What's Next? Reconstruction Begins

Today we explored the issues facing freedmen and freedwomen after the Civil War. After developing a character by writing an inner monologue of that person's hopes and fears, we used the questions and situations in our binders to frame our work.
If absent, first, you need to develop your character. In your notebook please write an inner monologue that describes who you are and your hopes and fears. You are responsible for developing the character to use for the rest of the week. Here are some prompts to get you started:

• As a freedman or freed woman, Who do you want to become?
• What's your gender? 
• How old are you?
• Do you know your family?
• How many of your family are you with? 
• Where are you? 
• Have you worked on a plantation?
• How large is it? Did you work in the field or the house?
• Was your owner cruel or lenient?
• Did you escape or try to escape?
• Have you been whipped, beaten, tortured, raped or assaulted? Has anyone in your family?

When finished, we'll work to answer the questions from the "Reconstructing the South: Problems" handouts in our binders from the perspective of your character.