Monday, September 10: Reconstruction (cont'd)

Student Objective: Understand the significance of the years 1861-1865 and its aftermath, the era of Reconstruction.

1. Submit your sascurriculumpathways assignments (document, practice assignment, quiz).  The form is on Friday's post.

2. Let's review this image together and discuss Friday's question: How does the scene in this image reflect the realities of Reconstruction?

• Who does the man in the middle represent?
• Who is represented by the white group of men?
• Who is represented by the black group of men?
• Why are the two groups angry with one another?
• What was Reconstruction supposed to accomplish?
• How does the anger depicted in this scene foreshadow what happened in the South once Reconstruction officially ended in 1877?

Now that you've answered these detail questions, re-submit your response to the "big" question here.  Be very specific in your response!

3.  Now we are going to read a couple of articles that deal with the hardships of Reconstruction: namely, the transition from slavery to emancipation; and how the system of sharecropping essentially returned the freedmen to a legalized system of slavery.  Click here to access the articles.

4. This last reading selection is a primary source document of a contract between a former slave owner and two of his former slaves.  Mr. Mitchell (the slave owner) lays out his rules for employment within the South's new system of sharecropping.  Click here.

5. Wednesday we will be testing over Reconstruction.  Study your class notes and vocabulary to prepare.