Congressional and Presidential Reconstruction

Questions and Answers

What did President Abraham Lincoln state about the Confederate states?

They were no longer part of the United States

They should be treated as conquered provinces

They had never left the Union (correct)

They should be permanently segregated

What was the Military Reconstruction Act?

A final plan for Reconstruction that identified new conditions for southern government formation.

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States.

True

What were the conditions under Lincoln's 10 percent plan for a state to rejoin the Union?

10 percent of the voting population must take an oath of allegiance to the Constitution. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a key aspect of Johnson's Reconstruction plan compared to Lincoln's?

It targeted Confederates with more than $20,000 in taxable property Signup and view all the answers

What rights did the 14th Amendment guarantee?

Citizenship and equal protection under the law. Signup and view all the answers

What did the 15th Amendment accomplish?

Granted African American men the right to vote. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Presidential Reconstruction Plans

Abraham Lincoln proposed a lenient Reconstruction policy asserting that Confederate states never left the Union.
Offered pardons to Southern citizens who took an oath of allegiance in his 1863 Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction.
President Andrew Johnson's plan mirrored Lincoln's, emphasizing rapid reintegration and forgiveness for most Southerners.

Congressional Reconstruction Plans

Moderate Republicans in Congress favored quick reintegration of Confederate states, contrasting with Radical Republicans' demands for significant reforms.
Radical leaders like Thaddeus Stevens rejected leniency, fearing restoration of the Southern elite and re-enslavement of freed Blacks.
The Joint Committee on Reconstruction declared that Southern states forfeited their rights by seceding, asserting that Congress, not the president, should direct Reconstruction efforts.
Military Reconstruction Act of 1867, influenced by the Joint Committee, set conditions for Southern state governments, exempting Tennessee due to its ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Lincoln's Plan Compared to Johnson's Actions

Lincoln’s "10 percent plan" required 10% of a state's voting population to take oaths for reintegration.
Johnson's plan added exclusions for Confederates with property over $20,000, targeting the wealthy elite who led secession.
Both presidents called for conventions to repeal secession ordinances, abolish slavery, and ratify the Thirteenth Amendment.

13th Amendment

Formally abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, effective December 1865 after Congressional approval and state ratifications.
The exception for punishment of crime was specified, signaling a legal framework for future incarceration.

14th Amendment

Defined citizenship to include all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., granting them equal protection under the law.
Prevented states from enacting laws that would infringe on citizens' privileges, ensuring due process and equal rights.

15th Amendment

Granted African American men the right to vote, prohibiting any denial of voting rights based on race or previous servitude.

Description

Explore the key concepts of Congressional and Presidential Reconstruction following the Civil War. This quiz delves into the differing perspectives on how to reintegrate Confederate states into the Union. Test your knowledge on the policies implemented during this transformative period in American history.