Chapter 2: Reconstruction

Question 1

Reconstruction

Answer 1

Is the period 1865–77 following the American Civil War, during which the southern states of the Confederacy were controlled by federal government and social legislation, including the granting of new rights to black people, was introduced.

Question 2

The presidents : Lincoln

Answer 2

Lincoln started the process of passing the 13th Amendment freeing the slaves.

He wanted to allow the Southern states to rejoin the Union on the condition that 10% of voters swear loyalty to the Union. This was mostly opposed by the Radical Republicans in Congress as they wanted 50% and an anti-slavery amendment added to the state Constitution before allowing a state to rejoin in the Wade-Davis bill.

He wanted all Southerners who were not high-ranking Confederate leaders to be allowed to vote and did not confiscate property.

Question 3

The presidents : Johnson

Answer 3

Johnson is a Southerner from Tennessee appointed to be Lincoln’s VP to conciliate the South.

He opposes a harsh reconstruction and is fiercely opposed by the Radical Republican faction.

The Radicals want to ensure that Blacks are able to vote and have civil rights. Johnson wants to reintegrate White southerners and supports state civilian governments in the South.

Johnson pardoned all ex-Confederate soldiers and civilians expect a few high-ranking officers.

Johnson was Commander-in-Chief of the US military, and thus could simply order the military not to do anything he didn’t support. Congress passed laws trying to limit Johnson’s ability to control the military governments ruling the South.

Question 4

Command of the Army Act

Answer 4

Takes away Johnson’s ability to issue order directly to anyone but Grant, the top military official in the Army. This will give them and Grant effective power over the military governments.

Question 5

Tenure of Office of Act

Answer 5

This act gives the Senate the power to remove Cabinet members (Ministers) appointed by the current President from office. The Constitution says the Senate must give consent for appointment, but nothing about removal. This was used particularly to target Stanton, Secretary of War.

This is probably not constitutional and also the law did not technically apply to Stanton as he was appointed by Lincoln not Johnson.

Question 6

Political Views : Radical Republicans

Answer 6

Slavery should be ended and civil rights sought for black people.

The South should be altered so it does not rebel again.

Question 7

Political Views : Conservative Republicans

Answer 7

Slavery should be ended.

The South should be reintegrated and normality restored.

Question 8

Political views : Copperheads, Northern Peace Democrats

Answer 8

Slavery should continue.

The war is a conspiracy by northerners to enslave poor southern whites, and is damaging the cotton trade.

Question 9

Freedman’s Bureau

Answer 9

An act passed by the congress and set by Abraham Lincoln in 1865, to provide food, shelter, clothing, medical services, and land to displaced Southerners, including newly freed African Americans.

Question 10

The Military Reconstruction Act of 1867

Answer 10

Divided the South into five districts. Each had a military governor, in which Radical Reconstruction could be carried out. This meant that the terms of the Wade–Davis Bill were effectively implemented.

Question 11

The impeachment Johnson

Answer 11

impeachment: a charge of misconduct made against the holder of a public office.

Reasons as to why he should be removed:
A show of Radical strength might have had an effect on the 1868 elections.

Johnson would be humiliated.

Congress could devote its time to finishing the job in the South, with a cooperative president not disrupting the role of the military governors.

The trial cited 11 articles of impeachment, most about the Tenure of Office Act, but also including disgracing the presidency and ridiculing Congress. Legally, Johnson could be dismissed for ‘high crimes and misdemeanour’
Johnson was discharged by one vote (with 35 against him) and the trial was abandoned in May

Question 12

The 13th Amendment

Answer 12

Banned slavery throughout the United States

Question 13

The 14th Amendment

Answer 13

To give black people equality under the law with white people

Question 14

The 15th Amendment

Answer 14

Race, colour, or having been a slave are not adequate grounds on which to stop someone voting. (To give rights for the blacks to vote)

Question 15

Sharecropping

Answer 15

Sharecropping is a system where the landlord/planter allows a tenant to use the land in exchange for a share of the crop.

The planters were able to hire some former slaves and provided the sharecropping policy

Question 16

The Black Codes

Answer 16

These were a set of laws from various Southern states such as:

Vagrancy laws. In most Southern states, anyone unable to prove that they were employed was liable to be arrested

Disproportionate punishment. In South Carolina, the death penalty could be enforced for stealing cotton.

In Florida, it was illegal to disrespect a white employer.

Question 17

President Grant and Reconstruction

Answer 17

Elected against Johnson to continue Reconstruction. The Radicals have a smaller majority in Congress than they did under Johnson. Grant starts with things such as the Force act trying to suppress the KKK with the power of the US military. This is somewhat successful in reducing the power of the Klan but the Southern “Redeemers” take control of most of the state governments in the South, reducing the ability of Grant to effectively enforce Black’s ability to vote. Over the course of his term Northern support slowly falls off. He loses control of the Senate to the Democrats in 1876 and the Civil Rights act of 1875 goes without any serious enforcement effort.

Question 18

Rutherford Hayes and the Compromise of 1877

Answer 18

The election was tied and depended on the debatable vote in Oregon, South Carolina, Florida and Louisiana.

The 3 Southern states (South Carolina, Florida and Louisiana) still had Republican governments and alleged that the vote was not fair because of intimidation and suppression of the Black vote. A commission set up to investigate this voted on straight party lines.

Therefore, a compromise was formed and Hayes won the election against Samuel Tilden provided that Hayes would end the Reconstruction era.

Question 19

Redeemer

Answer 19

Post civil war movement to end Northern control of the South. They mostly wanted White government and pushed for Blacks not to vote and public segregation. They controlled all but 3 Southern state governments by 1877 and dominated after reconstruction.

Question 20

Ku Klux Klan

Answer 20

Violent paramilitary group in the South. They used violence to intimated Blacks who tried to vote and whites who worked with the Northern government. They were somewhat successful at fist but later suppressed by Federal troops when Grant applied the Force Act.

Question 21

Battle of Liberty Place

Answer 21

After a disputed election in 1874 between a Republican candidate (Kellogg) mostly backed by Black Freedman voters and a Democratic candidate mostly backed by White pro-CSA voters, a battle took place in New Orleans. About 5,000 members of the White League battled about 3,500 members of the police, with the League taking control of the city until US troops arrived.

Question 22

Poll tax, literacy test, competency test

Answer 22

A poll tax that had to be paid before voting. A literacy test tests if you can read and write. A competency test tests some other area of eduction. All were used to keep Blacks from voting by Redeemer governments and in the post reconstruction Jim Crow Era.

Question 23

Grandfather Clause

Answer 23

A provision people could vote if their grandfather had been allowed to. Partially kept poor whites from being blocked from voting by rules aimed at Blacks.

Question 24

Civil Rights act of 1875

Answer 24

Attempts to ban segregation (separation) of whites and blacks in public spaces. Passed by Grant but not enforced strictly as Northern interest in using the military to force the South to comply was limited.

Question 25

United States v. Cruikshank

Answer 25

Rules Federal government does not have the authority to punish individuals or states for violations of the Constitution. It limits to ability of the Federal government to stop state governments from restricting Black’s ability to assemble and vote.