RECONSTRUCTION SUCCESS OR FAILURE?

What is Reconstruction? A period of rebuilding after the Civil War lasting from 1865 to America had lost over 600,000 men and the South was in ruins. How would the nation recover?

Lincoln’s Plan Wanted to be easy on the South. Pardoned Confederates if they swore allegiance to the Union. As soon as 10% of a state’s voters swore allegiance to the Union, the state would be readmitted. (10% Plan)

Who were the Radical Republicans? Group that thought Lincoln’s plan was too easy on the South. Wanted to punish the South and give African Americans the right to vote. Led by Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner.

What was the Wade Davis Bill? In 1864, The Radical Republicans passed the Wade Davis Bill. This bill put Congress in charge of Reconstruction. A Majority of a state’s voters had to swear allegiance to the Union. Lincoln vetoed the bill.

What was Johnson’s Plan? After Lincoln’s assassination, Johnson had a similar plan to Lincoln’s. Johnson felt that the South had re-entered the Union and his work was done. The Radical Republicans disagreed.

What was the Freedmen’s Bureau? The Radical Republicans felt that African Americans needed help after slavery. The Freedmen’s Bureau gave food, clothing, school, and hospitals to newly freed slaves. Johnson vetoed the Freedmen’s Bureau, but Congress made it law.

What was the Civil Rights Act of 1866? Passed by the Radical Republicans and vetoed by Johnson. Congress overrode Johnson’s veto. This act declared that states could not enact black codes.

What were Black Codes? These codes in Southern states discriminated against African Americans. Prevented African Americans from participating in American democracy.

What was the Congressional Plan of Reconstruction? Congress overrode many of Johnson’s vetoes. Their objective was to give full citizenship to African Americans. They also wanted put the Southern states under military control. Johnson felt they were much too harsh on the South.

What was the 14 th Amendment? Gave citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States,” including former slaves. Forbids any states from denying any person “due process of law.”

What was the Reconstruction Act? Declared state governments created under Lincoln and Johnson to be invalid. Put Southern states under military control and called for new state constitutions. Nostate could reenter the Union without passing the 14 th amendment and giving African American men the right to vote. Vetoed by Johnson and passed by Congress.

Why was President Johnson impeached? Impeachment means a legal process to formally charge a president with misconduct in office. Johnson removed Edwin Stanton from his cabinet post which violated the Tenure of Office Act. Congress voted to impeach Johnson and he was found not guilty by 1vote!

What was the 15 th Amendment? Passed under Ulysses S. Grant’s presidency. Gave African American males the right to vote. Banned states from denying the vote to African American males.

What were the postwar conditions of the South? Plantations and farms destroyed. Population of South devastated. 1/5 of adult white men died in war. Women and children suffered from illness and malnutrition.

Who were the scalawags? White Southerners who joined the Republican Party. They were small farmers who did not want wealthy planters to regain power.

Who were the carpetbaggers? Northerners that moved to the South. Some came to profit from the conditions of the South. Others truly wanted to reform Southern society. Despised by many white Southerners.

How did former slaves improve their life? Reunited with families with help of the Freedmen’s Bureau. Established African American schools and colleges. Founded own churches and community organizations. Participated in government. Hiram Revels was the 1 st African American Senator.

What was sharecropping? Landowners gave a few acres of land to farm workers. The farmer keeps a small portion of crops and gives the rest to the landowner. This kept former slaves under the control of Southern planters.

What was tenant farming? Farmers rented land from landowners in exchange for cash. Kept African Americans working in agriculture and under the control of white Southerners.

What was the Ku Klux Klan? Terrorist group created to oppose African Americans. Did not want African Americans to vote. Used violence and destroyed African American property. Intimidated African American from voting.

What was the Amnesty Act? In 1872, this act gave former Confederates the right to vote. White southerners had complained that Republicans had abused their power. Southern Democrats began to gain power.

What was the Panic of 1873? Scandals had tarnished Grant’s administration. The Panic of 1873 was a nationwide depression caused by people taking on more debt than they could afford and banks closed.

What was redemption? Southern Democrats’ term for their return to power in the South in the 1870’s. Their goal was to return the antebellum South. (Pre-Civil war days when African Americans were slaves)

What happened in the Election of 1876? Republicans ran Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrats ran Samuel J. Tilden Tilden won the popular vote and Hayes won the electoral vote.

What was the Compromise of 1877? Democrats allowed Hayes to be President and Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops from the South. Reconstruction had officially ended.

What was home rule? Democrats called redeemers controlled every Southern state government. Ability to run state governments without federal interference. Restricted rights of African Americans, wiped out social programs, got rid of public schools.

Was Reconstruction a success or failure? Write your answer here! Support it with details!