Chapter 22: The Ordeal of Reconstruction

1. Chapter 22: The Ordeal of Reconstruction 1865-1877

2. The Problems of Peace • What were some major issues that Reconstruction had to deal with? • What happened to Jefferson Davis? • What happened to all rebel leaders is 1868? • Describe the major cities of the South. • How did the south fare economically after the war? • Why was agriculture in the South crippled? • How did the planter aristocracy fare after the war? • How did Southerners react to the North? • Freedmen Define Freedom • How did the process of Emancipation look for slaves? • How do the many responses to emancipation illustrate the master-slave relationship? • How did former slaves react to their new found freedom? • How did emancipation help strengthen slave families? • Who were the exodusters? • What role did church play in the lives of freed slaves? • What role did education play in the lives of freed slaves?

3. The Freedmen’s Bureau • Why did Congress create the Freedmen’s Bureau? • What services did the Freedmen’s Bureau provide? • What was the Bureau’s greatest success? • In what ways were the Bureau’s accomplishments meager? • Johnson: The Tailor President • Describe Johnson’s rise to the presidency. • Why was Johnson chosen as Lincoln’s vice president? • What did Johnson believe in? • Why was Johnson considered a misfit?

4. Presidential Reconstruction • What was Lincoln’s belief in relation to the South withdrawing from the Union? • Describe Lincoln’s 10% reconstruction plan. • Why didn’t Congress like Lincoln’s plan. • Describe the Wade-Davis Bill. • What did the Wade-Davis Bill reveal about Lincoln and the Congress? • What Republican factions were forming at this time? • How did Johnson respond to Lincoln’s reconstruction plan? • What did Johnson’s reconstruction proclamation include? • Why did Johnson grant pardons in abundance? • The Baleful Black Codes • What was the purpose of the Black Codes? • What did the Black Codes have in common? • What penalties were imposed for breaking Black Codes? • What other restrictions were places on African Americans? • How did the Black Codes impact the society of African Americans for generations to come?

5. Congressional Reconstruction • Who showed up from the South for the Congressional Session in 1865? • Why did this infuriate the Republicans? • Why were the Republicans alarmed about the future of politics now that the South would be reunited with the Union? • Why were Republicans worried about the South or the Democrats taking control of Congress? • Johnson Clashes with Congress • What did Johnson do in 1866 that angered the Republican Congress? • How did Congress respond to Johnson’s vetoes? • Why did Congress want to place the principles of the Civil Rights Bill in the Constitution? • What did the proposed amendment include? • What did the Fourteenth Amendment leave out?

6. Swinging ‘Round the Circle with Johnson • What was the root of the controversy between Johnson and Congress? • Why was the Congressional election of 1866 important? • What outcome did Johnson want for the 1866 congressional elections? • What was Johnson’s famous “swing ‘round the circle”? • Was Johnson successful? Why or why not? • Republican Principles and Programs • What did radical Republican congressmen want? • Who were two important radical Republican congressmen and what did they fight for? • Why did the radicals want to keep the South out as long as possible? • What did moderate Republicans want?

7. Reconstruction by the Sword • Why did Congress pass the Reconstruction Act? • What did the Reconstruction Act say? • What conditions did congress state were necessary for readmission to the Union? • Why did congress want to give freed men the vote? • What is stated in the Fifteenth Amendment? • Why was military reconstruction problematic and possibly illegal? • Was military reconstruction successful? Why or why not? • No Women Voters • Why did the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments disappoint women? • Why was the Fourteenth amendment specially shocking? • What did Stanton and Anthony want added to the Fifteenth Amendment?

8. The Realities of Radical Reconstruction in the South • What did Lincoln and Johnson believe in relation to freedmen voting? • Why did white Southerners believe that Northern Republicans were hypocritical? • Once given the vote, what did Southern Black men do? • What new political roles were obtained by African American women? • How did African American men elected as delegates to state constitutional conventions hold greater political authority? • Who were “scalawags” and “carpetbaggers”? • What did the new radical regimes do well? • What were some issues with the new radical regimes? • The Ku Klux Klan • Why did some whites resort to savage measures? • What did members of the Ku Klux Klan do? • How did the KKK impact citizens in the South? • What were the Force Acts and were they effective? • How did white resistance impact African Americans?

9. Johnson Walks the Impeachment Plank • Why and How did Radicals attack Johnson? • What was the purpose of the Tenure of Office Act? • How did Johnson respond to the Tenure of Office Act and what was the outcome of this move? • A Not-Guilty Verdict for Johnson • Who lead the prosecution? • What was Johnson’s main argument against impeachment? • Who argued for the prosecution? • What was the outcome of the trial? • What factors shaped the outcome? • How did the nation respond to the outcome of the trial? • Why would impeachment have set a dangerous precedent?

10. The Purchase of Alaska • Why did Russia want to sell Alaska? • Why did Russia prefer the US to any other purchaser? • Why did the country consider the purchase of Alaska “Seward’s Folly”? • Why did the US buy Alaska? • The Heritage of Reconstruction • How did many white Southerners regard Reconstruction? • Why was reconstruction not more harsh? • What were the goals of the Republican party and how did this work out? • In what ways was the old South resurrected instead of reconstructed?