Using the C3 Framework to Evaluate the Legacy of Southern Segregationist Senators

Abstract U.S. politics has been primarily focused on the exploration of presidential power. People have engaged in traditional Master Narratives with the examination of U.S. Presidents where their actions are elevated and the catalysts for seismic societal changes. What is not examined in as much detail is legislative power wielded by members of the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. It could be argued that the influence of the U.S. Senate is more substantial given the longer length of its members’ terms. The exploration of a senator’s power, impact, and legacy is made even more difficult to measure by the subtle legislative maneuvers employed in the U.S. Senate along with the quantity of his or her votes on a variety of issues. However, students need to be equipped with the skills to analyze their elected representatives’ political records. One notable U.S. senator in the 20th century that the social studies teacher can research using the C3 Framework is Senator Richard Russell of Georgia.