Summary: In this interactive lesson, students will learn about Nicodemus, an all-Black town established in Kansas following the Civil War. Nicodemus was designed to offer Black migrants new opportunities and freedoms that had failed to materialize after Reconstruction. Students will analyze federal legislation and policies that promoted westward expansion and—through photographs, maps, videos, and graphs—examine how Black people took advantage of such opportunities. At the end of the lesson, students will explore the fate of Nicodemus, recognize the town’s legacy, and examine the efforts of the original settlers’ descendants to keep their story alive. Finally, students will answer the essential question: How did African Americans take advantage of westward expansion to obtain freedom denied to them in Reconstruction?
Overarching Questions:
- CIVICS: How well does the government balance individual rights and the common good, including the need to maintain order, safety and a healthy environment, during this time period?
- ECONOMICS: What is the proper role of government in the economy? (Especially with regard to economic crises, national defense/security, health and safety of the people, and economic development and practices.)
NJ Student learning Standards for Social Studies:
- 6.1.12.CivicsDP.5.a: Analyze the effectiveness of governmental policies and of actions by groups and individuals to address discrimination against new immigrants, Native Americans, and African Americans.
- 6.1.12.GeoPP.5.a: Explain how the Homestead Act, the availability of land and natural resources, and the development of transcontinental railroads and waterways promoted the growth of a nationwide economy and the movement of populations
Link to Lesson: Nicodemus and Black Settlements in the West | Interactive Lesson | PBS LearningMedia