TOPIC 6.1 Contextualizing Era 6 (1865-1898)

“Long Reconstruction”

Unit 6: Learning Objective A Explain the historical context for The Period 1865-1898.

The official Reconstruction timeline usually ends in 1877. But this implies that the Reconstructionist vision of American democracy ceased to exist, or went dormant, without the backing of federal troops. Instead, we should consider a long Reconstruction—one that stretches well beyond 1877…This view allows us to follow the travails of the Black activists and ordinary citizens who kept the struggle for freedom and dignity alive…the work of Reconstruction never ended, because the goal of a multiracial democracy has never been fully realized. - Historian Dr. Peniel E. Joseph

Objectives: 

1. Students will be able to identify the claim of a secondary source.

2. Students will be able to explain that despite the end of federal support for Reconstruction, Black American activists and organization continued to fight for the success of multiracial democracy.

This key concept in the antiracist classroom:

After the conclusion of dramatic Era 5, an era centered around the Black liberation struggle, Era 6 shifts the focus to industrial capitalism. Dr. Joseph’s essay is a great secondary source read to open period 6 to remind students that a nation can be two things at once. Dr. Joseph writes that “After 1877, freedom and repression journeyed along parallel paths. Black Americans preserved a vision of a truly free nation in an archipelago of communities and institutions.” As students learn about the rise of industrial capitalism, they should not consider Reconstruction to be something that was over, but rather, that the work was continuing all along, even though national focus shifted elsewhere.

Notes

I use this as a warm-up on the first day of the second semester. Like many schools, we wrap up era 5 and Reconstruction before winter break and start era 6 in January. This is great source to review skills, content, and also introduce them to the important work of Dr. Joseph. I came across this essay through my work with the Zinn Education Project. We will creating a two day lesson on Reconstruction that will be available for the 2024-2025 school year. This essay was featured in the December 2023 issue of The Atlantic. The entire issue was focused on Reconstruction and I highly recommend getting a copy.