Unit
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Use this unit to help students gain context on the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the role of Eleanor Roosevelt in its creation, and the legacies of this document today.
Resources
5Duration
Three or more 50-min class periodsSubject
- History
Grade
11–12Language
English — USPublished
Updated
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About This Unit
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is celebrated as one of the milestones in the history of human rights. The resources in this collection support educators and students in examining the context in which the document was drafted, learning about the role Eleanor Roosevelt played in the creation of the UDHR, analyzing the debates and the dilemmas that Roosevelt and others on the drafting committee faced, and considering the legacies and lasting impact of the declaration.
Essential Questions
- What is a right?
- What rights should belong to every human being on earth?
Universe of Obligation and Human Rights
Students learn about "universe of obligation," how individuals and nations define their responsibilities toward other people.
Defining Universal Human Rights
Students consider what rights should belong to every human being on earth, create their own definition of a right, and learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Complicating the Universality of Human Rights
Students examine the tensions that emerged between nations with different cultures, values, and systems of beliefs when drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and will then consider the consequences of a world that cannot agree on universal rights for all people.
Making Rights Universal
Students read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and discuss whether these rights are universal and enjoyed by individuals and groups in the world today.
Fundamental Freedoms: Eleanor Roosevelt, the Holocaust, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Scholar Allida Black describes how former first lady and human rights activist Eleanor Roosevelt worked to develop the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Eleanor Roosevelt and the Declaration of Human Rights
Allida Black discusses Eleanor Roosevelt's expanding views on civil rights in the United States as she negotiates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Who was Eleanor Roosevelt?
Allida Black describes Eleanor Roosevelt’s development into a leader on social justice.
Breaking Civil Rights Away from Human Rights
Carol Anderson investigates the relationship between social and civil rights and the failure in the United States to expand the term “civil rights” to include broader human rights.
Human Rights, Civil Rights, and the Cold War
Dr. Carol Anderson discusses the emergence of human rights discussions during World War II. She examines links between the Cold War, the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and politics of race in the United States in the 1950s.
When History Failed to Turn
Carol Anderson reflects on why once vibrant neighborhoods and why they became places of poverty and crime. Lack of equal educational opportunities despite the Brown v. Board decision left people poorly prepared to face a changing economy.
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Fundamental Freedoms: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Trace Eleanor Roosevelt's development into a renowned human rights leader and her pivotal role in creating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with this resource.
Legacy and Memory
Review some of the profound legacies of the Holocaust and World War II and consider how these histories continue to influence our lives today.
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