Social Studies Lesson Plan Template 1 Title: South under Reconstruction Lesson Author: Tommy George Key Words: Reconstruction, Republican Party Grade Level: 11 th U.S. History Time Allotted: 1 50-minute period Rationale/ Purpose (so what?) This lesson follows how even after the 13 th, 14 th, and 15 th amendments were passed, but southern legislatures and southerners instituted a system of sharecropping, a new form of servitude and the transition from Reconstruction to a unified nation after the Compromise of 1877. Key Concept(s) include definition: Scalawags- southerners that supported the Republican Party, wanted economic development in their state and peace Carpetbaggers- northerners that migrated south included investors to set up new businesses, missionaries, and teachers who had political ambitions Sharecropping- landowner provided the seed & other needed supplies in return for a share (usually half) of the harvest and became a new form of servitude. NCSS Standard(s) SOL Information (As written in the Virginia SOL Curriculum Framework for the grade level) NCSS Theme (s) with indicators: Personal Connection SOL: VUS.7c The student will demonstrate knowledge of the Civil War and Reconstruction Era and its
Social Studies Lesson Plan Template 2 importance as a major turning point in American history by examining the political, economic, and social impact of the war and Reconstruction, including the adoption of the 13 th, 14 th, 15 th Amendments to the Constitution of the U.S. Essential Knowledge (minimum for SOL Resource Guide) Economic and Social Impact of Reconstruction Essential Skills (minimum for SOL Resource Guide) Develop perspectives of time and place (VUS.1d) Guiding Question(s): What was the institution of sharecropping and what were its impact in the South under Reconstruction. What happened in the Election of 1876, what was the significance of the election, and what was the resulting compromise? Assessment Tool(s): Sharecropping Exercise and Worksheet Background: How does this lesson fit into a unit of study? Looking backwards, looking forwards Backward: Lesson follows the passing of the 13 th, 14 th, and 15 th Amendments Forward: Reconstruction has ended, the U.S. will enter into a Progressive Era.
Social Studies Lesson Plan Template 3 Lesson Objective(s): Students will be able to: 1. Analyze and Interpret the impact of sharecropping in the south 2. Discuss the importance of Reconstruction, the election of 1876, and the resulting Compromise of 1877 Historical Source(s): (include copies in materials section) Quote from Sharecropper (JDI) Additional Materials/Resources: (include copies in materials section) PowerPoint Slides of Notes (Material A) Procedure/Process: JUST DO IT! The Hook : (A high-interest activity that introduces new content with connections to students prior knowledge. Between 1-5 minutes (Could also introduce the days guiding question) Read and analyze a quote: (from personal journal of a sharecropper)
Social Studies Lesson Plan Template 4 Obj # See above. Processing Activity and Procedure -include directions, question frames, assignment detail to be given to students (these should all be made into explicit materials (e.g. see material A), and time estimates Check for Evidence of Understanding -Either Formal or Informal- (Checks Essential Knowledge and Skills) Just do it. Transition: Objective #1 Transition: Objective #1 Transition: Analysis and Interpretation of a quote from a sharecropper Informal: discussion of journal entry From the journal, we well next talk about the institution of sharecropping through a personal activity Sharecropping Activitydetermining how in debt a worker will become and how they signed a work contract and has to continue to work on a particular plantation (Materials A, B) Informal: completion of the class activity From their results, the class will discuss the notes about sharecropping Notes on sharecropping and South under Reconstruction (Material A,B) Informal: discussion and personal interpretation of material This institution leads us into the Election of 1876 and the Compromise of 1877
Social Studies Lesson Plan Template 5 Objective #2 Notes on Election of 1876 and the resulting Compromise of 1877 and how this ended Reconstruction in the South (Material A,B) Informal: completion of notes and discussion of events Closure/Writing Prompt: Study for their quiz on South under Reconstruction Materials (one resource per page- so it becomes a teacher or student handout, or overhead directions or ppt presentation):
Social Studies Lesson Plan Template 6 Material A: PowerPoint Slides Just Do It Activity: Read this quote and be ready to discuss: I thought I was doing fine one Monday morning I started for work but [the Captain] found it out before sundown. [He] came over to the new place and brought some kind of officer of the law. The officer pulled out a long piece of paper and read it to my new employer. When this was done I heard my new boss say: I beg your pardon, Captain. I didn t know this [person] was bound out to you, or I wouldn t have hired him. He certainly is bound out to me until he is 21, and I m going to make him know his place. The South Under Reconstruction State Governments Whites held majority of elected seats except in South Carolina Scalawags southerners that supported the Republican Party Wanted economic development in their state & peace Carpetbaggers northerners that migrated south Inventors looking to set up new businesses Missionaries Teachers Political Ambitions Lasted as short as 1 year in Tennessee and as long as 9 years in Florida 80 Acres and a mule Activity Each of you are newly freed men and looking for employment. Based on your skills, you find work on the George/Torrence Plantation We will give you: Land (80 acres) and a Mule Wage: $100 signing bonus Salary: half of the annual yield (production) of the crop (which you can sell for money after the harvest) Work Contract: guaranteeing employment for the year Nearby food and lodging are also available In return
