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chapter 6 study guide for us history
How did Congress handle Reconstruction?
Congress handled Reconstruction through a series of laws and amendments that aimed to rebuild the South and secure rights for freed slaves. They passed the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, which divided the South into military districts and required states to draft new constitutions guaranteeing African American men the right to vote. Additionally, Congress facilitated the passage of the 14th Amendment, granting citizenship and equal protection under the law, and the 15th Amendment, which aimed to protect the voting rights of African American men. However, Reconstruction faced significant opposition, leading to the eventual withdrawal of federal troops in 1877 and the rise of Jim Crow laws that disenfranchised Black Americans.
How did the Presidents want to handle Reconstruction?
Presidential approaches to Reconstruction varied significantly following the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln advocated for a lenient plan to reunite the nation quickly, proposing the Ten Percent Plan, which allowed Southern states to rejoin the Union if 10% of their voters swore allegiance to the Union. After Lincoln's assassination, Andrew Johnson continued with a similarly lenient approach, granting pardons to many former Confederate leaders and allowing Southern states to implement their own Reconstruction plans without stringent requirements. However, both Lincoln's and Johnson's plans faced criticism for being too forgiving, leading to conflict with Congress, which pushed for a more stringent, inclusive approach that sought to protect the rights of freedmen and impose stricter conditions on the Southern states.
How did whites and blacks see post-Civil War America differently?
Post-Civil War America was viewed very differently by whites and blacks. Many white Americans, especially in the South, sought to maintain the status quo and viewed Reconstruction efforts as an imposition on their way of life. They often aimed to re-establish white supremacy through systems like Black Codes and later Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation and disenfranchisement.
In contrast, black Americans saw this period as an opportunity for freedom, equality, and civil rights. They hoped for genuine change and the ability to participate fully in society, including voting rights and educational opportunities. Many blacks fought for their rights through activism and sought to build a new identity and community in a society that had long oppressed them.
Civil War Amendments, how and why
The Civil War Amendments, consisting of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, were crucial in shaping post-Civil War America.
13th Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It aimed to eradicate the institution of slavery from the United States.
14th Amendment (1868): Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves, and provided equal protection under the law. It was designed to secure the rights of newly freed African Americans and prevent states from infringing upon their rights.
15th Amendment (1870): Prohibited the federal and state governments from denying citizens the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. It aimed to ensure that African American men could participate in the democratic process.
These amendments were essential to the Reconstruction efforts to establish civil rights for freed slaves and aimed to provide legal foundations for future civil rights progress.
Vanderbilt - Good and Bad
Good: Contributed to the expansion of the American railroad system and innovated transportation methods.
Bad: Engaged in ruthless business practices; monopolized industries, leading to unfair competition.
What Can Be Learned: Importance of ethical standards in business; balancing ambition with social responsibility.
How Did Society Benefit: Improved transportation networks, facilitating commerce and travel.
Rockefeller - Good and Bad
Good: Pioneered the oil industry; introduced practices that improved efficiency and reduced costs.
Bad: Established monopolistic practices; undermined competitors through ruthless strategies.
What Can Be Learned: The necessity of regulations to prevent monopolies and protect fair competition.
How Did Society Benefit: Lower oil prices and improved availability of petroleum products for consumers.
Carnegie - Good and Bad
Good: Revolutionized steel production; supported educational and cultural institutions through philanthropy.
Bad: Utilized harsh labor practices and poor working conditions in his factories.
What Can Be Learned: The impact of industrialization on labor and the need to advocate for workers' rights.
How Did Society Benefit: Contributed to infrastructure development using steel; philanthropy benefited education and libraries.
Morgan - Good and Bad
Good: Played a significant role in the reorganization of troubled industries and centralized financial control.
Bad: Imposed excessive control over various industries; his actions sometimes led to economic instability.
What Can Be Learned: The critical role of finance in industry and the potential consequences of financial monopolization.
How Did Society Benefit: Stabilized and strengthened certain industries, leading to economic growth.
Annie Oakley (1860-1926):
A pioneering markswoman and performer in the American West.
Gained fame as a sharpshooter in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.
Known for her extraordinary shooting skills, she could shoot accurately at great distances and with remarkable speed.
Advocated for women's rights, emphasizing female empowerment through her expertise in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Her legacy continues to inspire women in sports and shooting disciplines.
Big Nose Kate (1849-1940):
Real name: Catherine Horony, she was a notable figure in the American West during the late 19th century.
Known as the companion of the infamous gunfighter Doc Holliday, she played a significant role in the Tombstone, Arizona, community.
Worked as a saloon girl and later became a well-known character in the Wild West culture.
Big Nose Kate's life was marked by her colorful personality and tumultuous relationships with various figures in the West, contributing to her lasting legend in American history.
General George Armstrong Custer (1839-1876):
A United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War.
Gained fame for his bold tactics and aggressive leadership style.
Known for leading his cavalry regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Best recognized for his last stand at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, where he and his troops were defeated by a coalition of Native American tribes, including the Lakota and Cheyenne.
Custer's actions and the battle have become emblematic of U.S. expansionism and its consequences for Indigenous peoples.
Wild Bill Hickok (1837-1876):
A legendary figure of the American Old West, known for his skills as a gunfighter, lawman, and showman.
Served as a lawman in several towns, including Abilene, Kansas, and Deadwood, South Dakota.
Gained fame for his quick draw and numerous gunfights, becoming a symbol of frontier justice.
Known for his distinctive appearance, including his iconic mustache and long coat.
Murdered in Deadwood while playing poker, famously holding a pair of aces and a pair of eights, which is now called the "Dead Man's Hand."
Geronimo (1829-1909):
A prominent leader of the Apache tribe, known for his resistance against Mexico and Texas for their encroachments on Apache lands.
Gained fame as a fierce warrior, leading numerous raids against both Mexican and American forces.
His name has become synonymous with bravery and resistance to oppression.
After a long campaign, he eventually surrendered in 1886, marking the end of the Apache Wars.
Spent the last years of his life as a prisoner of war, later appearing at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.
Geronimo's legacy remains influential in discussions of Native American rights and history.
Crazy Horse (c. 1840-1877):
A revered leader of the Oglala Lakota Sioux, known for his formidable resistance against U.S. government attempts to impose restrictions on Native American lands.
Gained fame for his role in the defeat of General Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, becoming a symbol of Indigenous resistance.
Advocated for the preservation of Native American culture and way of life, emphasizing unity among tribes in opposing U.S. expansion.
Crazy Horse's legacy is celebrated in Native American history, representing the struggle for sovereignty and rights.
