(New) US History 1 - Final

Lincoln’s visit to Richmond, Virginia

April 5, 1865, Lincoln visited Richmond and was warmly greeted by Black residents

Lincoln’s speech on Reconstruction

A few days after visiting Richmond, Lincoln urged compassion and open-mindedness toward the South

Lincoln’s Cabinet meeting before assassination

April 14, 1865, discussed post-war plans with Cabinet

Lincoln’s assassination

Shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater on April 14, died April 15, 1865

Jefferson Davis capture

May 1865, captured and jailed, released on bail in 1867 after military turned him over to civilian courts

Major Henry Wirtz

Punished by hanging for his role as commander of Andersonville military prison

Status of Southern states after the war

Question of readmission; Radical Republicans insisted strict conditions for reentry

Lincoln’s 10% Plan

10% of 1860 voters in a state take loyalty oath, set up republican state government recognizing freedmen’s rights

Wade-Davis Bill

Required majority loyalty oath, barred Confederates from voting or office; pocket vetoed by Lincoln

Andrew Johnson background

Military governor of Tennessee, supported by poor whites and yeomen farmers, opposed aristocrats, had contempt for blacks

Johnson’s Reconstruction plan

Excluded wealthy Confederates, assumed most southerners would take loyalty oath, allowed restoration of southern governments quickly

Radical Republicans goals

Immediate civil and political equality for blacks including voting rights and land

Moderate Republicans goals

Protect freedmen’s rights but not full political or social equality

Black Codes

Permitted some rights for blacks but restricted bearing arms, types of jobs, mobility, and labor contracts

Mississippi Black Codes

Required year-long labor contracts, penalized vagrancy, allowed hiring out “vagrants” to white employers

Congressional response to Black Codes

Formed joint committee on Reconstruction, passed Civil Rights Act of 1866 overriding Johnson’s veto

Freedmen’s Bureau

Established in 1865 to help freed slaves with food, education, legal aid; Johnson vetoed its extension but veto overridden

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Declared blacks citizens, guaranteed rights to testify, make contracts, hold property

14th Amendment

Passed 1866, granted citizenship and equal protection, reduced Southern representation if blacks denied vote

Johnson’s “Swing Around the Circle”

Campaign against 14th Amendment and Republicans, failed to rally public support

Reconstruction Acts of 1867

Divided South into 5 military districts, required new constitutions with black voting rights, disenfranchised ex-Confederates

Military role in Reconstruction

Military commanders had dictatorial powers to enforce civil rights and supervise elections

Resistance to Reconstruction

Southerners ignored laws, refused to vote, elected former Confederates

Congress overrides Johnson

Congress passed Reconstruction laws despite Johnson’s vetoes, increased control over army and government

Tenure of Office Act

Prohibited President from removing Senate-approved officials without Senate consent

Johnson’s impeachment

Removed Secretary of War Stanton without Senate approval; impeached but acquitted by one vote in Senate

Election of 1868

Ulysses S. Grant (Republican) won presidency with strong support from black voters; Democrats nominated Horatio Seymour

15th Amendment

Prohibited denying voting rights based on race, color, or previous servitude; ratified in 1870

Southern states’ ratification of 15th Amendment

Most Southern and some Northern states ratified, but battles fought in Northern states too

Lincoln’s post-war vision

Emphasized quick reconciliation, limited punishment for Confederates, and rights for freed slaves

Radical Republicans’ view of Reconstruction

More severe treatment of South, full civil and political rights for freedmen, including land redistribution

Johnson’s attitude toward blacks

Contemptuous, opposed racial equality, pardoned many aristocrats

Impact of Black Codes on freedmen

Kept many African Americans in conditions close to slavery through restrictive laws

Congressional control of Reconstruction

Attempted to limit Presidential power, took over Reconstruction policy from Johnson

Reconstruction Amendments

13th (abolish slavery), 14th (citizenship and equal protection), 15th (voting rights)

Military Reconstruction timeline

1867-1870, Southern states readmitted after meeting conditions, last state Georgia readmitted July 1870

Confederate leaders’ fate

Mostly released on bail or short jail terms; only Major Wirtz executed

Effect of Reconstruction on Southern politics

Black voting shifted political power; former Confederates tried to regain control

Southern “aristocrats”

Wealthy Confederates often pardoned by Johnson after personal appeals

Northern attitudes toward blacks

Few believed in full equality; many supported voting rights but rejected special protections

Radicals’ political challenge

Faced opposition in North and South; struggled with public opinion on black equality

Johnson’s miscalculations

Failed to realize Southern defiance would turn Northern opinion against him

Military districts in South

1. Virginia 2. North Carolina and South Carolina 3. Georgia, Alabama, and Florida 4. Mississippi and Arkansas 5. Texas and Louisiana

Role of military generals in Reconstruction

Enforced voting rights, maintained order, oversaw new governments

Johnson’s pardon policy

Excluded wealthy Confederates and officials but later pardoned many personally

Congressional elections of 1866

Republicans gained two-thirds majority, allowing override of presidential vetoes

Black political participation

Increased significantly during Reconstruction, essential to Republican victories

Violence during Reconstruction

White supremacist groups resisted black political participation and Reconstruction efforts

