Why did the Supreme Court’s decision in Adkins v. Children’s Hospital create challenges for women and children in the workforce, and how did it reflect the struggles between workers’ rights and individual freedoms?

This lesson and activity focus on the Supreme Court case Adkins v. Children’s Hospital (1923) and its impact on perceptions of fairness and bias in the legal system during a period of shifting social and political norms. Students will examine how the case highlighted the balance between protecting workers’ rights and maintaining individual freedoms, as well as how societal views on gender, justice, and equality influenced the decision.

Included in this resource:

Supreme Court Case Spotlight On: Adkins v. Children’s Hospital analysis with scaffolding questions
Answer key for teachers (suggested)

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