Abraham Lincoln's Legacy

Question 1

Lincoln’ Reconstruction
Problems

Answer 1

• Reconstruction means the rebuilding of the Southern Confederate states after the war, 1865-1877 was seen as the ‘Reconstruction period’
• Reconstruction consisted of returning the Southern states back to the Union/US, and replacing the previous society based on slavery with a new one that recognised the new status of African Americans
• Lincoln wanted to treat Southern states leniently to bring them back to the Union, however the ‘Radical Republicans’ wanted to treat them harshly
• He also wanted to send slaves back to colonies but the slaves refused to participate

Question 2

The Ten Percent Plan
(1864)

Answer 2

• Introduced by Lincoln in April 1864
• Rebel states would be admitted if 10% of their electorate agreed to an oath of future allegiance to the USA, supported all existing acts of Congress regarding slavery, and allowed African Americans to vote
• Louisiana met the 10% rule and was admitted to the Union

Question 3

The Wade-Davis Bill
(1865)

Answer 3

• Radical Republicans were dissatisfied with the 10% Plan, 2 Radical Senators, Wade and Davis introduced this is 1865
• Required 50% of electorate to take a much tougher oath of allegiance dedicating past and future loyalty to the Union, stating that they never voluntarily helped the Confederacy, excluded all those from the Confederacy to hold any rule in government and demanded state constitution to abolish slavery
• Lincoln attempted to veto the bill but was overturned by the Congress and also led to a further deterioration of the relationship between the Congress and President

Question 4

The Thirteenth Amendment
(1865)

Answer 4

• Changed the US Constitution officially by abolishing slavery
• Introduced by Lincoln in November 1864
• Approved by Congress in January 1865
• By the end of 1865, enough states approved the Amendment for it to become law
• Made slavery illegal in all states
• Formally freed all slaves in the USA

Question 5

The Freedmen’s Bureau
(1865)

Answer 5

• Introduced by Lincoln and the Congress
• A US agency set up to help former slaves in a variety of ways for 1 year
• Provided advice on education and employment for former slaves
• Helped establish schools for African Americans
• 1865: Lincoln’s position on Reconstruction was still unclear, didn’t appear to have wished to punish the South
• Seemed to be moving towards accepting that African Americans should have equality before the law and even giving some the vote
• April 14th 1865: Lincoln was assassinated by actor John Wilkes Booth as he wanted to do it for a Southern cause