Reconstruction and Realism, Regionalism, and Satire

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Analysis Learning Goals:
Identify and Define Satire and Satirical Strategies
Analyze how Satire proves theme
Evaluate the use of Satire to prove theme

Identify and Define Realism and Regionalism
Analyze the characteristics of Realism and Regionalism to prove theme
Evaluate the use of Realism and Regionalism to prove theme
Synthesize the characteristics of Realism and Reconstruction patterns and issues to determine how Realism and Regionalism were responding to the Reconstruction Era

Book Choices

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Satire Notes - In Shared Google Docs Folder

Social Studies Reconstruction Plan and Resources

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Emancipation was just the first step...in rebuilding America closer to what the founders had in mind.  To see what they had in mind please review the following:

Declaration of Independence
US Constitution

We are going to explore the Impact Reconstruction had on America.  

Hey wait!?!--What is Reconstruction?

Reconstruction was the time period following the US Civil War when we, the newly re-united United States of America, had to decide how to put our nation back together.  Many people had plans and ideas on how to do this, everyone had different ideas based on maintaining their own way of life and beliefs.  

Please review the following laws and documents related to the idea of Reconstruction:

Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln's Ten Percent Plan

Lincoln's Final Speech: April 11, 1865

Wade-Davis Bill

Reconstruction Resources:
In this project you will explore the biases and beliefs of one of these groups and determine if they would want to have Reconstruction Continue:
  1. President Andrew Johnson

Great site with links and documents, Library of Congress Site (select links under his picture), 
  1. President Ulysses S. Grant

Grant Library, Great site with links and documents, Collection of Letters
  1. Radical Republicans (Thaddeus Stevens)

Decent Secondary Source (lots of names to search for), 
  1. Former Confederate Leaders (Alexander H. Stephens)
  2. Northern Big  Business Leaders (Jay Gould and others)
  3. Southern Black Politicians and Leaders (O.J. Dunn, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Freedmen and others)

Research Questions for Understanding your Person's part in Reconstruction:
  1. Background
  2. Beliefs
  3. Words and Thoughts
  4. Role in American Society

Based on the beliefs of your person you will determine how this person would answer the following question:

Should the Reconstruction Programs and Laws be cancelled or continued?  How should they be changed or what should be done in their place?

You will support your opinion with evidence from the following topics and any others related to Reconstruction:

  • The Black Codes
  • Jim Crow Laws
  • The debate over Greenbacks vs. Gold and Silver
  • Presidential Scandals
  • Right to vote for Southern Plantation whites
  • Right to vote for Southern Freedmen
  • Role of the Army in the South
  • How to welcome back the Southern States
  • Structure of Southern Governments
  • Power of State Governments vs. Northern Governments
  • The work and impact of the Freedman's Bureau
  • The New Amendments to the Bill of Rights
  • African Americans impact on Politics.
  • African Americans impact on Education and Education's impact on African Americans
  • African Americans impact on the Economy
  • The New organization of Southern Agriculture (Sharecropping, Crop-Lien System)
  • Manufacturing/Industrialization vs. Agriculture Economies
  • Impact of the Civil War on the Economy of Northern States and Southern States

Listen to the audio of Mark Twain's novels, from Libri Vox:

Forget your book somewhere random?  Read the full text online:

Essay choices for Satire:

Choose a piece of literary criticism about your novel.  Do you agree with the perspective of that literary critic?  Why or why not?  Use evidence from both your novel and the piece of literary criticism to prove your argument.