Ms. Nelson Kauffman/Mrs. Attruia
US History/2009
Reconstruction: post-Civil War
Unit outline
In this course we have seen that in the global community people still struggle for freedom and equality. Americans have a long history of fighting around the world in defense of these two values, and they are cited today as reasons we are fighting the global war on terrorism. Thomas Jefferson declared freedom and equality an essential element of what it means to be an American when he stated in the Declaration of Independence, that “liberty” is one of our “inalienable rights” and that “all men are created equal.” Lincoln expanded on that idea and declared that the Civil War should give America “a new birth of freedom.” Americans hold the values of liberty and equality dear, but do we really have true freedom and equality in this country? Throughout this unit we will focus on how we define freedom and equality and how our views of them have changed from 1861 to the present.
In this unit we will examine the period after the Civil War, called Reconstruction. During Reconstruction three important Constitutional amendments passed that gave African Americans freedom (13th Amendment), equal rights (14th Amendment), and the vote (15th Amendment). As part of our study, we will reenact our own Reconstruction town meeting (in class!) and then evaluate how successful Reconstruction was.
Essential questions:
1. How did the Civil War change America?
2. How do you reunite a divided country after Civil War?
2. Was Reconstruction a success or failure?
3. What can we learn from the past?
Students will:
Know:
1. Political, social, and economic consequences of Reconstruction policies.
2. Interests of bitter war confederates, freedmen, Radical Republicans, and President Johnson supporters.
Vocabulary:
3 plans of Reconstruction: (President Lincoln, Pres. Johnson, and Radical Republican Plans)
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
Black codes
Freedmen's Bureau
First Reconstruction Act of 1867 (p. 387 in text)
Johnson's impeachment
sharecropping
land reform (40 acres and a mule)
scalawags
carpetbaggers
Ku Klux Klan
Force Acts
1876 presidential election (“Compromise of 1877” ends Reconstruction)
voting restrictions
Jim Crow laws
Plessy vs. Ferguson
Understand:
1. Americans have always struggled to realize the ideals on which the nation is founded.
2. The legacy of Reconstruction is still felt today in social, political, and economic disparities between blacks and whites.
3. How do you reunite a divided country after Civil War?
Be able to do:
1. Recognize multiple perspectives
2. Analyze primary source documents
3. Research and write an interpretive letter
Major Assessments:
1. Assume the identity of a person (assigned by teacher) during Reconstruction; and from that perspective write a letter describing your problems during Reconstruction and what solutions you would propose.
2. Town meeting with your congressman (teacher) regarding your faction’s position on three laws being debated during Reconstruction.
ASSIGNMENTS
The following assignments are due on the day indicated. Bring laptops and textbooks DAILY
Monday, 11/6/09: SQ3R on pages 379-383 in textbook (see handout)
Wednesday 11/11/09: NO SCHOOL
Thursday, 11/12/09: SQ3R on pages 385-390
Monday, 11/16/09: SQ3R 391-394 due
Wednesday 11/18/09: Character’s letter describing Reconstruction problems and solutions based on the perspective of your character.
In-class today: 1. peer editing
2. Finish in your small group your opening statement and response to four laws
for tomorrow’s town meeting
Thursday 11/19/09: In-class town meeting to present various perspectives on four laws debated during Reconstruction (Freedmen’s right to vote, extension of Freedmen’s Bureau, Impeachment of President Johnson, “40 acres and a mule”)
Friday 11/20/09: SQ3R p. 395-398 “End of Reconstruction” and turn in.
