The Citizenship Project

Season 1

In school, we are taught that the slaves were freed after the Civil War and were made full citizens of the US, but this wasn't always the case. Explore these untold stories starting 100 years after the Civil War into the 20th century.

Where to Watch The Citizenship Project • Season 1

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6 Episodes

First Black Statesmen: Tennessee's Self-Made Men
E1
First Black Statesmen: Tennessee's Self-Made MenTennessee granted freedmen access to the ballot box three years before federal ratification of the 15th Amendment. Hear the story of the first fourteen African American legislators to serve in Tennessee's General Assembly.
The Early Black Press: Tennessee Voices Lifted
E2
The Early Black Press: Tennessee Voices LiftedExplore the early years of the Black press in Tennessee, from the end of the Civil War through Reconstruction into the early 1900s and learn about the struggles of these publications and their efforts to give voice to African Americans.
A Time of Joining
E3
A Time of JoiningCivil war gave way to civic engagement, as thousands of benevolent societies formed and expanded across the country. Born from crisis, these community organizations became a part of the fabric of a newly reborn United States.
Soldier & Citizen
E4
Soldier & CitizenMilitary service has historically been seen as a pathway to legitimacy for minority groups, offering battlefield sacrifice as evidence of worthiness. Explore how this sacrifice has been leveraged to further the cause for full-citizenship.
By One Vote: Woman Suffrage in the South
E5
By One Vote: Woman Suffrage in the SouthIn August 1920 in Nashville, Tennessee legislators cast the deciding vote to ratify the 19th Amendment, thus giving women in the US the right to vote. Narrator Rosanne Cash chronicles the events that lead up to that turbulent showdown.
The Fight to Vote: Black Voter Suppression in Tennessee
E6
The Fight to Vote: Black Voter Suppression in TennesseeThe right to vote has evolved in the US, specifically in Tennessee. Focusing mainly on the challenges poor and Black people faced after the Civil War, this program aims to spur discussion about voting rights and why turnout remains low.