Big Idea

The Constitution’s promises are held in trust by each generation, including by people it once excluded, and defending them takes both knowledge and courage.

Before Class

Students read the profile of Barbara Jordan, including the Key Dates and Sources.

Discussion Questions

  1. In her 1974 statement Jordan noted that the original Constitution had not included people like her. Why might that have made her defense of it especially powerful?
  2. How did Jordan’s years at Texas Southern University, especially on the debate team, prepare her for public life?
  3. What did Jordan argue impeachment was meant to be, and why did the framers include it in the Constitution?
  4. Jordan broke barriers in the Texas Senate and in Congress. What responsibilities, if any, come with being the first?

Activity

Students read the House Historian’s transcript of Jordan’s remarks of 25 July 1974. Working in pairs, they identify the constitutional sources Jordan cites and the standard she proposes for impeachment, then summarize her argument in three sentences. The class discusses whether her standard is a fair one and how it could be applied to any president, regardless of party. As an optional extension, students deliver a 60-second excerpt aloud and reflect on how Jordan’s delivery reinforced her words.

Primary Sources

Cite this page
MLA
“Classroom lesson: Barbara Jordan.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/classroom/barbara-jordan/.
APA
Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Classroom lesson: Barbara Jordan. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/classroom/barbara-jordan/
Chicago
Black-History.com Editors. “Classroom lesson: Barbara Jordan.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/classroom/barbara-jordan/.
Editorial Note

By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.

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