RECONSTRUCTION [APUSH Review Unit 5 Topic 10] Period 5: 1844-1877

Summary

This video script from Heimler's History delves into the post-Civil War era, focusing on the Reconstruction period in U.S. history from 1865 to 1877. It outlines the contrasting approaches to Reconstruction, from Abraham Lincoln's lenient Ten-Percent Plan, which required only 10% of a Southern state's 1860 electorate to pledge loyalty to the Union and ratify the 13th Amendment, to the more punitive stance of the Radical Republicans. The script details the legislative battles, including the extension of the Freedman's Bureau, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and the Fourteenth Amendment, which aimed to secure citizenship and equal protection under the law for all. It also touches on the contentious issue of voting rights, leading to the Fifteenth Amendment and the division within the women's rights movement. The summary concludes with a nod to the tensions between President Andrew Johnson and Congress, culminating in his impeachment trial, and sets the stage for further discussion on the failure of Reconstruction in a subsequent video.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Reconstruction period aimed to reunite the North and South post-Civil War, focusing on the effects of government policy from 1865 to 1877.
• 🤔 The critical post-war question was whether the Confederacy should be treated leniently or as a conquered enemy, influencing the Reconstruction policies.
• 🌱 Abraham Lincoln favored a lenient approach, proposing the Ten-Percent Plan, which required 10% of a Southern state's 1860 electorate to pledge loyalty to the Union and ratify the 13th Amendment to rejoin.
• 🔫 Lincoln's assassination led to Andrew Johnson taking office, who attempted to continue Lincoln's plan but allowed the former slave-owning class to regain power, leading to the oppressive Black Codes.
• 🌐 The Radical Republicans in Congress opposed Johnson's leniency and sought to lead Reconstruction, passing laws to protect and extend rights for black people, including the Freedman’s Bureau and Civil Rights Act of 1866.
• ⚖️ Andrew Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 led to a Congressional override, highlighting the tension between the president and Congress.
• 🏛 The Fourteenth Amendment was proposed to solidify civil rights, granting citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.
• 🚫 The Reconstruction Acts of 1867 increased the requirements for Southern states to rejoin the Union, including ratification of the 14th Amendment and universal male suffrage.
• 👥 The women's rights movement was impacted by the Reconstruction amendments, particularly the Fifteenth Amendment, which did not extend voting rights to women, causing a split in the movement.
• 📉 The impeachment of Andrew Johnson, though unsuccessful, effectively ended his influence over Reconstruction policies due to the power struggle with Congress.
• 📉 The failure of Reconstruction is a topic for a subsequent video, emphasizing the complexity and challenges faced during this period of U.S. history.

Q & A

What was the main goal of the Reconstruction process after the Civil War?

The main goal of the Reconstruction process was to knit the two regions of the United States back together, following the end of the Civil War.

What was the fundamental question that needed to be answered after the Civil War?

The fundamental question was whether the Confederacy should be treated with leniency or as a conquered foe, which would determine the nature of the Reconstruction policies.

What was Abraham Lincoln's position on the treatment of the South post-Civil War?

Abraham Lincoln was of the lenient persuasion, believing the South never actually left the Union and that harsh treatment would only renew and exacerbate tensions.

What was the Ten-Percent Plan proposed by Abraham Lincoln for the South's return to the Union?

The Ten-Percent Plan required that 10% of the 1860 electorate in a Southern state pledged loyalty to the Union and that the state legislature ratified the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery.

How did Andrew Johnson's approach to Reconstruction differ from Lincoln's?

Andrew Johnson attempted to carry out Lincoln's plan but lacked Lincoln's magnanimity, allowing the former slave-owning class to assume power and recreate conditions similar to those before the war, including the passage of restrictive Black Codes.

What was the stance of the Radical Republicans on the South's treatment after the Civil War?

The Radical Republicans believed the South should be punished for causing damage and death through secession, and they wanted Reconstruction to be led by Congress rather than the president.

What were the two pieces of legislation passed by the Radical Republicans to protect the rights of black people in the South?

The two pieces of legislation were an extension of the Freedman’s Bureau and the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which protected the citizenship and equal legal protection of black people.

What was the significance of the Fourteenth Amendment in relation to Reconstruction?

The Fourteenth Amendment solidified the rights of citizenship and equal protection under the law for all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves.

What were the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, and how did they impact the South's reentry into the Union?

The Reconstruction Acts of 1867 divided the South into five military districts, enforced federal troop occupation, and increased the requirement for Southern states to rejoin the Union, including ratifying the 14th Amendment and adopting universal male voting rights.

What was the outcome of Andrew Johnson's impeachment trial?

Andrew Johnson survived the impeachment trial by one vote in the Senate, remaining in office but rendered powerless to direct future policies of Reconstruction.

How did the Fifteenth Amendment affect the women's rights movement during Reconstruction?

The Fifteenth Amendment granted voting rights to the newly freed black population but did not recognize the right of women to vote, causing a split in the women's rights movement and leading to the formation of two separate organizations: the National Woman Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage Association.