12 Questions
What type of plans were proposed for the Reconstruction of the South?
Presidential and Congressional
Who were known as 'Carpetbaggers' in the context of the text?
Northern industrialists helping to rebuild the South
Which group advocated for more lenient Reconstruction plans for the South?
Scalawags
What was one of the requirements of Lincoln's plan for Reconstruction?
Southern States had to ratify the 13th amendment (abolish slavery)
What event led to Congress taking charge of Reconstruction after the Civil War?
Booth's assassination of Lincoln
What percentage of voters in 1860 needed to give an oath of allegiance for their state to rejoin according to Lincoln's plan?
10%
What was the main reason Congress wanted to impeach President Johnson?
He fired a member of his cabinet without Senate approval
Which act passed by Congress aimed to trap President Johnson and restrict his power?
Tenure of Office Act 1867
Why was the Freedman's Bureau considered a significant success?
Focused mainly on educating former slaves
What did the Military Reconstruction Act aim to achieve in the Southern states?
Divide the states into military districts under Northern control
Why did President Johnson's plan differ from Lincoln's?
Johnson wanted to punish wealthy plantation owners
What was a key outcome of the conflict between Congress and President Johnson?
Congress gaining authority over presidential vetoes
Study Notes
Andrew Johnson's Presidency
- Andrew Johnson becomes President after Lincoln's assassination, with a plan similar to Lincoln's except for punishing wealthy plantation owners who opposed him.
- Congress, controlled by Radical Republicans, led by Thaddeus Stevens, rejects Johnson's plan and begins to undermine his authority.
Impeachment and Removal
- Congress, seeking to remove Johnson, passes the Tenure of Office Act (1867) to limit his power, requiring Senate approval for official removals.
- Johnson defies the law, firing Secretary of War Stanton, and is subsequently impeached by the House.
- Johnson is saved by a single vote in the Senate, preventing his removal from office.
Congressional Reconstruction
- Congress takes control, passing their version of Reconstruction, including the Military Reconstruction Act (1867).
- The act divides the 10 "unreconstructed states" into 5 military districts, placing the South under Northern military control.
- Southern states are gradually readmitted to the Union, with conditions, between 1868 and 1870.
Freedmen and Reconstruction
- The Freedmen's Bureau (established 1865) provides relief to former slaves, poor whites, and Native Americans, including food, clothing, housing, and education.
- Education is the Bureau's largest success, as it enables individuals to read, write, and do math.
- Land reform is the Bureau's largest failure, as having one's own land is crucial for economic independence.
Reconstruction Plans
- Two types of Reconstruction plans exist: Presidential (Lincoln and Johnson) and Congressional (Radical Republicans).
- Presidential plans are more lenient, while Congressional plans are harsher, seeking to punish the South for the war.
- Lincoln's plan (10% plan) requires Southern states to:
- Ratify the 13th amendment (abolishing slavery)
- Agree to not secede again
- Have 10% of 1860 voters take an oath of allegiance to rejoin the Union
Test your knowledge on the Reconstruction era in the United States, focusing on the plans for rebuilding the South post-Civil War. Explore the roles of Carpetbaggers, Scalawags, and the challenges faced in repairing the Southern states.
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