1. The Reconstruction Era
Sarah Kooda, Vanessa VanSchaik, Cassidy Murphy (Group 6)

2. Historical Context of the Reconstruction Era
What is the Reconstruction Era? The reconstruction era took place during the years of This era ignited after the Civil War and the Confederate States were joined with the United States again.
What are some major events? November 1st “Southern legislators began drafting “Black Codes” to re-establish white supremacy” (Shmoop.com) December 18th the thirteenth amendment is ratified= forbids slavery, in return there is an increase in freed african americans. December 24th Ku Klux Klan begins.

3. Sarah Kooda - Reconstruction Era
Title: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce (short story)
Published: July 13, 1890 (made into film in 1962)
Themes: Mixture of a reality and an illusion, betrayal and not putting priorities first
QUOTE: “It did not appear to be the duty of these two men to know what was occurring at the center of the bridge; they merely blockaded the two ends of the foot planking that traversed it” (Bierce).
Literary devices: Irony, Symbolism
Compare/Contrast: This is compared to Huckleberry Finn because both stories include betrayal (Huckleberry Finn is betrayed/abused by his father and Peyton Farquhar is set up by the Northerner in disguise). Both Huckleberry Finn and Peyton imagine having different lives for themselves.
Connection: The bridge is a symbol that connects and mends relations such as what Abraham Lincoln tried to do at the beginning of the Civil War.

4. Cassidy Murphy ~ Reconstruction Era
Title: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Published: unknown; Pre-Civil War; First recorded 1909; Wallis Willis
Theme: Freedom, Hope, Slavery
“Swing low, sweet chariot, / Comin’ to carry me home” “If you get there before I do / Comin’ for to carry me home / Just tell my friends that I’m comin’ too”
Literary Devices: Metaphor, Tone
Compare/ Contrast: This compares to Huckleberry Finn because of Jim his good friend was a slave who was trying to escape to the north to be free.
Connection: During the reconstruction era “Swing low, Sweet Chariot” was a popular spiritual passed around orally and helped african american slaves on their journey to be free.

5. Vanessa VanSchaik- Reconstruction Era
Title: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (novel)
Published: February of 1884 in the United States
Themes: Hypocrisy of “civilized” society, slavery and racism, and natural life and world.
“It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd a knowed it would make him feel that way.”
Literary Devices: tone and irony
Compare/Contrast: Huckleberry Finn compared to the song “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” because this is a song about racism and having hope just like how Jim in Huckleberry Finn was discriminated yet has hope to escape into a natural life.
Connection: The Reconstruction Era was very discriminatory after the civil war yet eventually people gained hope. Huckleberry Finn demonstrates the cruelty of racism and begins to show the hope for a natural world.

6. Work Cited
"Johnny Cash Lyrics." MetroLyrics. Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC Read More: Johnny Cash - Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Lyrics | MetroLyrics. Web. 25 May 2016.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Race Quotes." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov Web. 25 May 2016.
History.com Staff. "Reconstruction." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 01 Jan Web. 25 May 2016.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Versions of Reality Quotes." Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov Web. 25 May 2016.