Analyze the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments as the SECOND FOUNDING (Foner 2019) — abolishing slavery + establishing birthright citizenship + equal protection + due process + prohibiting racial discrimination in voting
Exercise Difficulty 5 ~20 min hist.g8.f.ex_31

Essay

Prompt

Per Foner 2019 The Second Founding, why are the Reconstruction Amendments equal in significance to the original 1787-1791 Founding? Provide 3 specific reasons.

How it's presented
mode text
Answer criteria
type rubric
criteria
  1. Names Foner 2019 by author + year
  2. 13th abolished 'original sin' of slavery that 1787-1791 Constitution had protected
  3. 14th Section 1 birthright citizenship reversed Dred Scott + created federal protection of individual rights against state action
  4. 15th created first federal protection of voting rights based on race
  5. Section 5 / Section 2 enforcement clauses building Congressional power vs state power
  6. Applies MG-14b: enforcement was stripped away by Reconstruction's overthrow
Hints
  1. 3 amendments in 4 years = constitutional revolution.
  2. Each Amendment contains enforcement clauses giving Congress explicit power.
Misconceptions to watch
  • Missing one or more specific Foner 2019 framework elements
Used in lessons