Social Studies Lesson Plan Template 7 You must produce a great harvest (more money for you and me) Do we have a deal? Or better yet do you even have a choice not to? But first, you will need some supplies To produce a high yield harvest, you ll need: Pitchfork and Plow Buy: $50 Rent: $35 Seeds (for 80 acres) Buy: $20 Lodging/Rent 2-room house: $30/year 1-room shack: $15/year Food (from the local Kroger) From Kroger: $40/year Home-grown: $20/year Clothing (because you have to look good in the field) New: $15/year Homemade: $10/year Entertainment/Other Expenses $5/year Don t worry, I ll cover your costs until the harvest And the harvest arrives Half of the yield, earns you $15 bucks. How d you do? Break even? Still in debt? Make a profit? If you owe me money, you have to work it off in the next harvest (a clause in the work contract you didn t/couldn t read) If you broke even or made a profit, we still have a position open for next harvest. Interested? (Where else would you go anyways?) Plantation Agriculture Sharecropping the landowner provided the seed & other needed supplies in return for a share (usually half) of the harvest. By 1880, no more than 5% of southern blacks became independent landowners. Sharecropping became a new form of servitude.
Social Studies Lesson Plan Template 8 Election of 1876 By 1876, federal troops had been withdrawn from all but 3 southern states. South Carolina, Florida, & Louisiana Democratic Party had regained power throughout the south except in the 3. Republicans nominate Rutherford B. Hayes (Ohio Gov.) Democrats nominate Samuel J. Tilden (Gov. of NY) To win the election Tilden needed 1 electoral vote from contested returns 20 electoral votes were disputed Congress Gets Involved Because the Constitution did not provide an answer for such a dispute, Congress appointed a 5-member commission Made up of members from the House, Senate, and Supreme Court Tilden only need 1 vote! Hayes needed all of them So what happened? Voting went along party lines and the commission awarded all 20 disputed electoral votes to Hayes on March 2, 1877 (2 days before inauguration) If you were a Southern Democrat, how would you feel? Compromise of 1877 An informal deal was made between the 3 contested southern states & the Republican Party Rutherford B. Hayes would become President Immediate end to military reconstruction of the South Federal money to build a southern transcontinental railroad Electoral Votes of 1876
Social Studies Lesson Plan Template 9 Material B: Sharecropping Handout The South under Reconstruction State Governments - held majority of elected seats except in - - southerners that supported the Party o Wanted economic development in their state and - - northerners that migrated south. o Inventors o Missionaries o o Political Ambitions Lasted as short as 1 year in and as long as 9 years in. Plantation Agriculture - the landowner provides the seeds and other materials in return for a share (usually half) of the harvest. By 1880, no more than of southern blacks became independent landowners - became a new form of. Election of 1876 By 1876, federal troops had been withdrawn from all but southern states. South Carolina, Florida, & Louisiana Party had regained power throughout the south except in the 3. Republicans nominate Democrats nominate To win the election needed 1 electoral vote form contested returns Compromise of 1877 An informal deal was made between the 3 contested southern states & the Republican Party 1. would become President 2. Immediate end to military of the South 3. Federal money to build a southern.
Social Studies Lesson Plan Template 10 Work Contract Signature 80 Acres and a Mule Activity Item: Cost: Pitchfork and Plow Seeds Lodging/Rent Food Clothing Entertainment/Other Total Costs (Subtract from $100 signing bonus) Total Profit (add for salary from harvest) How d you do?
Social Studies Lesson Plan Template 11 Teacher Notes (Reflections/clarifications/explanations): This lesson worked really well for every class. The students were engaged and interested in the subject material. With giving them decisions, and putting the learning in their shoes, they were active in their education, providing their own perspectives and interpretation of the material in the activity. The notes were brief and covering the key points and were a reiteration of the ideas and concepts discussed in the activity. And the notes on the Election of 1876 and Compromise of 1877 were the culmination of the South under Reconstruction. The kids responded with positive comments about the lesson, as being a step out of the normal lecture-style classroom and liked the interaction and personal perspective.