1. Learning Target: I can assess the options provided for African Americans during the Reconstruction time period to determine the best possible option for African Americans during the time period.
Do Now: What problems were African Americans facing during the Reconstruction period?

2. Opposition for African American Equality
Black Codes
Jim Crow Laws
Literacy Test
Voting Laws

3. Opposition to African American Equality
Black Codes-Laws created to limit the freedom of former slaves.
Example- African Americans were forbidden to meet and carry guns.

4. Voting Laws & Literacy Test
Methods used to defer African Americans the right to vote.
Poll Tax, African Americans had to pay taxes every year from the time they turned 21 on, if they did not have proof they paid the taxes they could not vote.
Literacy Test, test taken by potential African American voters who had to pass the test in order to vote.

5. Jim Crow Laws State and local laws enacted between 1876-1965
Meant to enforce segregation- the separation of races. (white and black people)
“separate but equal”
As a result separate schools, trolley seats, and restrooms for black and white people

6. OPTIONS FOR FORMER SLAVES Freedmen’s Bureau
U.S. government agency that aided freed slaves during the Reconstruction Era.
Initiated by President Lincoln.
Bureau’s powers were expanded to help find lost families of African Americans and teach them to read and write (Freedmen’s Schools)

7. Sharecropping
System in which land owners gave farm workers land, seed, and tools in return for part of the crops they raised.
Cheap labor for land owner, land to live on for land worker., chance to earn$
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8. Migration The movement of a person or group from one place to another.
Moving north was an option for former slaves.
What advantages did the north have at this time over the south?

9. Activity
In cooperative learning groups assess the options provided to African Americans during Reconstruction to determine the best option available for African Americans.
Complete the following written assignment consisting of the following components from the perspective of a former slave:
What issues or problems are you facing during the Reconstruction Period?
What options as an African American has the government provided for you?
What option do you feel would be the most beneficial for you to establish yourself and make a living to support yourself? Explain in full detail. Students will then present and share ideas they created.

10. Essential Question
What was the best option during the time period of Reconstruction for African Americans?

11. Debate
Today we are going to take part in a classroom debate using our responses to our essential question.
Define debate.
Review debate procedures.