In the wake of the American Civil War, the United States faced the enormous responsibility of rebuilding a fragile union of states. What’s more, while the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery, it did not confer citizenship on the formerly enslaved. What would it mean to define and create a society in which formerly enslaved people could fully and freely participate?
A new primary source set from the Library of Congress supports teachers and students in investigating the historical period of Reconstruction. The collection of primary sources highlights aspects of various social, political, and cultural changes from the time as well as their legacy today.
Sources include newspaper articles from the Black press, photographs of African American students attending newly formed schools, political cartoons that capture the backlash to Reconstruction policies, and correspondence between generals overseeing military districts in the South.
We hope that this set will spark ideas for use in the classroom and beyond. Keep an eye out for future posts about particular sources from the set, strategies for engaging students, and additional resources that support teaching and learning about Reconstruction.