An African American Represents Alabama during Reconstruction

Learning Resource Type

Lesson Plan

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

Overview

This lesson engages students in research on a prominent African American and his role in politics during Reconstruction in Alabama. Photographic primary sources are used in this lesson.

This lesson was created as a part of the Alabama History Education Initiative, funded by a generous grant from the Malone Family Foundation in 2009.

Author Information: Rebecca Campbell (Cohort 2: 2010-2011); Uniontown Elementary School; Perry County School System; Uniontown, AL

Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 4

SS10.4.9
Analyze political and economic issues facing Alabama during Reconstruction for their impact on various social groups.

Vocabulary

Reconstruction
political parties
"Redeemer" Democrats
Radical Republicans
military rule
readmittance
restoration
Union
scarcity

Knowledge

Students know:

Alabama faced many political issues during Reconstruction including military rule, presence of Freedmen's Bureau, and Alabama's readmittance to the Union.
Alabama faced many economic issues during Reconstruction including sharecropping, tenant farming, scarcity of goods and money.
Many African Americans, including James Rapier, Benjamin Turner, William Savery, and Jeremiah Haralson, had an impact on Alabama during Reconstruction.
The major political parties in Alabama, including Radical Republicans, Bourbon Democrats, and Populists.

Skills

Students are able to:

Identify political issues facing Alabama during Reconstruction including military rule, presence of Freedmen's Bureau, and Alabama's readmittance to the Union.
Identify economic issues facing Alabama during Reconstruction including sharecropping, tenant farming, scarcity of goods and money.
Summarize the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
Recall African Americans who had an impact on Alabama during Reconstruction in Alabama.
Identify major political parties in Alabama during Reconstruction.

Understanding

Students understand that:

Reconstruction was the rebuilding of Alabama's government and economy after the Civil War.
Alabama had to meet several specific criteria before being granted re-admittance to the Union and that the criteria was see as controversial by some people in the state.

Primary Learning Objectives

Students will research and analyze primary sources to identify an African American (Benjamin Sterling Turner) who had an impact on Alabama during Reconstruction in Alabama.

Procedures/Activities

Engagement/Motivation Activity:

Before: Ask the students to imagine that they are adult African American males living in Alabama during the period of Reconstruction (1865-1877). Remind them that because of the 14th and 15th Amendments, they have civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution and enforced by United States military presence in the former Confederacy. Ask the students the following questions:

• “What are civil rights?”

• “How would you exercise your newly granted civil rights?”

• “Will you vote? Why or why not?”

• “Will you run for public office?”

During:

Step 1 Show the composite image of African American members of the United States Congress from 1869 to 1901 from the Alabama Department of Archives and History, covering the title of the image. Ask the students:

• “Who do you think these men are?”

• “Why are they shown as a group?”

Uncover the title and identify the group. Point out the picture of Benjamin Sterling Turner.

Step 2 Show students the picture of Benjamin Sterling Turner using one of the links in the materials section.

Ask the following questions, and allow time for discussion:

• “What is your first impression?”

• “Where do you think this photo was taken?”

• “What objects are in the photo?”

• “What kind of clothing is being worn?”

• “Why do you think this picture was taken?”

• “Who do you think the person is in the photo?”

Step 3 Tell the students that Benjamin Sterling Turner played a very important role in the Reconstruction of Alabama and today they are going to research him on the internet, collect five facts about him, and write a biography about him.

Step 4 Either take students to the computer lab or pass out the information that you printed from the Websites. Guide them to the above-listed Web sites to gather the facts necessary to write the biography.

Step 5 When students are finished collecting information, divide them into groups of three to four students, and allow them to discuss their findings. Ask one person from each group to share with the class five facts that he/she learned. You may want to make an informational chart on the board to record significant findings from each group.

After:

Step 6 Tell students to use the information that they collected from the internet, from their group, and from class discussion to write a biography of Benjamin Sterling Turner. Collect their writings when they are finished.

Assessment Strategies

The student’s writing should be assessed using the Writing Rubric.

Acceleration

• Students may research other African American Reconstruction era political figures.

• Students may create a poster of Benjamin Sterling Turner with the facts and pictures that they found.

• Students may create a PhotoStory or slide show presentation to present to the class.

Intervention

• Student may be given additional time to complete the assessment.

• Student may be given one-on-one teacher time to review the lesson.

Total Duration

31 to 60 Minutes

Background/Preparation

The teacher needs an understanding of the events leading up to and during Reconstruction in Alabama, and of the prominent people involved in Reconstruction in Alabama. The Encyclopedia of Alabama has some articles that may be helpful. They are:

• Reconstruction in Alabama

• Presidential Reconstruction in Alabama

• Congressional Reconstruction in Alabama

The following links will provide information about Benjamin Sterling Turner:

http://history.house.gov/People/Detail?id=23140&cid=38165&cs=1&ce=113&f=All#biography

https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/T000414

https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/benjamin-s-turner/

Composite photo of African American members of the United States Congress from 1869 to 1901

If students do not have computers with internet access, copy the materials needed to research Benjamin Sterling Turner.