Instructional Video4:49
Wonderscape

Robert Smalls: A Legacy of Leadership and Advocacy

K - 5th
Explore the post-war achievements of Robert Smalls, from serving the Freedmen's Bureau to shaping political change during Reconstruction. Learn about his contributions to public transportation integration, his role in founding the South...
Instructional Video3:46
Wonderscape

The Legacy of the Reconstruction Era and Its Lasting Impact

K - 5th
This video explores the Reconstruction Era, focusing on the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments and the political strides made by Black Americans. Learn about the challenges and achievements of the time, including the rise of Black political...
Instructional Video1:09
Wonderscape

The Compromise of 1877 and Rising Challenges for Black Americans

K - 5th
This video explores the Compromise of 1877 and its impact on Black Americans during the Reconstruction Era. Learn about the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and the violent challenges faced by Black citizens, including the tragic Colfax Massacre...
Instructional Video1:53
Wonderscape

The Freedmen's Bureau: Support for Freed Black Communities

K - 5th
This video delves into the efforts of the Freedmen's Bureau, established in 1865, to assist formerly enslaved individuals in the South. Discover how the Bureau provided food, housing, legal aid, and education, helped reunite families,...
Instructional Video3:00
Wonderscape

Andrew Johnson and the Rise of Black Codes

K - 5th
This video examines President Andrew Johnson's controversial role during the Reconstruction Era. After Lincoln's death, Johnson's policies, including overturning the "40 acres" order and vetoing civil rights legislation, shaped the...
Instructional Video0:42
Wonderscape

The Freedmen's Bureau and Lincoln's Legacy

K - 5th
This video discusses the establishment of the Freedmen's Bureau in 1865, an organization created to support newly freed men, women, and children with essentials like food, land, and education. It also covers the tragic assassination of...
Instructional Video3:36
Wonderscape

The Civil War and Reconstruction: Rebuilding a Divided Nation

K - 5th
This video covers the key events of the Civil War and the challenges of the Reconstruction Era. Learn about the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation, the differing approaches to reunifying the Union, and the struggles faced by...
Instructional Video5:22
Wonderscape

Hiram Revels: The First Black U.S. Senator

K - 5th
This video explores the life and achievements of Hiram Revels, the first Black person to serve in the U.S. Congress. Learn about his journey from a free-born pastor to a Civil War chaplain and political leader in Mississippi, and his...
Instructional Video6:05
Wonderscape

The Struggle for Equality During Reconstruction

K - 5th
Explore the contrasting philosophies of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois during the Reconstruction Era and their approaches to challenging Jim Crow laws. Learn about the landmark Plessy v. Ferguson case and how the NAACP emerged...
Instructional Video4:36
Wonderscape

The Origins and Impact of Jim Crow Laws

K - 5th
Learn about the origins of Jim Crow laws and how they enforced racial segregation in the United States. This video traces the history from the minstrel character "Jim Crow" to the establishment of laws that restricted the freedoms of...
Instructional Video5:23
Wonderscape

The Rise of Ragtime and the Blues

K - 5th
Discover the emergence of ragtime and blues music during and after the Reconstruction Era. Learn how ragtime brought a rhythmic, danceable sound to America, while the blues gave voice to personal stories of struggle and resilience....
Instructional Video4:46
Wonderscape

Obstacles to Black Voting Rights in U.S. History

K - 5th
This video explores the history of voter suppression tactics used against Black voters in the United States, from the Three-Fifths Compromise to Jim Crow laws, poll taxes, and literacy tests. Learn about the barriers Black voters faced...
Instructional Video4:47
Wonderscape

The Struggle for Black Land Ownership in America

K - 5th
Learn about the early history of Black land ownership in America, starting with Anthony Johnson, the first recorded Black landowner. Explore the impact of Special Field Order 15, the reversal of promises of "40 acres and a mule," and the...
Instructional Video4:50
Wonderscape

The 14th Amendment: Citizenship, Equal Rights, and Civil Liberties

K - 5th
Discover the impact of the 14th Amendment, a key Reconstruction Amendment that played a crucial role in reshaping the American legal landscape post-Civil War. This amendment redefined citizenship, guaranteeing equal protection and due...
Instructional Video20:47
Institute for New Economic Thinking

Measuring the Danger of Segregation

Higher Ed
An 1869 study incorrectly stated that black Union soldiers had lower lung capacity than white soldiers. 150 years later, this same study is impacting the health and disability diagnosis of black patients. Structural segregation is still...
Instructional Video3:51
Encyclopaedia Britannica

Reconstruction Explained in 5 Questions

Pre-K - Higher Ed
Learn more about the Reconstruction period following the American Civil War.