Freedmen’s education

One of the key goals of Reconstruction governments, promoted by Lincoln’s plan and Radical Republicans

Lincoln’s Cabinet in last days

Discussed post-war plans on April 14, 1865, day he was shot

Ford’s Theater

Location where Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth

Johnson’s views on states’ rights

Strong supporter, opposed federal interference in Southern affairs

Confederate debt repudiation

Required by 14th Amendment; South could not pay war debts

Johnson’s pardon exclusions

Confederates with property over $20,000 excluded initially from general pardon

Southern voter resistance

Some whites refused to vote in constitutional conventions to block Reconstruction measures

Constitutional conventions in South

Required to write new state constitutions guaranteeing black voting rights

Arkansas readmission

June 1868, first Southern state readmitted under Reconstruction Acts

Georgia readmission

Last Southern state readmitted July 1870 after ratifying 14th Amendment and new constitution

Importance of black vote in 1868

Election of Grant won by strong black voter support

Missouri Compromise relevance

Though earlier, reflected sectional tensions leading to Civil War and Reconstruction

Freedmen’s Bureau veto

Johnson vetoed expansion; Congress overrode veto to extend Freedmen’s Bureau authority

Johnson’s impeachment trial result

Acquitted by one vote; narrowly avoided removal from office

Political strength of Andrew Johnson

Based on support from poor whites and yeomen farmers of Tennessee

Johnson’s campaign failures

Swing Around the Circle speeches damaged his reputation and weakened opposition to Reconstruction laws

Radical leader Thaddeus Stevens

House leader demanding full political and social equality for freed slaves

Radical leader Charles Sumner

Senate leader advocating immediate and absolute equality for blacks

Radical leader Ben Wade

Senator who supported full civil rights but less social equality for blacks

Moderate Republicans

Focused on protecting freedmen from exploitation but not full social or political equality

Johnson’s contempt for blacks

Hindered his ability to lead Reconstruction effectively

Radical Republicans’ reaction to Black Codes

Alarmed Northerners and pushed Congress toward stricter Reconstruction laws

Southern reaction to 14th Amendment

Generally hostile, resisted granting blacks equal rights and voting power

Johnson’s pardons

Allowed many former Confederates to regain power, upsetting Radical Republicans

Johnson’s respect for states’ rights

Believed Reconstruction policy should be decided by Southern states, not Congress

Southern aristocrats

Wealthy landowners and former Confederates often restored to power under Johnson’s policies

Lincoln’s 10% Plan vs Wade-Davis Bill

Lincoln’s plan more lenient; Wade-Davis required majority loyalty oath and barred many Confederates

Southern state governments after war

Organized quickly under Johnson’s plan, many ratified 13th Amendment abolishing slavery

Congressional opposition to Johnson

Viewed his policies as too lenient and insufficient to protect freedmen

Johnson’s views on social equality

Did not support absolute social equality or racial integration

Radical Republicans’ legislative victories

Passed Civil Rights Act, Reconstruction Acts, 14th and 15th Amendments over Johnson’s opposition

Role of military in protecting freedmen

Military governors enforced civil rights and supervised elections

Southern resistance tactics

Included voter intimidation, refusal to ratify amendments, and violence

Johnson’s vetoes overridden

Congress had two-thirds majority to override presidential vetoes after 1866 elections

Civil War’s end effect on Reconstruction

Created urgent need to reintegrate South and protect newly freed slaves

Lincoln’s goals for Reconstruction

Reunify nation quickly with limited punishment and protection for freed slaves

Political parties during Reconstruction

Republicans dominated, Democrats often opposed Reconstruction and supported Southern whites

Johnson’s pardon power

Used to restore rights and property to many former Confederates

Impact of Reconstruction Amendments

Legally abolished slavery, granted citizenship, and protected voting rights for African Americans

Johnson’s impeachment significance

Marked first impeachment of a U.S. president, highlighted conflict between executive and Congress

Radical Republicans’ ultimate goal

Transform Southern society and ensure equality for freedmen

Military Reconstruction’s legacy

Set precedent for federal intervention to protect civil rights

Black codes’ legacy

Kept many freed slaves in conditions close to slavery, fueled Radical Reconstruction

Johnson’s political downfall

Alienated Republicans and many Northerners, failed to control Reconstruction

15th Amendment importance

Protected black voting rights nationally, key victory for Reconstruction efforts

Reconstruction challenges

Resistance from South, racial violence, political opposition, economic hardship

John Wilkes Booth

Murderer of Abraham Lincoln, Confederate sympathizer, shot Lincoln at Ford’s Theater

Fort Sumter

First battle of the Civil War, Confederate forces fired on Union fort in South Carolina, April 1861

Battle of Bull Run

First major battle of the Civil War, Confederate victory, showed war would be long and deadly

George B. McClellan

Union general, cautious, removed by Lincoln for hesitating to attack

Advantages of the North

Larger population, more industry, better transportation, stronger navy