Presidents (1865-1890)

Question 1

Abraham Lincoln

Answer 1

Emancipation Declaration (January 1865). Assassinated on the 14th April 1865 and died on the 15th April 1865. (HE HAD APPROVED THE 13th AMENDMENT BEFORE HIS DEATH)

Question 2

What party did Abraham Lincoln represent?

Answer 2

National Union Party

Question 3

What was President Andrew Johnson’s background? How did this affect his premiership?

Answer 3

He was brought up by a poor family in North Carolina - this limited his sympathy for AA’s as he focused on the aid of poor, white Americans.

Question 4

What party did Andrew Johnson represent?

Answer 4

Democrat

Question 5

What was the order General T Sherman issued in January 1865?

Answer 5

‘40 Acres and a Mule’ - it distributed 400,000 acres of confiscated land between ex-slaves and their families. It had limited success as it provided space for 40,000 AA’s out of 4 million.

Question 6

How did Johnson respond to both the extension of the Freedman’s Bureau and the ‘40 Acres and a Mule’ order?

Answer 6

Johnson reversed General William T Sherman’s order and returned the 400,000 acres of confiscated land to the Confederate farmers. Johnson vetoed the extension of the Freedman’s Bureau in February 1865 and claimed it infringed on states rights. He was overruled by the Senate and the House (2/3 majority).

Question 7

Was President Johnson corrupt ?

Answer 7

To an extent, yes, a President should maintain a neutral stance in order to professionally lead his country and aid the entire population (as equally as possible).

Question 8

What is plantation aristocracy?

Answer 8

A system of which a few, rich members of the south dominated the plantation system - leaves many poor, white, southern farmers with very little profit. E.g., the Crop-Lien system.

Question 9

How did Johnson feel about plantation aristocracy?

Answer 9

He did not like it - led to his sympathy for poor, white, southern farmers.

Question 10

When was Johnson impeached?

Answer 10

1868

Question 11

Why was Johnson impeached?

Answer 11

He did not align with the Radical Republicans on Reconstruction and thus there were heightened tensions.

Question 12

When did Ulysses Grant become President?

Answer 12

1869

Question 13

What party did Ulysses Grant represent?

Answer 13

Republican

Question 14

When was the ‘Black Friday’ Gold Scandal?

Answer 14

It is structured around the 24th September 1869.

Question 15

What was the ‘Black Friday’ Gold Scandal?

Answer 15

Jay Gould and Jim Fisk conspired and used other wealthy businessmen as part of their scheme to inflate the prices of gold. By the 24th September 1869 - gold which was once worth $100 reached $160. It peaked on this day known as ‘Black Friday’.

Question 16

How did Grant respond to the ‘Black Friday’ Gold Scandal?

Answer 16

Ulysses Grant sold $4 million dollars worth of gold from the US treasury which plummeted the worth of gold $160 to $133

Question 17

What were the effects to the plummet in the price of gold?

Answer 17

Aided the issue of gold prices but damaged many venerable companies and firms and farmers saw prices drop by about 50%.

Question 18

What was the ‘Tweed Ring Scandal’?

Answer 18

This scandal, led by William Magear ‘Boss’ Tweed, involved the corruption of New York City’s politics. The ‘Tweed Ring’ bought votes, encouraged judicial corruption and dominated NYC’s politics. It extracted millions from city’s contracts and this was exposed when the New York Times exposed that Tweed had embezzeled millions from the remodelling of the City Court House in 1871.

Question 19

What was the Whiskey Ring Scandal?

Answer 19

A scandal which discredited President Grant as it involved the bribery of US Department of the Treasury in order for whiskey distillers to evade taxes.

Question 20

What was the Compromise of 1877 also known as?

Answer 20

The Wormsley Agreement

Question 21

What was the Compromise of 1877?

Answer 21

An uncodified agreement which granted leniency towards the ex-Confederate states due to the corrupt presidential election of 1877.

Question 22

How was the presidential election of 1877 corrupt?

Answer 22

Disenfranchisement, electoral fraud and electoral violence (particularly towards AA’s).

Question 23

How was the presidential election of 1877’s corruption dealt with?

Answer 23

An electoral commission was formed and a majority of its members were Republican which potentially contributes to the 15/15 unanimous votes which deemed Rutherford B. Hayes to be the 19th US President. (over Samuel Tilden)

Question 24

What party did Rutherford B. Hayes represent?

Answer 24

Republican

Question 25

What year was President Garfield elected?

Answer 25

1880

Question 26

What party did Garfield represent?

Answer 26

Republicans (GOP)

Question 27

What was the significance of President Garfield’s short-lived presidency?

Answer 27

Garfield was a huge supporter of African Americans and appointed many to positions of power in government including Blanche K. Bruce as Register of the Treasury

Question 28

When was President Arthur elected and why?

Answer 28

In 1881 Garfield was assassinated and therefore his Vice President Chester A. Arthur took over his presidency.

Question 29

What was the significance of Chester A. Arthur’s presidency?

Answer 29

Arthur signed the Civil Rights Act of 1875, the Tariffs Act of 1833, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act.