Reconstruction Flashcards
When did Reconstruction start and when did Reconstruction end?
Reconstruction started in 1865 and ended in 1877, which is when the black codes were allowed.
When was Presidential Reconstruction? Who was the President? How long was the President’s term and what years?
Presidential Reconstruction was from 1865-1867. The President was Andrew Johnson who was a Democrat, which is not the same as today and he was from the South, North Carolina. Johnson’s term was from 1865-1869- 4 years, term.
When was Radical Reconstruction? AKA? Why? Who was in charge? Who could vote?
Radical Reconstruction was from 1867-1877. Radical Reconstruction is also known as Congressional Reconstruction. Radical Reconstruction was because of the Mid-Term election in 1867- How am I doing election? Republicans were in charge of Congressional Reconstruction. (By the Mid-Term election former Confederates could vote, but their votes didn’t make a difference.)
What is needed to rebuild?
-A plan on which people agree
-A method of implementing the plan
-Cooperation among the different groups involved
-A way of checking if the plan is working- Go down there!
-A way to adjust the plan in case circumstances change
-A desire for the plan to succeed
-MONEY!!!$$
WHAT WAS THE POINT OF RECONSTRUCTION- What parts of the South had to be rebuilt and why? Why a big deal?
The South had to build physically, economically, socially, and politically to fit the Northern view of the Union. - A big deal because the North is paying for the South to be rebuilt, my house my rules, the North thinks because they are paying for the South to be rebuilt they should have a say.
How would the South be rebuilt economically? What was the South looking like?
The South would be rebuilt economically by switching their agriculture from agrarian or focused on agriculture to being more diversified (better and a different variety of jobs), like the North wanted and has with textile mills, fishing, plantations, etc. (The South had to learn to redo their economy)
- 70% of the South’s livestock (animals) was destroyed, railroads ruined, many battles took place on plantations
How would the South be rebuilt socially? How would racism be changed?
Socially is hardest to change and the whites and blacks had to relearn a relationship. (Slave owners- have to not abuse the slaves, have to learn to treat the slaves with respect, and be equal with the slaves, while the slaves have to learn not to live in fear and get over their P.T.S.D.)
- Racism is extremely hard to change, so you have to start with the new generations and institutional (grown up with racism) and systemic (racism in your work) could take generations to change. Also, laws would have to be passed which shows how hard it is to change racism- HAD TO HAVE LAWS)
How would the South be rebuilt politically?
The South would be rebuilt politically by having new leaders with new mindsets (from the North) had to be put into the Southern governments.- This made the Southern’s really mad!! (Seceded from the North for a reason- different views (D vs. R)
How/Why would the South be rebuilt physically?
Physically- rebuild the South because the US needed the economy to be unified.
***1866-1872: A Federal income tax was imposed on the North to pay for rebuilding the South.- For the good of the whole. Taxes!! Federal income tax did not exist until 1933-16th Amendment. States- Fed, People taxes- States, but did exist for a short period of time until 1873, when they cut it out when there was the panic of 1873, no different today.
-Northerners felt they had the right to direct and control the rebuild.- My house, my rules.
-Southerners resented the Northerners.
How many freed blacks were there? What did they desire? What was implemented?
There were 5 million freed Blacks. They desired:
-Jobs, family life, marriage, education, legal rights, to be reunited with family members- The Freedman’s Bureau did this for the former slaves!
-How are the formerly enslaved people treated? Treated ok.
-Are they treated as displaced people? Yes!
-Are they treated as refugees? Not refugees!
What were the different types of views of how the South be Reconstructed? Ex and what did they want?
There were different points of view of how the South should be reconstructed. Some of the political groups were: Who controlled the power structure of rebuilding?
1. Radical (Extreme) Republicans- punish the south (so mad)- break the power of the Southern rich planters and get blacks the right to vote ex. Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, Congressmen Davis & Senator Wade, Congressman Charles Sumner
2. Moderate (In between) Republicans- President Lincoln (planning and still alive)- punish the Confederate leaders, NOT all Confederates (punishing just the troublemakers or those who lead it)
3. Redeemers (Democrats)- ex. Andrew Johnson- (don’t punish anyone) create an antebellum South (close to slavery but not touching it, without crossing the line).
What are the four plans to reconstruct the South?
There were four plans to reconstruct the South: Lincoln’s, Wade-
Davis Bill, Johnson’s and Radical (Congressional) Reconstruction.
What is Lincoln’s plan? Explain!!!
President Lincoln’s 10 % Plan (Presents to Congress in late March, does not get passed because Lincoln is assassinated, but before he died, he came up with a plan, before the end of a war)
(Moderate Republican)
1861-1865- 4 year term
—-Each state that had seceded would have to write new state constitutions (elect representatives to Congress). -without slavery/ each state had to establish a new state government without confederates, moderate leaders.
—–Each state would have to ratify (approve/pass) the 13th Amendment- abolish slavery and involuntary servitude except as punishment for a crime, unless put in prison..
——Each state had to ask to be admitted to the Union.
—–10 % (insultingly small number) of men/voters in each southern state would have to take an oath of loyalty to the union/pledge to the US before it could form its new state government.
—-Proclamation (Statement) Amnesty (forgiveness) and Reconstruction- offer a full pardon to all former Confederates, all Southerns except some Confederate officers/leaders who took an oath of allegiance to the union and recognized the legality of emancipation (Lincoln hoped this would persuade those who were “on the fence”). - Could vote and run for office.
—–Lenient (not punishing, easy) Lincoln’s plan angered the Radical Republicans.
What did Congress (Radical Republicans) and Lincoln (Moderate Republican) agree on?
Congress and Lincoln did agree on:
The Freedmen’s Bureau (1864)- Fix the South don’t bring the former slaves North
It provided: food, clothing, shelter, medical supplies, and education- If you educate a woman, you educate a family.
Helped Blacks to marry and reunite with family.
What was the Wade and Davis Bill?
Congress was very angry at the leniency of Lincoln’s 10% plan, so Senator Wade and Congressman Davis came up with their own bill in response to Lincoln’s 10% plan.
The Wade- Davis Bill (Radical Republicans), was not passed, the bill died, Lincoln pocket vetoed and he was assassinated over break.
Senator Benjamin Wade of Ohio and Congressman Henry Davis of Maryland wrote the bill in response to Lincoln’s plan!
—Each state that had seceded would have to write new state constitutions- without slavery
—Each state would have to ratify the 13th Amendment
—-51% (large number) of former confederates must take an oath of loyalty to the union
—-Former confederates could not hold public office nor vote. Big deal!! Can’t run for office or vote!! No rights!!
—-Plantation owners would have to give up their land because they hadn’t paid taxes during the war- not part of the federal government, had their own, the government takes the plantation.
—Punish the South (Their goal)
—-40 Acres & A Mule?- To every former slave 40 acres and a horse. - didn’t go through- unconstitutional, and repercussions- the losing side gives the winning side something.
—-Lincoln “pocket vetoed”- Wade and Davis gave the bill to Lincoln, right before Easter break where all Congressmen left and they knew Lincoln would veto it- thought the bill was too harsh, Wade and Davis thought after break they would compromise, little did they know that Lincoln would be assassinated over break.
—–War ends on April 9, 1865
—–April 12, 1865- The Civil War ends ( (Fort Sumter was on April 12, 1861-spark)
—–Lincoln is assassinated on April 14, 1865
