Post Civil War Reconstruction:
Comic Strip Project
Following the ending of the Civil War in 1865, the nation was in shambles. The United State was torn apart through bloody warfare. The South was left in severe ruins. Their entire society was destroyed with this war. The railroads dismantled, farms and hoses burned by Sherman’s March of destruction, and food was scarcely available. The political, social, and economic fabrics of the Southern society were in disarray. The union’s ambitions and aggressive tactics of crushing the will of people by taking away their means of surviving had major psychological effects on Southerners.
Although the war ended, the real battle began Northern and Southern politicians. How will the South be re-admitted in the Union? Most of all, what role will the newly free African Americans play in the new South? What political rights will they have? How will they participate in the rebuilding of the South? How will they improve their economic status and education?
A bigger question to ask is will the new South adhere to the new laws passed to protect African American rights and participation in the government. The years of reconstruction were in fact a period in United States history where African Americans were making political progress and actively participating in the government. However, economic and political changes made Northerners turn their backs on reconstruction. Thought African Americans gained their political rights such as citizenship and the right to vote, the enforcement of these rights was forgotten and Southern resistance to black progress developed such as the Ku Klux Klan.
The period of Reconstruction was a success in terms of politically reuniting the North and South as one nation. From a different vantage point, however, Reconstruction was a failure. African Americans were disregarded and left with political rights not enforced and limited economic and educational opportunities. Yet what is important about the period of Reconstruction is it established the political basis needed for African American to fight for their right during the Civil Rights Era.
Comic Strip
Your task will be to create a comic strip about the Period of Reconstruction that focuses on African Americans. The comic strip will be a creative story created by you and your group members that will focus on African American in either on of the following topics:
1. Educational Progress
2. Political Advancement of African Americans
3. Sharecropping and Tenant farming
4. Ku Klux Klan
5. Freemen’s Bureau
You first must develop a story with a plot and characters to make your comic strip. The story you and your group members make may have fictional and historical characters. However, you need to make a story that draws upon historical facts about African Americans in the topic chosen. You must write a story that is interesting but yet historically accurate. Your story will then help you make your comic strip. The following are procedures that you should follow to make your comic strip:
How to Make Your Comic Strip
First Stage: Researching the Topic (2 Days)
Essentially, you’ll need to research the topic you choose. It is very important that you find out as much information as you can about the topic. Find out the names of historical people involved, places or events, and laws (if any) that were passed. All group members should actively participate in gathering information
In your research, answer these questions:
1. Are there any important places and events about my topic? If yes, why is it important?
2. Who are the important historical figures in the event? Why are they important?
3. How did this event have an impact on people and future events?
4. What information is important to use and why?
Second Stage: Drafting a Story using Research (2 Days)
You and your creative team will begin drafting a story. What makes a good story? You’ll need to have well-developed characters, a setting, and plot. All your group members will need to look at each others research notes and think about how to make a story integrating the historical information. Remember, the story does not need to be pages but a general outline of what your comic strip will have. Write down the dialogue your characters will be using.
Third Stage: Preliminary Comic Strip Planning (2 days)
You will make a comic strip board draft. What this simply means is that you are going to plan how much boxes and pages you will be using. In addition, you will plan out what your content will be for each box and page. This stage will be explained in class.
Fourth Stage: Making a Comic Strip
Great….Once you’ve reached this stage, you should be ready to make you comic strip. Using all you resources, the comic strip should have a cover page and at least 8 pages as well. Think about the general layout of a comic strip. There are columns that divide the information and illustration. Also, think about the use of dialogue between characters to tell a story. You should use standard computer paper, color pencils, markers, and crayons. Take your time and be creative as well as information in this comic strip.
Examples of Historical Comic Strip
This a great website that has several student created comic strip.
http://www.tihr.com/solutions/sol020802.htm
Possible Stories for your Comic Strip:
Here are some possible stories you many want to create for your comic strip project. These are only suggestions that you may use. You are restricted in creating your own story about the Reconstruction Era and African Americans. However, your story must be approved by the instructor.
Stories focused on Politics
Presidential Reconstruction vs. Congressional Reconstruction: Where do African Americans Stand?
African Americans Enter the American Political Arena
New Constitutional Rights for African Americans: 13th, 14th and 15th amendment
Suppressing Rights of African Americans: Southern Black Codes and Lynching
The Election of 1876: A Nation Turns its Back on Reconstruction for African Americans
Stories focused on Education
Newly freedmen Seek Education
The Freedmen’s Bureau: Provides New Hope for African-Americans
Northerners Migrate to Educate African Americans
Stories focused on Economy
Resurrecting the Plantation System: Tenant farming and Share Cropping
Forty Acres and a Mule: A Failed Promise to African Americans
Rsocialstudies: Bringing History Alive 