3-5 Elementary Reconstruction Video
In this elementary history lesson, explore the Reconstruction Era, a crucial period of rebuilding and redefining America after the Civil War. From 1865 to 1877, the nation struggled to heal deep divisions, address the injustices of slavery, and extend civil rights to formerly enslaved people. Learn about the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, changes to the Constitution that abolished slavery, established equal protection under the law, and secured voting rights for Black men. Discover how newly freed African Americans used their rights to shape government at every level, even as they faced violent opposition, unfair laws, and segregation.
0:00 Hello there young historians. Today we are going to learn about a period called reconstruction. Imagine the United States after a big fight. The Civil War was when the North and South fought against each other due to sectional differences, particularly slavery.
0:20 Reconstruction was a time when the country was healing and trying to fix things after the Civil War. It includes three changes to the Constitution and a lot of people working for justice. That’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started. During Reconstruction, three important
0:41 changes were made to the Constitution. These changes are known as the Reconstruction Amendments. The first big problem to solve after the Civil War was slavery. The 13th Amendment ended slavery for good in 1865. It meant no one could own another person
1:01 anymore or force someone to work for free. The next change, the 14th amendment, was added in 1868. This amendment aimed to protect the equal rights of all citizens, especially newly freed African-Ameans.
1:22 The amendment has many parts that work together to make sure that states cannot make laws that take away people’s rights, treat them unfairly, or deny them equal protection under the law. The 15th amendment was the last of the reconstruction amendments and it was
1:42 added in 1870. It said black men could not be stopped from voting because of their race or skin color. This was a big step toward greater equality.
2:03 Newly freed black men in the South used their rights to vote and run for office to great success early on. They won seats in government at the local, state, and national level. Even with the new amendments, there were still major challenges. Some people in the South tried to make
2:23 it hard for African-Ameans to vote. Black people were victims of violent acts, threats, and intimidation. There were also unfair reading tests and taxes required to vote. In some places, African-Ameans were separated in public places because of
2:45 their skin color. Although the new amendments extended legal rights and freedoms to black Americans, their liberty was still limited and justice was often denied. Studying reconstruction shows us the
3:08 challenges of self-governing or how difficult it is to work together. It requires the courageous actions of individuals acting with integrity to realize justice for all. It requires people to work together and stand up for the rule of law and the rights of their fellow citizens.
3:30 There is much more to learn about reconstruction and the civil rights movement, but our journey for today ends here. However, the story of our history is still being written by us. [Music]
