Reconstruction under Lincoln and Johnson

Question 1

What was ‘Reconstruction’?

Answer 1

The process of reintegrating the Southern states into the USA and building new social structures in the South to replace the old slavery-based ones.

Question 2

What did Reconstruction included?

Name three points

Answer 2

1) The treatment of the Southern states
2) Their reintegration into the Union
3) The emancipation of the slaves.

Question 3

What problems did Lincoln face in dealing with Reconstruction during and immediately after the end of the Civil War?

Answer 3

1) How to treat the Southern states

2) What to do with the ex-slaves

Question 4

The Ten Percent Plan of 1864

Name two points

Answer 4

1) The rebel states would be admitted if ten per cent of their electorate agreed to an oath of future allegiance to the USA.
2) They supported all existing acts of Congress regarding slavery and they allowed African Americans to vote.

Question 5

The Wade-Davis Bill of 1865

Name 2 points

Answer 5

This required 50 % of the electorate to take a much tougher oath of allegiance of past and future loyalty to the Union.
Demanded that the state constitution to abolish slavery

Question 6

Lincoln’s reaction to the Wade-Davis Bill of 1865

Answer 6

He vetoed the bill, which led to a further deterioration in relation s between Congress and President

Question 7

What did the Thirteenth Amendment of 1864 include?

Answer 7

This formally freed all slaves in the USA

Question 8

What was the Freedmen’s Bureau 1865?

Answer 8

It was a US agency set up for just one year to help former slaves, such as providing advice on education and employment for former slaves and helped in establishing schools.

Question 9

Lincoln’s stance on the Reconstruction by 1865

Answer 9

It was unclear.

He did not wish to punish the South and was accepting that AA should have equality before the law.

Question 10

Andrew Johnson’s stance on the Reconstruction in 1865-1868

Answer 10

He shared radical views with most white Southerners and appeared to be unconcerned about the plight of ex-slaves.

Question 11

Johnson’s way of Reconstruction

1865-1868

Answer 11

He favoured leniency and had no wish to promote the position of ex-slaves.
He was lenient towards the South

Question 12

Example of Johnson’s leniency

Answer 12

He accepted the Wade-Davis Bill for the oath of loyalty.

He sided with the Democrats.

Question 13

The Civil Rights Bill in 1866

Answer 13

It was introduced by Republicans to give minimum rights to blacks.
Congress overturn the presidential veto

Question 14

How did the Civil Rights Bill come about in

Answer 14

Johnson vetoed the bill passed by the Congress in strengthening the powers of the Freedmen’s Bureau.

Question 15

What was in the Fourteenth Amendment?

Answer 15

It stated that people who were born in the USA were US citizens, and all citizens were guaranteed equality before the law.

Question 16

What was the radical reconstruction?

Answer 16

Plans by Congress in order to put pressure on the South to accept the fourteenth amendment

Question 17

Example of radical reconstruction;

The Military Reconstruction Bill of 1867

Answer 17

It imposed military rule on the South. To get back in the Union, Southern states had to elect national conventions which would accept black suffrage and accept the Fourteenth Amendment

Question 18

Johnson’s impeachment 1868

Answer 18

The Republican decided to impeach Johnson.

There was one short of the two-third majority needed to impeach him.

Question 19

Impact of Johnson’s impeachment 1868

Answer 19

His credibility and effectiveness were destroyed