The Civil War & Reconstruction · Weeks 19-27

Lincoln's Leadership & The Gettysburg Address

Investigate Abraham Lincoln's evolving leadership and the enduring message of the Gettysburg Address.

About This Topic

The End of Reconstruction examines the period from 1870 to 1877, when Northern support for the rebuilding of the South faded, leading to the rise of Jim Crow laws. Students learn about the 'Compromise of 1877,' which ended federal military occupation of the South in exchange for a Republican presidency. The curriculum also covers the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and the systemic efforts to disenfranchise African American voters.

This topic is essential for understanding the long-term legacy of the Civil War and the roots of the 20th-century Civil Rights Movement. It explores the concept of a 'splendid failure', an era of great progress that was ultimately undone. Students grasp this concept faster through structured discussion and peer explanation, as they analyze the 'push and pull' of political interests that led to the abandonment of Reconstruction.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Compromise of 1877

Students act as political negotiators in the disputed election of 1876. They must decide whether to give the presidency to Hayes in exchange for removing troops from the South, experiencing the 'backroom deal' that ended Reconstruction.

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

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Gallery Walk: The Rise of Jim Crow

Display examples of 'Black Codes' and early Jim Crow laws. Students use sticky notes to identify how each law was designed to bypass the 14th and 15th Amendments and maintain white supremacy.

⏱ 35 min·Individual

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Think-Pair-Share: Was Reconstruction a Success or Failure?

Students list three successes (e.g., schools, amendments) and three failures (e.g., violence, sharecropping). They discuss in pairs which side 'won' in the long run and share their conclusions with the class.

⏱ 25 min·Pairs

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Reconstruction ended because the South was 'rebuilt.'

What to Teach Instead

It ended because Northerners lost interest and political will, and because of a controversial presidential election. Peer discussion on 'political fatigue' helps students understand why the North walked away.

Common Misconception

Sharecropping was just a different kind of job.

What to Teach Instead

Sharecropping was often a 'cycle of debt' that kept formerly enslaved people tied to the land, almost like slavery. A 'sharecropping math' activity helps students see how the system was designed to keep workers poor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Compromise of 1877?

It was an informal deal that settled the disputed 1876 presidential election. Southern Democrats agreed to let the Republican candidate, Rutherford B. Hayes, become president if he agreed to remove the remaining federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction.

What were 'Black Codes'?

Black Codes were laws passed by Southern states immediately after the war to restrict the freedom of African Americans. They aimed to force them to work in a labor economy based on low wages or debt and to prevent them from exercising their new political rights.

Why did the North lose interest in Reconstruction?

By the mid-1870s, many Northerners were more concerned with a major economic depression and government corruption than with civil rights in the South. A new generation of leaders emerged who were less committed to the ideals of the 'Radical Republicans.'

How can active learning help students understand the legacy of Reconstruction?

Active learning, such as simulating the 'Compromise of 1877' or analyzing sharecropping contracts, helps students see that the end of Reconstruction was a deliberate political choice. When students have to 'negotiate' the end of the era, they understand the trade-offs involved. This approach helps them see history as a series of consequences that still affect American society today.

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