Reconstruction in Texas

RECONSTRUCTION IN TEXAS

The students will be able to develop a plan of Reconstruction for the South and predict how the implementation of that plan could affect American society in the 20th century.

This lesson should be done as an introduction to Reconstruction.

Grade: 7th

Subject: Texas History

Timeline: 1 class period for the initial plan, but the plans can be referred to throughout the entire study of the Reconstruction period.

Submitted by: Rebecca Smith 7th Grade Texas History History Dept. Chairperson & 7th/8th Grade History Teacher

Materials needed: Student groups of 4-5 people, a large piece of butcher paper per group (on which students can write and display their plan), a copy of student directions (can be one per student or one per group).

Procedure: Divide the class into groups of 4-5 people. Give each group a minimum of one copy of the student directions and a large sheet of butcher paper (at least poster size).

Allow students the time to brainstorm on their reconstruction plan following the directions on the “student direction” sheet. As a group the students will develop a plan of reconstruction and evaluate its impact on the 20th century. Groups will then present their plan to the class.

Timeline: 1 class periods for the initial plan, but the student plans can be referred to throughout the entire study of the Reconstruction period.

EVALUATION: Use the Rubric included on the student instruction sheet.

CONTINUATION OF THIS ACTIVITY: AFTER ALL PLANS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED: The class will discuss the pro’s and con’s of the different plans and come up with ONE plan for the class.

POST EACH CLASS PLAN – Compare the class plan to that of the Presidential Reconstruction Plan and Military Reconstruction Plan. Evaluate the effectiveness of the class plan as you study the other two plans. TEKS: 7.5B; 7.6A; 7.22A, B, D; 7.23A, B

Suggested Readings: Handbook of Texas: Reconstruction, African Americans, Fifth Military District, Late Nineteenth Century Texas, Carpetbaggers, Black Codes, Freedmen’s Bureau, Segregation, Ku Klux Klan, Constitutional Convention of 1875, Constitution of 1876.