To Bigotry No Sanction: Jewish Americans, Belonging, and the Work of Civil Rights, 1654–Present

Most states teach the Holocaust and Judaism as a world religion. Few teach the story of Jewish Americans, who have been part of this country since 1654.

To Bigotry No Sanction takes its title from George Washington’s 1790 promise to the Jewish congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, of a government that “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.” Students follow that promise from General Grant’s 1862 expulsion order to the immigrant garment workers, the refugees turned away in 1939, the civil rights movement and the 2018 Tree of Life attack. Along the way, they see how Jewish Americans helped widen America’s promise of belonging for everyone.

What’s inside

• A three-period inquiry lesson for Grade 11 U.S. History, with adaptations for Grade 8 and Grade 12 civics
• Nine primary sources, from Washington’s letter to Supreme Court decisions and the FBI’s 1964 “Missing” poster, each with context, a glossary and discussion questions
• A teacher answer key, an assessment rubric and differentiation strategies
• Ten full-page images for projecting or photocopying
• Alignment to the C3 Framework, NCSS themes and AP U.S. History, plus a worksheet for matching the plan to your state’s standards
• A built-in ING speaker panel, with first-person voices from diverse Jewish Americans, available in person or virtually in every state

For educators: The lesson teaches about religion academically, not devotionally, and fits the U.S. History content you already teach. It can also support state Holocaust-education requirements.

For community leaders: Share this plan with teachers and school leaders in your area, and connect them with ING to schedule a speaker panel.

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