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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Freedmen's Bureau

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine the African American experience after they received their freedom after the Civil War. They complete a Mind Map, read and analyze a poem, and write a paragraph using key vocabulary words. They analyze the impact of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Freedmen's Bureau Graphic Organizer

For Teachers 11th
In this American History worksheet, 11th graders analyze the goals of the Freedmen's Bureau.  Students list the wants of ex-slaves. 
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Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

The Education of Freedmen...and Women and Children

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils examine political debate surrounding Freedmen's Bureau, use primary sources to explore trials and successes of effort to educate newly-freed slaves of all ages, research reasons for creation of Freedmen's Bureau, discuss President...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering the Past/Considering the Future: Lessons from the Eastern Shore

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars study how the Freedmen's Bureau improved the living conditions among blacks on Maryland's Eastern Shore. They examine Social, Political, and Economic improvements and answer questions.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Learning Page: The Freedmen

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about the Freedmen, who were free after the Emancipation of Slaves.
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Website
Mount Holyoke College

Mt. Holyoke: Reconstruction Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
Here's a concise timeline that highlights the important facets of reconstruction from the announcement of Abraham Lincoln's reconstruction plans to the end of reconstruction at the election of Rutherford B. Hayes.
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PPT
Virginia History Series

Virginia History Series: Virginia State History Reconstruction to 1900 [Pdf]

For Students 6th - 8th
Much of Virginia was devastated after the Civil War so a period of rebuilding commenced. Follow Reconstruction through the different plans, the effects on African-Americans and the South. This slideshow has pictures,charts, and maps to...
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

National Archives: How Effective Were the Efforts of the Freedmen's Bureau?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Upon being freed, the formerly enslaved people had many challenges to overcome. The Freedmen's Bureau was established to assist the newly free people. Students will examine the following documents and formulate an opinion about the...
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Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: "With Malice Toward None"

For Students 9th - 10th
A four-page discussion of Reconstruction from the plans Lincoln made while the Civil War was still raging to the end of Reconstruction with the election of Rutherford B. Hayes.
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Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Opposing Views on Reconstruction

For Students 9th - 10th
A look at how Andrew Johnson tried to carry out Lincoln's plan for reconstruction. Read onto the second page to find out how the congressional plan thwarted Johnson and was much more punitive.
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Handout
Digital History

Digital History: America's Reconstruction: A Visual Timeline of Reconstruction

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides a timeline of the Reconstruction era in the South.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Two Plans for Reconstruction [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Before his assassination, Abraham Lincoln was already making plans for Reconstruction in the South. Read about his plan and the plan of the Radical Republicans. See the reasoning behind each plan.
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Handout
University of Illinois

University of Illinois: Aaa Newsletter: Excavations at Little Africa a Missouri Freedmen's Community

For Students 9th - 10th
A look at a Freedmen's community based on the archaeological study of a site in central Missouri.
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Handout
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.

New Georgia Encyclopedia: Freedmen's Education During Reconstruction

For Students 9th - 10th
Freed slaves had a hunger for education. Find out how they supported their own schools in addition to receiving aid from the Freedmen's Bureau and northern aid societies.
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Primary
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Reconstruction: Northerners in the South

For Students 9th - 10th
A fascinating firsthand account from the perspective of a carpetbagger and Civil War veteran. This veteran describes the roles he played in the Reconstruction process, his efforts to fit into Southern society, and Southern attitudes...
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Handout
PBS

New Perspectives on the West: Oliver Otis Howard

For Students 3rd - 5th
Use this site to learn about Oliver Otis Howard (1830-1909), the man who was devoted to seeing that freed slaves were given their own piece of land. Site by PBS.
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Handout
Other

Basd: Reconstruction [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A very clear document outlining the various reconstruction plans, the problems for both whites and blacks during Reconstruction, and the amendments added concerning the abolition of slavery, civil rights, and suffrage. Requires Adobe...
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Professional Doc
Other

Virginia Studies: Effects of Reconstruction on Life in Virginia

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Contains instructional strategies for teaching the Social Standard on Reconstruction in Virginia. In addition, there are links to outside websites which could be used for student research.
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Handout
Other

Ithaca High School Social Studies Department: Plans for Reconstruction

For Students 9th - 10th
A great chart comparing Lincoln's and Johnson's reconstruction plans with the plans offered by the Radical Republicans.
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: How Effective Were the Efforts of the Freedmen's Bureau?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, students will analyze documents from the War Department's Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands - better known as the Freedmen's Bureau - that Congress established on March 3, 1865, as the Civil War was...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: What Is Freedom?: Politics and Reconstruction [Pdf]

For Teachers 6th - 8th
A lesson plan from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US" that guides students through an examination of the outcomes of the Civil War. Includes discussion prompts related to the effectiveness of...
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Hampton University

For Students 9th - 10th
This informative encyclopedia article traces the evolution of Hampton University from an agricultural and vocational institute for African Americans after the Civil War to a well-respected university offering graduate and research programs.
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Historically Black Colleges and Universities of Atlanta

For Students 9th - 10th
This interesting encyclopedia article gives information about theblack universities that were founded in Atlanta after the Civil War. Later several joined together to make a consortium called the Atlanta University System.
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Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: African Americans After the War

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a discussion of what life was like for African Americans after slavery ended, focusing on the Freedman's Bureau, Freedman schools, and the Ku Klux Klan.