Class Artificial Intelligence Videos

The Rise of Black Participation During the Reconstruction Era

Black Politicians During the Reconstruction 
Era

In class, one of the most interesting videos my classmates shared focused on the rise of Black political participation during the Reconstruction era. The video used AI generated visuals and voice narration to bring this important period of history to life in a way that felt both modern and powerful. It started by explaining how the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments opened the door for freedom and equal rights.

Hiram R. Reveals, the First African American
to Serve in U.S Congress

The 13th Amendment simply abolished the act of slavery, the 14th Amendment granted citizenship to formerly enslaved people, while the 15th protected their right to vote. These constitutional changes were monumental, and the visuals helped show just how transformative they were for millions of African Americans. 

The video also showed how federal troops were sent to the South to protect newly won voting rights. With this protection, Black voters reached extraordinary levels of participation by 1868. Many African Americans ran for office, held government positions, and helped shape new policies. It was inspiring to see this era presented through a creative lens that made history feel alive.

However, the video also reminded us that this progress didn’t last forever. Reconstruction officially ended in 1877, and by 1900, Black political participation had dropped drastically. To my surprise, the AI generated video even used slower and saddened music when the video started talking about discrimination and how Jim Crow laws erased many of the gains made after the Civil War. I'm not sure if AI did this by itself or if my classmate put a direction in, but I was very impressed.

Overall, this AI powered project captured both the triumphs and challenges of the Reconstruction era. It showed how technology can be used not just to entertain, but to educate and honor important stories from history.

What I learned in Class

The Reconstruction Era

Learning about Reconstruction really opened my eyes to how complicated freedom actually was after the Civil War. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments sound so powerful on paper they ended slavery, granted citizenship, and gave African American men the right to vote but in reality, freedom was something people had to keep fighting for every single day.

An Image representing the intensity
of the Reconstruction Era

The Freedmen's Bureau

One thing that really stood out to me was the Freedmen’s Bureau. In just seven years, it helped over four million people. I was amazed to learn that it built thousands of schools and helped start many HBCUs. By 1870, around 250,000 students were learning because of it. That’s incredible progress in such a short time. The Bureau also helped families find each other again and supported marriages, which reminded me that freedom wasn’t just political it was deeply personal.

40 Acres and a Mule

The promise of 40 acres and a mule really made me think. It gave people hope and a sense of independence, but it was heartbreaking to see that promise broken. Still, the brief success showed what could have been a glimpse of true equality.

Tuskegee Institute

Tuskegee University, 1885

I also learned about the Tuskegee Institute, founded by Booker T. Washington in 1881. Students literally built their own school, which says so much about determination. People like George Washington Carver and later the Tuskegee Airmen carried that same spirit of strength and innovation. Then, hearing about Hiram Rhodes Revels, the first African American U.S. Senator, showed how far people could rise even when the odds were stacked against them.

Reconstruction taught me that freedom isn’t just something given, it’s something people create and defend. It made me appreciate how progress always starts with courage, education, and hope.