Radical Reconstruction

How did the Radical Republicans seek to ensure civil rights for African Americans during Reconstruction? This lesson and activity examines Congressional radical Republicans reconstruction plans. Students will examine documents and provisions of radical Republican plans and draw conclusions based on their analysis.

Included in this resource:

Do Now primary source analysis questions - Charles Sumner on Reconstruction in the South, 1866
Who were the Radical Republicans? reading passage with questions
Remembering Dred Scott v. Sandford short reading passage critical thinking prediction question
Congressional Reconstruction Legislation and Amendments Activity - Students will examine reconstruction plan documents and complete a graphic organizer with conclusions based off the guided questions (documents are tiered for different learning/reading levels)
Wade Davis Bill 1864
Freedmen’s Bureau Acts 1865-1866
13th Amendment 1865
Civil Rights Act 1866
Reconstruction Acts 1867
14th Amendment 1868
Enforcement Act 1870
15th Amendment 1870
Civil Rights Act 1875
What is the historical context for this legislation? What events or social changes prompted its creation?
What were the goals or intended effects of the legislation?
What were the key provisions or requirements of this legislation?
How effective was this legislation in achieving its goals?
What were the historical consequences or impact of the legislation?
Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Question - How did Radical Reconstruction differ from earlier attempts to rebuild and reunite the country after the Civil War?
★ Please Note: I execute this lesson with my 8th grade honors students and my 11th grade gen-ed students. Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you!

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