Reconstruction Reading for Elementary Students

Option A:

Lexile: 1010
Word Count: 619
Vocabulary: taxes, enslave, emancipation, forbidden, impeach, unfairly, assassinate, reunite, stride, kind amendment  

After the American Civil War, the United States went through a period called Reconstruction. Reconstruction was a difficult time for the country. The goal of reconstruction was to reunite the North and South after the war and support the Black people who had been freed from slavery. But this was not easy.  

After the Civil War, support for Reconstruction was strong. There was enough support from lawmakers and states that three important changes could be made to the U.S. Constitution. These changes were the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments. 

The Thirteenth Amendment, passed in 1865, ended slavery in all parts of the United States.  It extended the emancipation, or freedom, of the Emancipation Proclamation and made slavery forbidden in the Constitution forever.  

In 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment was adopted. This amendment aimed to protect the equal rights of all citizens, especially the newly freed African Americans. The amendment has many parts that work together to make sure that states cannot make laws that take away people’s rights, treat them unfairly, or deny them equal protection under the law. 

Finally, the Fifteenth Amendment was approved in 1870. This amendment was designed to protect the voting rights of African American men. 

Large groups of Black men used their new rights, voting and running in elections. These three amendments were very important in expanding rights in the United States after the Civil War. They aimed to ensure that all citizens, no matter their race, would have equal rights and protection under the law.  

However, things were complicated because President Abraham Lincoln was killed. Lincoln planned to be kind to the Southern states and heal the nation so they could move forward. After Lincoln was assassinated, there was a new president. His name was Andrew Johnson. He only asked Southern states to officially apologize for trying to leave the country and to accept the Thirteenth Amendment, which ended slavery. Others in Congress wanted stricter rules. There were many disagreements about how to create justice for formerly enslaved people and move forward as a nation after war. 

Instead of working together to rebuild the nation, President Johnson and Congress disagreed about almost everything. This made Reconstruction even more difficult. Eventually, the tension would be so much that Congress would impeach President Johnson. He was almost fired from being president.  

Meanwhile, support for and focus on Reconstruction weakened. Violence against Blacks increased, with groups like the Ku Klux Klan carrying out violent attacks. These groups kept Black people from participating in elections or holding office. After Johnson’s term ended, President Grant worked with Congress to further support Blacks, passing legislation to try to combat violence and support voting and other civil rights. 

But over time, support for Reconstruction faded. The federal government removed the last of their troops from the South in 1877 and focus shifted to other problems. The South moved back toward old ways under a new name –Jim Crow.  

Formerly enslaved Black Americans continued to face threats and violence from others upset about the changes in society. By the 1890s, there were new rules that made it very hard for Black citizens to vote. These included tests about reading and writing, owning property, and paying special taxes.  

The war might have been over, but that did not mean that some people’s feelings had changed toward those that were different. Jim Crow laws separated people by color almost everywhere. The liberty of Black Americans was limited once again. 

Reconstruction was a period of strides toward justice for African Americans but also of strong political conflict. The Reconstruction Amendments laid a path for stronger civil rights in the future, even as African Americans continued to face big challenges in their quest for equality.  

Option B:

Lexile: 870
Word Count: 507
Vocabulary: taxes, enslave, unfairly, reunite, pave, reconstruction, weaken, slavery, heal, strict, amendment, citizen 

After the American Civil War, the United States had a difficult time. The country had to reunite after the war. The government also wanted to help Black people who were no longer held as slaves. But this was not easy. This time was called Reconstruction. 

Many people supported Reconstruction after the war. Three amendments were added to the U.S. Constitution. These were the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments.  

The Thirteenth Amendment was passed in 1865. It ended slavery in all the United States. It made what the Emancipation Proclamation said part of the Constitution. It made sure people could never be enslaved again. 

In 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment was made part of the Constitution. This amendment said all people had the same rights, especially Black people who were now free and full citizens. It said states cannot make rules that take away people’s rights or treat them unfairly. 

Then, in 1870, another law called the Fifteenth Amendment was added to the Constitution. This law gave Black men the right to vote.   

After these new amendments, many Black men voted, ran for office and were elected. They helped bring the nation together, supported citizen’s rights, and made sure formerly enslaved people had a political voice.  

After the Civil War, the United States needed to reunite. But it was hard because President Lincoln had died. Lincoln wanted to be nice to the Southern states and heal the nation so they could move forward. 

There was a new president, Andrew Johnson. He only asked Southern states to say sorry for trying to leave and agree to end slavery. But some people in Congress wanted stricter rules. Congress and President Johnson fought about how to help former slaves and move forward after the war. 

Meanwhile, support for and focus on Reconstruction weakened. Violence against Blacks increased, with groups like the Ku Klux Klan carrying out attacks. They tried to keep Black people from voting.  

After Johnson, President Grant supported laws passed by Congress. These laws tried to protect voting rights in the South and stop violence. But Reconstruction support faded over time. 

Federal troops left the South in 1877. After a while, the South started going back to old ways, but with a new name – Jim Crow. 

Jim Crow laws separated Blacks and whites. They also limited Black people’s ability to make money and participate in politics. Black people had a hard time again. Some people were violent or threatened them.  

By the 1890s, there were new rules that made it very hard for Black people to vote. They had to take tests, own property, or pay special taxes. Their liberty was limited again. 

Reconstruction was a time when some things got better for Black people, but it was also a time of fighting and problems. The nation worked to come back together and adjust to a new future, but it was difficult. The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments paved the way for future civil rights, but Black people still had many problems trying to be equal.