Reconstruction

Topic: Chapter 10: Reconstruction after the Civil War

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to explain the causes and effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
• Students will be able to analyze the social, political, and economic struggles and compromises of Reconstruction.

Materials

• Textbook or other materials on the Civil War and Reconstruction
• Maps of the United States during Reconstruction
• Articles or documents on social, political, and economic struggles and compromises during Reconstruction
• Handouts or worksheets for students to complete

Warm-up

• Have students draw a timeline of the Civil War and Reconstruction on the board, with the start of the Civil War at the bottom and the end of Reconstruction at the top.
• Ask students to label any major events or milestones they know on the timeline.
• Encourage students to ask questions about any events or milestones they don't understand.

Direct Instruction

• Begin by explaining that after the Civil War ended, the federal government had to deal with the task of rebuilding the South and ensuring that the former slaves were given their freedom and rights as citizens.
• Discuss the various Reconstruction efforts by the federal government, including the 13th Amendment, the Freedmen's Bureau, and the Reconstruction Acts.
• Highlight the social changes, conflicts, and compromises that resulted from these efforts.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups and give each group a Reconstruction-era document to analyze. -Have the groups use the document to identify the purpose, key ideas, and any important information contained within.
• Have each group share their findings with the class.

Independent Practice

• Assign each student a specific aspect of Reconstruction to research. -Have the students write a brief report on their assigned topic and present it to the class.

Closure

• Review the key events and social changes that took place during Reconstruction. -Discuss the compromises that were made between the North and South to bring about Reconstruction and how they affected the country. -Ask the students to reflect on the importance of these compromises in the healing of the nation after the Civil War.

Assessment

• Use the presentations and class discussions to assess the students' understanding of the key events and social changes that took place during Reconstruction. -Use the students' reflection journals to assess their understanding of the importance of the compromises that were made during Reconstruction.