ABSTRACT

Engaging With History in the Classroom: The Post-Reconstruction Era is the third in a series of middle-grade U.S. history units that focus on what it means to be an American citizen, living in a democracy that expects as much from its citizens as it provides to them. In every lesson, students are asked to step into the world of the post-Reconstruction and industrialization era, to hear about and to see what was happening, to read the words of real people, and to imagine their hopes, dreams, and feelings. Students also learn to question the accounts left behind and to recognize different perspectives on the amazing changes in the social, political, and economic profile of America. Resources for teachers include a running script that's useful as a model for guiding conceptualization as well as extensive teacher notes with practical suggestions for personalizing activities.

Grades 6-8

chapter |9 pages

Unit Overview

chapter Lesson 1|13 pages

What New Conflicts Occurred After Reconstruction?

chapter Lesson 2|13 pages

Was Reconstruction Successful?

chapter Lesson 3|10 pages

What was the Impact of Jim Crow Laws?

chapter Lesson 4|17 pages

How Might Equality be Achieved for African Americans?

chapter Lesson 5|35 pages

What Motivated People to Move West?

chapter Lesson 7|24 pages

What Really Happened in the American Indian Wars?

chapter Lesson 8|14 pages

Did Immigrants Find America the Land of Opportunity?

chapter Lesson 11|17 pages

How did Labor Unions Emerge?