CWR - Document Based Question Lesson

Document Based Question

The Civil War brought change to the United States. The question of could states secede and form a separate nation was answered with a "no" as the Union emerged victorious in the Civil War. The contentious argument over slavery was addressed by the 13^th Amendment to the Constitution that ended the practice.

After the Civil War the application of these principles was a struggle. The competing approaches to Reconstruction played out politically in dramatic fashion. Former slaves, known as the freedmen, enjoyed many benefits of freedom and voting rights during Radical Reconstruction. But old patterns and ways of thinking died hard as many white southerners resisted the changes. When Reconstruction ended, many of the freedoms extending during the era were restricted and African Americans suffered under institutional discrimination until the mid 20^th Century.

No one argues that big changes took place. But what was the extent of these changes? Were they truly revolutionary? Was Reconstruction, despite its flaws, an overall success? Or did it harden southern resolve to resist the changes?

Your assignment in this lesson is to write a Document Based Question (DBQ) on the extent of change during the Civil War and Reconstruction Era Links to an external site..

Here is the question:

In what ways and to what extent did constitutional and social developments between 1860 and 1877 amount to a revolution?

For this DBQ assignment you are required to complete both the DBQ Outline Document Links to an external site. to plan out your DBQ essay and then to write the actual essay based on what you have done on the outline. In your actual DBQ that you type out I want you to underline or put into italics the thesis statement and the synthesis portion of your conclusion. This will help me identify those portions of your essay and give feedback.

It will be helpful to review the information on writing DBQs in the American Revolution module.

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.