Lesson on Friday, September 14, 2018

Essential Questions:  

1. What impact did the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments have on African Americans and other groups? 

2. What were the economic, political, and social consequences of Reconstruction? 

Objectives: 

  

• Students will identify the significance and/or impact of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution on African Americans and other groups. 

• Students will identify the economic, political, and/or social consequences of Reconstruction. 

• Students will evaluate the constitutional issues relevant to the Civil War and Reconstruction. 

Bell ringer:  

Review Journal 14 (10 min) 

Agenda:  

*Review yesterday’s HW 

1. Lesson Opening: Project or pass out the Political Cartoon and Analysis Guide (Attachment A). Work with a partner to analyze the cartoon. Discuss what it illustrates about the changes taking place during the Reconstruction Era. 

  

2. Read and annotate key excerpts from the Reconstruction Amendments (Attachment B). Then have students work in small groups to create a three-flap foldable (Attachment C) that includes a picture or symbol, an “in my own words” summary, and an explanation of the impact of each amendment. Foldable Directions: 

  

a. Fold paper (“hot dog style”) lengthwise along center solid line, leaving enough space for the title “Reconstruction Amendments” to appear along the bottom of the page. 

b. Cut along dotted lines only to create 3 individual flaps. 

c. Label each flap: 13th Amendment, 14th Amendment, 15th Amendment 

d. Complete foldable by placing appropriate information inside each flap. 

  

3. Activity: Place signs into 3 corners of the room (one labeled “Political”; one labeled “Economic”; and one labeled “Social” – Attachment D). Ask students think about the IMPACT of each of the Reconstruction Amendments. Have students move to the corner of the room that corresponds to their answer to each of the questions below. While students are in their respective corners, allow them to discuss their reasoning and ask for 1-2 volunteers to share their thinking with the class. Repeat after each question, allowing students to move around the room as necessary in between questions. 

  

▪ What was the impact of the 13th Amendment? Mostly POLITICAL, mostly ECONOMIC, or mostly SOCIAL? 

▪ What was the impact of the 14 th Amendment? Mostly POLITICAL, mostly ECONOMIC, or mostly SOCIAL? 

▪ What was the impact of the 15th Amendment? Mostly POLITICAL, mostly ECONOMIC, or mostly SOCIAL? 

  

4. Lesson Closure: Respond to the essential questions in the form of an exit slip. Decide which of the Reconstruction Amendments you feel had the biggest impact and why. 

Home Learning:  

1. Journal 15 -  

Have students read about famous Supreme Court cases citing the 14th Amendment and compare the cases, the Supreme Court’s decision in each, and how the Court applied and interpreted the 14th Amendment. Students may create a Venn diagram or write a short comparative essay. 

  

• “10 Huge Supreme Court Cases” from the Constitution Center: https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/10-huge-supreme-court-cases-about-the-14th-amendment 

  

• U.S. News & World Report article “Here’s Why the 14th Amendment is a Big Deal”: https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/07/28/heres-why-the-14th-amendment-is-a-big-deal 

  

• 14th Amendment Timeline from the American Bar Association: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/initiatives_awards/law-day2017/fourteenth_amendmenttimeline.html