This unit of history mainly talks about the Reconstruction, a period of time after the Civil War when the states were trying to reunite the South with the North.There are mainly three plans for this to happen,each one created by a different part of the government. President Abraham Lincoln's plan was the first made, and consisted of pardoning most Southerners,except for former members of the Union government that joined the Confederacy during the Civil War.Next came the Radicals Republicans, they wanted to remake the Southern ways by making sure the Confederacy couldn't take control,making their party popular in the South, and give political equality to African Americans.Lastly came President Andrew Johnson's plan after President Lincoln's assassination,which was pardon to all but high-ranking Confederates and owners with property worth over $20,000, along with the state agreeing to the 13th Amendment. | U.S. Flag of 1865 |
When Republican's took control of Congress through General Grant's presidency many African Americans had more rights and freedoms.One of this rights was to be able to be involved in politics,which they did with great enthusiasm.They were also able to build their own churches and schools,many of this buildings were used for multiple purposes by African Americans.Though they made great progress to justice,African Americans still faced many dangers like the White League and the Ku Klux Klan.These groups still held a grudge,and acted on it by intimidating furiously and relentlessly the African Americans by attacking their buildings and them. | Goal Of Reconstruction |
It was when the Republican party started to abuse the power that things fell apart.General Grant,even though he won re-election,he had some terrible scandals following him,and the Panic of 1873 when economy plummeted didn't help his case.The Democratic party gained control back and the political power between Republicans and Democrats was balanced,and on 1877 President Hayes from the Republicans was chosen through a compromise called the COmpromise of 1877.Soon,the Reconstruction was back on track to failure,this time trying to raise the economy of a South without military in it.More industries began to flourish in the South,but agriculture was still the main area of jobs for people,which was bad because many of them got trapped in a financial loophole that never ended,and if it did,it ended in jail or forced labor.The U.S. still has ways to go to recover fully from the Civil War and Reconstruction failures.
Timeline of Reconstruction period
Review Questions(short Answers)
- What is the main subject of this unit?How does it relate to present life?
- What are some of the best or worst ideas you saw as used in plans for reconstruction?Some of our own ideas for reconstruction?
- How does this unit's subject affect United States History?Would it have been better off without reconstruction?
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