Reconstruction

Introduction

Reconstruction was from 1865 to 1877 in order to fix the South after the end of the Civil War. Reconstruction addressed how secessionist Southern states would return to the Union, the civil status of the leaders of the Confederacy, and the Constitutional and legal status of the Negro Freedmen. Due to the many different ideas on how to bring the South back into the Union it caused violent controversy on how to tackle the issues caused by the US. By the late 1870s Reconstruction had failed to equally integrate the Freedmen into the legal, political, economic and social system.

Introduction

Following the Civil War, while the Union was united by force, it was divided in spirit.  The south was still mending its physical, geographical and economic wounds.  Unfortunately, these wounds were not mended and not allowed time to heal.  What was meant to end the divisions between North and South, Black and White, lead them in a new and more violent direction.  This assignment is going determine what went wrong, and what, if anything could have been done differently.

 

Task

Task

1.  Research all sides and perspectives on the issue.  Including those of the newly freedmen, Radical Republicans, Democrats, and the Constitution.

2.  Share your information with other students in a group. 

3.  Write a letter to the President, presenting your advice in Reconstructing the Union, taking into account the various issues that caused the Civil War.

Process

Process

Basis: 

Following the Civil War the President and the country took on the responsibility of reconstructing the Union.  Much of the South was in ruins; there was a large population of freedmen, and a lack of economic industry. 

Your Role: 

You are to take the position of Political Advisor to the President Johnson.  You may use the Internet, the library, or any other sources you feel are adequate for this research. You may use Wikipedia as a jump-start, however do not use it as one of your sources. During the process of researching the material you are to keep a journal.  There should be at least ten entries.  Each entry must include the name of the source you looked at, how you found that source. This is important due to the fact that I am requiring you to submit a references page in MLA format. 

Possible Online Resources:

http://www.mrburnett.net/civilwar.html

http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/timeline/index.html

http://americanhistory.si.edu/presidency/timeline/pres_era/3_656.html

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_reconstruct.html

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraid=8&smtid=1

Discussion:

We will have a discussion during a few of the days that we are in class. The discussion will be on the research you have conducted. On the days that we will have a discussion please make sure that you bring some of the information along with you to class. Participation is one of the requirements for this assignment. Also it may be possible that I split the class up into smaller groups so that you can form a cohesive argument and then argue it out before Congress (The Class).

Letter to the President:

You should approach this letter like you are journalist looking to gauge the opinion of the people for the president. Your letter should include the following:

  • Cities that you were in 
  • Viewpoints of those who lived in the cities
  • Describe to the President things that he should take into account when taking the next step in reconstructing the country

Remember that this is a historically sensitive writing assignment and so you cant say that you chose one opinion because something in the future would cause it to become null. 

Evaluation

Evaluation

The students will be evaluated based on many aspects of this project. 

  1. That they are participating in class
  2. That they have done good research using appropriate sites
  3. The students provided a valid argument for why their opinion should be taken into account 
  4. Ability to write effectively 
  5. Provides a valid MLA citation page

 

Conclusion

Conclusion 

This assignment is based on the notion that each student has an opinion and that opinion matters. The expression of ones own opinion is one of the rights that each of us has, yet rarely ever do we take full advantage of it. Hopefully you will during this assignment!

Credits

Credits 

Burnett, Eric. "Civil War and Reconstruction." Civil War and Reconstruction. Web. 24 Nov. 2015. <http://www.mrburnett.net/civilwar.html&gt;.

"Presentations and Activities." Presentations and Activities. Web. 24 Nov. 2015 <http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactiviti…;.

"Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)." Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877). Web. 24 Nov. 2015. <http://americanhistory.si.edu/presidency/timeline/pres_era/3_656.html&gt;.

PBS. PBS. Web. 24 Nov. 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_reconstruct.html&gt;.

"Digital History." Digital History. Web. 24 Nov. 2015. <http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraid=8&smtid=1&gt;.

Teacher Page

by Brandon Jones, Mississippi State Univesity

Mississippi Competencies 

  • The students will understand the evolution of the American political system, its ideals, and institutions.

SS.11.1b,c,d

  • The students will understand major social problems and domestic policy issues.

SS.11.2a,c

  • The students will understand how the Civil Rights Movement achieved social and political change in the United States and the impact of the Civil Rights struggle of African Americans on other groups.

SS.11.3a

  • The students will understand the continuing economic transformation of the United States involving the maturing of the industrial economy, the expansion of big business, the changing demographics of the labor force.

SS.11.4a

  • The students will understand the scope of government involvement.

SS.11.5a,c

  • The students will understand cultural trends, religious ideologies, and artistic expressions.

SS.11.7a,e

NCSS Strands

#1 Culture 

#2 Time, Continuity, and Change 

#5 Individuals, Groups, and Institutions

#6 Power, Authority, and Governance.