Reconstruction
Group Poster Project Guidelines
Background: From 1863 to 1877 the United States had to rebuild a country torn apart and destroyed by
Civil War. This era is known as “Reconstruction.” During this time the nation was focused on winning the
Civil War, abolishing slavery, defeating the Confederacy, reconstructing the nation and amending the US
Constitution.
Assignment: In groups of 3 or 4 you will be researching a certain aspect of Reconstruction. From your
research you will design, create and present a poster. When you are done presenting your poster the
rest of the class needs to be well informed and able to answer questions about your topic.
Topics: Each group will be assigned one topic.
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Presidential Reconstruction: This topic includes the 13th Amendment, 40 acres and a mule,
black codes, and the Freedmen’s Bureau. After Lincoln was assassinated, Andrew Johnson took
over and tried to continue what he thought was Lincoln’s intent on Reconstruction. Johnson
fought with Congress over some of his plans and it will be your job to summarize these
arguments and accomplishments.
Congressional Reconstruction: This topic will cover the 14th Amendment, Military
Reconstruction Act, the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, and sharecropping. Congress thought
Johnson did not go far enough to protect and help the newly freed African-Americans and took
matters into their own hands. It will be your job to examine and report how they did this and
the tension between them and President Andrew Johnson.
Southern Reconstruction: Your task will be to examine and explain how Reconstruction looked
in the south and in the eyes of Southerners. You should report on who could vote, Election of
1868, 15th Amendment, new southern state constitutions, new state governments, and the first
African-Americans elected to political office.
End of Reconstruction: This topic covers how the Reconstruction time period came to an end. You
should be able to answer the question, “How and why did Reconstruction end?” Topics will include
white terrorism, the Enforcement Acts, Amnesty Act of 1872, the disputed election of 1876, and the
Compromise of 1877.
Reconstruction Reversed: Your topic will examine how some Reconstruction laws and efforts
were reversed and how the South was forced back into poverty and how gains made for AfricanAmericans were lost. Topics include, losing ground in education, losing voting rights, “color
lines,” and Plessy vs. Ferguson.
Responding to Segregation: Your topic will examine how African-Americans responded to the
increasing segregation in the South. What did they do and how did they live after
Reconstruction? Topics include African-American migration and how African-Americans helped
themselves because no one else would.
You Poster MUST INCLUDE the following:
1. A creative, descriptive title.
2. Simple, written information, including AT LEAST 7 facts, based on your group research.
3. AT LEAST 3 Graphics that support and further explain the written information.
4. Written labels for each Graphic.
5. Vocabulary words.
Your presentation MUST INCLUDE the following:
1. Professional behavior and RESPECT during ALL presentations, including yours.
2. Participation by ALL group members.
3. Explanation of ALL content from the poster.
4. Ability to answer questions from the class and teacher about your poster/topic.
Attach this paper to your poster when you hand it in.
List group members below: