Reconstruction Unit Essay Directions

Throughout this unit, you have learned about the aims, trajectory, and outcomes of post-
Civil War Reconstruction in the South. During this time, recently freed enslaved peoples were
promised opportunities such as migration out of the South, property ownership, equal protection
under the law, the right to vote, etc. While these opportunities were codified in Constitutional
Amendments and other legislation passed by Congress during Radical Reconstruction, the
attitudes and beliefs that formed the foundation of slavery continued to exist, primarily in the
Southern states. This continuation of racist beliefs led to the enactment of restrictions on the
social, economic, and political lives of African Americans. Your unit essay will ask you to
develop an argument regarding these themes of opportunity and restriction using primary and
secondary sources as evidence.

Essay Question: Was the era of Reconstruction primarily a time of opportunity for
African Americans, a time of restriction, or a combination of both opportunity and
restriction?

Guidelines:
 In order to answer the essay question, you must develop one of three arguments:
Reconstruction was a time of opportunity, Reconstruction was a time of restriction, or
Reconstruction was a time of both opportunity and restriction.
 Whatever argument you choose to defend, you must have at least three central points of
support for your argument.
 If you choose to argue that Reconstruction was only a time of progress or only a time of
restriction, you must present the counterargument and refute it.
o Example:
 The era of Reconstruction was overwhelmingly a time of restriction for
African Americans because of A., B., and C.
 Write body paragraphs for A., B., and C.
 Others may claim that Reconstruction was a time of opportunity for
African Americans because of D. However, the existence of A., B., and C.
illustrates that D. was not as impactful as they would claim.
 If you choose to argue that Reconstruction was a time of both opportunity and restriction,
you do not have to have to present a counterargument, but make sure that you have
evidence of both opportunity and restriction.

Technical Requirements:
 Your essay must be double-spaced, with 12-point, Times New Roman font.
 You must use at least one primary source for each of your central points. Altogether you
must use at least three primary sources.
 You must use at least three secondary sources.
o Hint: Every primary source should be introduced and described in terms of what it
is, who wrote it, when it was written, etc. This typically takes one or two
sentences.
 You must cite your sources when you use them. After you paraphrase or directly quote
information from a source, use a parenthetical citation (Miss Pickrell, 2020, pg. 1).
  Your final paper must have an introduction, body, and conclusion. Your introduction
must include your argument, your body must include evidence to support your argument,
and your conclusion should wrap everything up.
o Remember, if you choose to argue that Reconstruction was a time of only
opportunity or only restriction, you must also include a paragraph that addresses
the opposing argument and why it is incorrect.
 Your final paper must be at least four full pages.
 You will submit a hard copy of your essay in class. Make sure it has your name,
date, and class period on the first page.
 Make sure you pay attention to the Reconstruction Essay Rubric, as this shows you how I
will grade your essay!

Possible Sources
Here are some ideas and links to sources that we have used during this unit that might be
applicable to your essay. These are not all of the sources that we have looked at! You may use
these or others from this unit! HINT: These are mostly primary sources. Your Webercise
assignment has numerous quality secondary sources!

 The Reconstruction Amendments:

o https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/CivilWarAmendm
ents.htm
 Thirteenth Amendment:
o https://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?
collId=llsl&fileName=013/llsl013.db&recNum=804
o https://guides.loc.gov/13th-amendment
 Fourteenth Amendment:
o https://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?
collId=llsl&fileName=015/llsl015.db&recNum=739
o https://guides.loc.gov/14th-amendment
 Fifteenth Amendment:
o https://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?
collId=llsl&fileName=016/llsl016.db&recNum=1166
o https://guides.loc.gov/15th-amendment
 Civil Rights Act of 1866:
o https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/civil-rights-act-1866
 Property Ownership, Labor, Marriage:
o https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/certificate-land-james-hicks
o https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/hall-labor-agreement/2019/1
o https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/register-marriages/1669/1
 Political Participation of African Americans:
o https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/credentials-hiram-rhodes-revels
 Actions of and Attitudes Toward the KKK:
o http://www.alabamamoments.alabama.gov/sec28ps.html
 Mississippi Black Codes:
o https://www.facinghistory.org/reconstruction-era/mississippi-black-codes-1865