AP African American Studies Reading and Writing Workshop

Reading and Writing Workshop: The Civil War and Reconstruction

Unit Focus: The role of African Americans in the Civil War and Reconstruction
Workshop Objectives

1. Analyze primary and secondary public domain sources related to African Americans' roles during the Civil War and Reconstruction
2. Develop critical thinking and writing skills through SAQs and a DBQ
3. Explore themes of freedom, citizenship, and resistance

Materials (Public Domain Sources)

• The Emancipation Proclamation (1863) – Abraham Lincoln
• The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro (1852) – Frederick Douglass
• Selected Letters and Speeches of Harriet Tubman
• Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845) – Frederick Douglass
• The Souls of Black Folk (1903) – W E B Du Bois
• Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution (1863–1877) – Eric Foner (For secondary source excerpts if available in public domain)

Day 1: Introduction and Context

• Overview of African American involvement in the Civil War
• Discussion of key figures including Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and the United States Colored Troops (USCT)
• Primary source analysis: Emancipation Proclamation and its effects on enslaved people

SAQs (Short Answer Questions):

1. Contextualization: Explain how the Emancipation Proclamation changed the course of the Civil War and its impact on African Americans
2. Primary Source Analysis: Based on the text of the Emancipation Proclamation, what were Lincoln's stated reasons for issuing it
3. Historical Comparison: Compare the immediate effects of the Emancipation Proclamation to the later passage of the 13th Amendment

Day 2: African Americans in the Civil War

• Role of African American soldiers in the Union Army
• Primary source analysis: Frederick Douglass’ speeches on Black enlistment

SAQs:

1. Historical Interpretation: How did Frederick Douglass argue for the enlistment of Black soldiers in the Union Army
2. Cause and Effect: How did the participation of Black soldiers impact the perception of African Americans in American society
3. Change Over Time: How did the treatment of Black soldiers differ from their white counterparts during and after the war

Day 3: Reconstruction and the Struggle for Citizenship

• Examination of Reconstruction policies, including the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
• Primary source analysis: W E B Du Bois' The Souls of Black Folk on Reconstruction
• Discussion of Black Codes and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan

SAQs:

1. Continuity and Change: In what ways did the 14th and 15th Amendments advance African American rights, and in what ways were those rights limited
2. Cause and Effect: How did Black Codes and other laws attempt to restrict the rights of newly freed African Americans
3. Comparison: Compare W E B Du Bois' view on Reconstruction with the prevailing white narratives of the late 19th century

Day 4: Document-Based Question (DBQ) Writing Workshop
DBQ Prompt:
Evaluate the extent to which African Americans shaped the outcomes of the Civil War and Reconstruction between 1861 and 1877
Documents for Analysis:

1. Emancipation Proclamation (1863)
2. Frederick Douglass' speeches on Black soldiers
3. A letter from a formerly enslaved person seeking to reunite with family (Freedmen’s Bureau records)
4. Excerpts from The Souls of Black Folk by W E B Du Bois
5. Black Codes from Mississippi (1865)
6. Political cartoon on the 15th Amendment (Harper’s Weekly, 1870)

Writing Exercise:

• Thesis Development: Students draft a thesis responding to the DBQ prompt
• Document Analysis: Small group discussions on how to use evidence to support an argument
• Essay Structure: Review of body paragraph structure, use of evidence, and contextualization

Day 5: Peer Review and Reflection

• Students exchange DBQ drafts for peer feedback
• Teacher-led discussion on common challenges in historical argumentation
• Reflection on how studying public domain sources deepens understanding of African American history

Exit Question:
​How did African Americans influence both the Civil War and Reconstruction, and how were their efforts resisted by white supremacist structures

This workshop provides students with authentic historical sources and helps them develop key skills for AP African American Studies.