Reading and Writing Workshop

Slavery, Reconstruction, and the Rise of Jim Crow
Overview:
This workshop explores the pivotal era spanning the end of slavery, Reconstruction, and the rise of systemic segregation through Jim Crow laws. Participants will engage with key historical texts, analyze primary documents, and develop critical reading and writing skills through a series of activities and discussions.

Session 1: The Civil War and Emancipation
Topics:
  • Causes and consequences of the Civil War
  • The Emancipation Proclamation (1863)
  • The lived experience of slavery through personal narratives
Key Text: Activities:
  • Reading Discussion: Identify key moments where Douglass describes the contradictions of slavery and freedom.
  • Writing Prompt: How does Douglass’ narrative help frame the meaning of emancipation during the Civil War?

Session 2: The Reconstruction Amendments
Topics:
  • Overview of the 13th (abolition), 14th (citizenship), and 15th (voting rights) Amendments
  • Tensions between federal authority and state resistance
Key Text: Activities:
  • Group Work: Chart how each amendment aimed to reshape the rights of formerly enslaved people.
  • Short Essay: Why was the 14th Amendment particularly significant during Reconstruction?

Session 3: Black Codes and Convict Leasing
Topics:
  • How Southern states limited Black freedom post-war
  • The system of convict leasing and economic exploitation
Key Text: Activities:
  • Primary Source Analysis: In small groups, analyze sections of the Mississippi Black Code and discuss its intent and impact.
  • Writing Prompt: How did Black Codes function as a new form of racial control after emancipation?

Session 4: The Birth of Jim Crow Laws and Segregation
Topics:
  • Development of state-mandated racial segregation laws
  • Public and private enforcement of segregation in the South
Key Text: Activities:
  • Discussion: How does Du Bois reinterpret Reconstruction compared to dominant historical narratives?
  • Writing Prompt: Reflect on Du Bois’ term "the public and psychological wages of whiteness." How did segregation benefit poor white Southerners psychologically?

Session 5: Plessy v. Ferguson and Legalized Segregation
Topics:
  • The Plessy v. Ferguson case (1896) and the "separate but equal" doctrine
  • Justice John Marshall Harlan’s dissent
Key Text: Activities:
  • Critical Analysis: Annotate and critically analyze Harlan’s dissent. What rhetorical strategies does he use? How does he foresee the long-term impact of segregation?
  • Debate Activity: Hold a class debate on whether Plessy v. Ferguson could have been challenged earlier.

Culminating Group Project:
​Create a Timeline of Reconstruction and Jim Crow Laws
Instructions:
  • In groups, students will create a detailed timeline starting from 1865 (the end of the Civil War) to the early 20th century.
  • The timeline should include:
    • Major amendments and legislation (e.g., 13th, 14th, 15th Amendments, Civil Rights Act of 1875)
    • Key moments of backlash (e.g., Black Codes, rise of the KKK, Jim Crow laws)
    • Landmark cases like Plessy v. Ferguson
Resources for timeline research:
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