APUSH American Pageant Chapter 22 Review

Summary

This video script explores the period of Reconstruction in American history after the Civil War. It covers the challenges of reintegrating Southern states, rebuilding the South, and ensuring the rights of newly freed African Americans. Key topics include the Freedmen's Bureau, the Black Codes, differing presidential approaches, and Congressional Reconstruction. The script highlights the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, the rise of African-American political power, the impact of the KKK, and the eventual decline of Reconstruction by the late 1870s. The video emphasizes the short-term successes and long-term setbacks of Reconstruction, including the eventual disenfranchisement of African Americans.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reconstruction faced major challenges, such as reintegrating Southern states, rebuilding the South, and integrating newly freed African Americans.
• 😀 The Freedmen's Bureau, established in March 1865, provided welfare, education, and basic healthcare to former slaves and poor whites in the South.
• 😀 Lincoln's 10% plan allowed Southern states to rejoin the Union if 10% of voters pledged loyalty, but it was considered too lenient by some Northerners.
• 😀 After Lincoln's assassination, President Andrew Johnson continued with a similar reconstruction approach but pardoned many Confederate leaders, angering Republicans.
• 😀 The Black Codes were established in the South to control freed African Americans, limiting their rights and forcing many into sharecropping, which resembled slavery.
• 😀 Congress disagreed with Johnson's policies, leading to Congressional Reconstruction, with stricter terms, including the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
• 😀 The 14th Amendment was passed to grant citizenship to all born in the U.S., including African Americans, and it set the stage for future civil rights advancements.
• 😀 The 15th Amendment was ratified, guaranteeing voting rights for men of all races, but women were excluded, leading to disappointment among women's rights groups.
• 😀 Radical Reconstruction saw African Americans gaining political power in the South, including elected positions, despite opposition from white supremacist groups like the KKK.
• 😀 Reconstruction ultimately ended in 1877 due to a combination of waning Northern interest, resistance in the South, and the Compromise of 1877, leaving many African Americans vulnerable to disenfranchisement and segregation.

Q & A

What were the primary challenges faced by the nation after the Civil War?

The key challenges included reintegrating the Southern states into the Union, rebuilding the South, protecting newly emancipated Black men and women, and determining which branch of government would control the reconstruction process.

What was the Freedmen's Bureau, and what were its key accomplishments?

The Freedmen's Bureau was a welfare agency created to assist former slaves and poor whites. Its major success was in education, creating around 3,000 schools and teaching over 200,000 African-Americans to read.

Why was the idea of '40 acres and a mule' significant, and what was its outcome?

'40 acres and a mule' represented a promise to give land to freed slaves to make them economically independent. However, this promise was largely unfulfilled, leaving many former slaves economically vulnerable.

How did President Lincoln's plan for Reconstruction differ from Congress's plan?

Lincoln’s plan was lenient, requiring only 10% of voters in Southern states to pledge allegiance to the Union. In contrast, Congress’s Wade-Davis Bill was stricter, demanding 50% of voters to take an oath of allegiance and excluding former Confederates from government roles.

What was Andrew Johnson's approach to Reconstruction, and how did it differ from Lincoln’s?

Andrew Johnson largely accepted Lincoln’s plan but added some modifications, such as disenfranchising former Confederate leaders and wealthy landowners. His leniency toward the South angered many Republicans in the North.

What were Black Codes, and how did they affect African Americans in the South?

Black Codes were laws that restricted the freedoms of African Americans, preventing them from owning land, voting, or serving on juries, and forcing them into labor contracts. These codes aimed to maintain a stable labor supply and recreate pre-emancipation race relations.

What led to Congress taking over Reconstruction from President Johnson?

Congress took over Reconstruction after Johnson’s policies allowed former Confederate leaders to regain power in the South, angering Northern Republicans. This led to a split between the President and Congress, culminating in Congressional Reconstruction.

What were the main provisions of the 14th and 15th Amendments?

The 14th Amendment granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born in the U.S., including African Americans. The 15th Amendment guaranteed the right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

How did the Reconstruction Act of 1867 impact the South?

The Reconstruction Act of 1867 divided the South into five military districts controlled by Union generals, ensuring that Reconstruction laws were followed. It also invalidated the previous 10% governments and required new state constitutions that included Black male suffrage.

What were the social and political impacts of Radical Reconstruction in the South?

Radical Reconstruction led to a temporary social and political revolution in the South, with African Americans voting, holding office, and participating in state governments. It also saw the rise of new political coalitions, including African-American voters, Northern Republicans, and Southern whites known as Scallywags.