Issues leading to the Civil War, Texas secession, Texas contributions to the Civil War, Civil War battles, the end of the War, Reconstruction.
Civil War and Reconstruction unit contains 10 learning experiences.
Learning Experiences (Lessons) in Civil War and Reconstruction Each learning experience takes about 45 minutes to teach in the device-enabled classroom.
Issues Leading to the Civil War
Students learn about three issues leading up to the Civil War—slavery, states' rights, and sectionalism. They read about slavery and how slaves were treated in Texas, they watch a video about the time period prior to the Civil War, and they draw a cartoon illustrating sectionalism.
Texas Secedes from the United States
Students learn that Texas seceded from the United States in 1861. They identify feelings that different Texans had about secession, and they read and watch a video about Sam Houston's role in the situation.
Texas’s Contribution to the Civil War
Students learn about the soldiers who fought in the Texas Confederate Army and those who were exempt from the conscription law. They read about the roles of Lubbock and Hebert, and how women's role changed due to the war. Finally, they identify a problem and solution that a female soldier may have had fighting for the Confederate Army.
Civil War Battles in Texas
Students learn about three Civil War battles that were fought in Texas—Battle of Galveston, Battle of Sabine Pass, and Battle of Palmito Ranch. They identify the dates of the events, the commanders in charge, and important details of each battle.
Political, Economic, and Social Impacts of the Civil War
Students learn that the war had political, economic, and social impacts on Texas, and they identify some of those impacts. They read a letter from a soldier asking Governor Lubbock for food for his family, and then they write a response to the soldier from the governor's point of view.
The End of the Civil War
Students learn about General Lee's surrender to General Grant at Appomattox. They will identify similarities and differences between the two generals. Finally, they will work together to identify important details about several Confederate officers that surrendered after Lee.
African American Rights During Reconstruction
Students learn about the Freedmen's Bureau and how it aided African Americans after the Civil War. They explore how segregation between the races continued and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. Finally, they learn about three African Americans from Texas who impacted people through their political forces.
Political Effects of Reconstruction in Texas
Students learn about the Reconstruction Era and what Texas had to do to rejoin the Union. They compare and contrast the Constitution of the United States and the Texas Constitution of 1876, including the Bills of Rights.
Economic and Social Effects of Reconstruction in Texas
Students identify carpetbaggers and scalawags. Then, they learn about sharecropping and examine advantages and disadvantages for the former slaves. Finally, they write a journal entry from the point of view of a person that participated in sharecropping as a land tenant.
