After the Civil War, the federal government focused on rebuilding the South during a period known as Reconstruction (1865–1877). Between 1867 and 1873, the United States saw an unprecedented boom in the growth of a railroad system that would increase trade between the east and west coasts. When federal troops were withdrawn from the South in 1877 and the planter class returned to power, Northern business interests considered the South free from conflicts. However, without federal protection, African Americans faced problems such as segregation and the threat of white supremacists.

You will be assigned topics related to key issues facing the nation in the postwar Reconstruction years (1865–1877). Use what you have learned to write a Research Report exploring the impact of the federal government on the state of the nation. To prepare for your report, you will research topics such as economic depression, railroad construction, westward expansion, workers’ strikes, and discrimination against African Americans during this period.

Look at the political cartoon below. Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper

From Harper’s Weekly, October 1874. White supremacists refuse to allow African Americans into polling places to vote in elections.

• How did the artist portray African Americans and white supremacists in this political cartoon?
• How does this portrayal reflect Reconstruction-era attitudes concerning African American voting rights?

Use the Daily Life through History articles listed on the right to research major issues of the post-Civil War era, such as segregation. Examine the Timeline and Tours Through Time. As you read, keep your assigned topics in mind. Remember that your report will need to include specific facts and details from your readings.

Use the 3-Column Table to organize your information. Use column headings Westward Expansion, Railroads, and African Americans. In each column, write details about the topic during the Reconstruction years, for example denial of voting rights.

Write your report. Your essay should address the social and economic significance of each of the issues. Remember to consider the ways in which the issues may be related, for example, the incidence of segregation on the railroads. You may also explain the effect of Reconstruction-era issues on the Civil Rights movement.

Your teacher will use these questions to assess your performance:

• Did you present a clear thesis?
• Did you provide supporting facts and historical details?
• Did you organize your report in a logical and coherent fashion?
• Did you maintain a clear and consistent focus?