Civil War and Reconstruction Exam Notes

Military vs. Civilian Leadership

• Davis Company favored a military guy.
• Important to understand the differences between military and civilian leadership.

Early War Advantages

• At the beginning of the Civil War, the South had better generals.
• In first battles, the North lost most of early battles.
• The South was winning early, leading to frustration in the North and high casualties.

Reasons for Southern Success

• The South was defending their territory.
• The South was committed to preserving slavery.

Turning Points: Vicksburg and Gettysburg

• Vicksburg and Gettysburg were turning points where the North won.
• Ulysses S. Grant became a prominent figure after Vicksburg.

Total War

• The North did not execute Southerners.
• Ulysses S. Grant is associated with total war.
• Railroads played a crucial role in the war.

Railroads (Choo-Choos)

• Railroads (referred to as "choo-choos") were important in Chapters 2 and 3.
• Railroads facilitated faster movement of goods and people.

Impact on Civil Liberties

• Both North and South restricted civil liberties during the Civil War.
• Ex parte Milligan is example in the North where civil liberties were restricted.

Emancipation Proclamation

• The Emancipation Proclamation is a significant topic.
• It only applied to slaves in rebel-held states, not all Southern slaves.
• The proclamation aimed to change the focus of the war and prevent foreign intervention.

Reconstruction Plans

• Lincoln advocated for a lenient approach to bring the South back, abolish slavery, and restore the Union.

Radical Republicans and Wade-Davis Bill

• Radical Republicans and the Wade-Davis Bill sought to punish the South.
• Lincoln vetoed the Wade-Davis Bill.

Thirteenth Amendment

• Lincoln secured the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment during the Civil War.

Andrew Johnson's Presidency

• Andrew Johnson, a Southerner, became president after Lincoln's death.

Presidential Reconstruction (Johnson)

• Johnson favored a Presidential Reconstruction approach.
• He aimed to bring the South back, punish major slave owners, allow continued white control, and restore normalcy without slavery.

Congressional Reconstruction (Radical Republicans)

• Radical Republicans opposed Johnson's approach, advocating for Congressional Reconstruction.
• Johnson allowed black codes and pardoned many Confederates, leading to conflict with the Radical Republicans.

Congressional Overrides of Johnson's Vetoes

• The Radical Republicans often overrode Johnson's vetoes, including the Freedmen's Act and Civil Rights Act.
• They maintained the presence of the army in the South.
• Johnson was overridden 15 times, more than any other president.

Long-Term Outcome of Reconstruction

• Radical Reconstruction eventually ended, leading to a white-dominated society in the South.

Election of 1868

• Grant won the election of 1868.
• The Radical Republicans supported Grant.

Election of 1876 and Compromise of 1877

• The Election of 1876 is significant due to the Compromise of 1877.