Changes During Reconstruction

Changes During Reconstruction

02/25/2021

Multiple Choice

What was the big idea of the 13th Amendment?

• The amendment abolished, or ended, slavery.

• The amendment gave everyone the right to vote.

• The amendment gave citizenship and equal rights to everyone in the United States.

• The amendment gave the right to bear arms

Multiple Choice

What was the big idea of the 14th Amendment?

• The amendment gave everyone the right to vote.

• The amendment gave the right to bear arms

• The amendment abolished, or ended, slavery.

• The amendment gave citizenship and equal rights to everyone in the United States.

Multiple Choice

What was the big idea of the 15th Amendment?

• The amendment gave everyone the right to vote.

• The amendment gave citizenship and equal rights to everyone in the United States.

• The amendment gave the right to bear arms

• The amendment abolished, or ended, slavery.

Think-Pair-Share

Go to the Schoology page and click on the Think-Pair-Share.

How do you think life changed for African Americans during Reconstruction?

What challenges do you think African Americans still faced? 

How life changed for African Americans during Reconstruction 

Have your "Changes During Reconstruction Assignment" open and ready to fill out.

There are about 2 slides per box.

Family Life

The family was at the center of the African American community after the Civil War. Thus, reuniting families was the first priority. Former slaves often walked hundreds of miles in search of family members who had been sold away during slavery.

Family Life

Slave marriages had no legal standing, so once free, tens of thousands of African Americans were married by the army and the Freedmen’s Bureau.

Churches

The creation of independent African American churches was a major accomplishment of Reconstruction. The church played a central role in the black community. African Americans gathered their money together as a community to purchase land and to build a church. For example, St. John Baptist Church was founded in Missouri City, Texas shortly after the Civil War.

Churches

The church also served as a place to hold social events and political gatherings. African American ministers during Reconstruction often served as political leaders. For example, Benjamin Franklin Williams was a minister, and he was elected to represent Fort Bend County to the Texas Legislature during Reconstruction. 

Education

An education was denied to African Americans during slavery. During Reconstruction, freed people of all ages worked hard to achieve an education. Classrooms often contained more than 50 people and didn’t have much material. Still, families were committed to getting an education and many moved to cities to have better access to an education. During Reconstruction, the establishment of public education came to the South.

Education

Reconstruction also led to the establishment of the nation’s first African American colleges, both private and public. For example, Prairie View A and M, which is located near Houston, was established in 1876. African American Texas legislators were leaders in creating this public college.

Political Life

Despite threats and intimidations, up to 90% of African American men voted during Reconstruction. This led to African Americans serving in local, state, and national governments. New State Constitutions had to be created in southern states. Approximately 25% of the delegates at these conventions were African Americans who helped write the new state Constitutions.

Political Life

In 1870, Hiram Revels became the first African American to serve in the United States Senate. He represented the state of Mississippi.  

Political Life

Robert Smalls was another important African American leader in the United States Congress during Reconstruction. He represented the state of South Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smalls had become a hero during the Civil War for his daring escape from slavery and then his service to the Union as a soldier.

Economic Life

Economic independence was a major goal of African Americans during Reconstruction. Most people in the south worked in agriculture, and African Americans wanted to farm and own their own land. For example, Walter Moses Burton was able to buy land from his former master in Fort Bend County. Burton was also the first African American to serve as the County Sheriff, and he later served in the Texas legislature.

Economic Life

Most African Americans were not able to become landowners. Instead, a system called sharecropping became the norm. Under this system, African American families rented plots of land. They would keep part of the crop to sell themselves and then the landowner would get the rest. Although this system kept most in poverty, it allowed them to have more control over their own lives compared to slavery. They could determine which members of the families worked in the fields. Under slavery, children were forced to work in the fields, but during Reconstruction many attended school.

On Your Own

Answer the reflection question:

What do you think was the most significant change and why? 

Remember to use complete sentences!

Sentence Stem:

The most significant change was ____ because ____.