This task asks students to source the document and explain why the report might not be reliable evidence of what happened at Colfax. The source information reveals that the report was created by white Democrats from Louisiana. Most white Southern Democrats at the time strongly opposed federal Reconstruction efforts to protect African Americans’ civil rights and hoped to rebuild Southern society around principles of white supremacy after the Civil War. It’s possible that the conclusions of the authors reflect these commitments more than the truth of the events at Colfax.
Level: Proficient
Student clearly explains how the perspective or motivation of the authors affects the reliability of the report.
Level: Emergent
Student understands that the authors may have misrepresented the event but doesn’t clearly explain why.
Level: Basic
Student does not identify a legitimate reason why the report might be unreliable evidence of what happened at Colfax.