Department of Education Teacher Workshop: Exploring the Reconstruction Era and Democracy’s Fragility

1. The Reconstruction Era was a period in which a new national identity was being formed in the wake of the Civil War. It was a revolutionary period in which the notion of civil rights was introduced into the American legal lexicon and an interracial democracy would be established. Questions of “Who is a citizen?” and “what rights does citizenship guarantee?” would be addressed, as would the relationship between the federal and state governments. These questions have reverberations today.
2. This workshop examines the role domestic terrorism and larger societal factors (such as economic ones) play in the fragility of democracy. Educators will take a critical look at the historiography of Reconstruction by examining the way in which certain narratives of the period served to erroneously “justify” the system of Jim Crow segregation that would be put in place in many parts of the country at the end of the 19th century.
3. Of particular relevance to the park will be exploring in greater depth the role of Grant during the Reconstruction Era and how his time at White Haven may have shaped his views. While living at White Haven with his father-in-law and enslaved African Americans, Grant witnessed what live was like for these enslaved people. Visitors to the park are invited to think about how these experiences might have impacted Grant in his later life as general and president. The park’s new film focuses on Grant’s efforts to protect African Americans during his time as president. His support of the 15th Amendment is emphasized in both the film and in public programming at the park.
4. As a result of participating in this workshop, educators 1) will be empowered by understanding the rapid expansion of rights under Radical Reconstruction 2) will become aware of the fragility of democracy today and the importance of civic participation 3) will understand the way in which our collective memory of this period has influenced societal relationships in the past 4) will open a civil discourse about how issues such as race and freedom are addressed today 5) will be better equipped to develop and present programming on Reconstruction and its reverberations today.