Civil War Reconstruction Era

Module Description

This course, part of the Civil War and Reconstruction XSeries, delves into the Reconstruction era (1865-1890) following the American Civil War. It examines this period as the first attempt to create an interracial democracy in the United States. The course begins by discussing the significant shift in historians' interpretations of this era over the past two generations. It then explores key issues that emerged during Reconstruction, many of which continue to resonate in contemporary American society. These include defining citizenship and citizens' rights, the relationship between political and economic freedom, the balance of power between federal and state governments in protecting rights, and governmental responses to terrorism. Students will learn about the rewriting of laws and the Constitution to incorporate racial equality, the successes and failures of Reconstruction governments in the South, the reasons for violent opposition in the South and the North's eventual retreat from Reconstruction efforts. The course concludes by examining the consolidation of a new system of white supremacy at the end of the 19th century.