What Happened After the Civil War? | Animated History of America

Summary

This video humorously explores the Reconstruction era in American history following the Civil War. It compares the struggle to rebuild the nation to a sibling breaking and rebuilding a Lego set, while addressing racism and failed political efforts. The script covers Abraham Lincoln’s 10% plan, Congress’s demand for a stricter 50% plan, and Lincoln’s assassination. It highlights Andrew Johnson’s lenient policies towards the South, the impeachment that followed, and Ulysses S. Grant’s eventual pullout of federal troops, leading to the decline of African American freedoms in the South. The tone is light and relatable, despite the serious subject matter.

Takeaways

• 🧱 Reconstruction began during the Civil War in 1861, as the Union foresaw the need to rebuild the South.
• 🧑‍🏫 Post-war, there was a need to reinstate loyalty in the South, rebuild institutions, and provide opportunities for freed slaves, but this didn't fully happen.
• 🔟 Lincoln proposed the '10 Percent Plan,' allowing states to rejoin the Union if 10% of voters took an oath of allegiance and accepted the 13th Amendment.
• 🗳️ Congress found Lincoln's plan too lenient, demanding 50% allegiance before allowing states to rejoin the Union.
• 🎭 Lincoln's assassination by John Wilkes Booth ended his plans for reconstruction.
• 🧑‍💼 Andrew Johnson, Lincoln's successor, continued a lenient reconstruction policy, allowing many Confederate leaders back into power, which angered Congress.
• 👨‍⚖️ Johnson was impeached for his leniency towards ex-Confederate leaders and his failure to fully support African American enfranchisement.
• 💪 Under military occupation, new Republican governments in the South were supported by black voters, but this provoked backlash from white Southerners, leading to terrorism.
• 🎩 Ulysses S. Grant's presidency saw the slow withdrawal of federal forces, leading to the rise of Democratic control and the restriction of African American freedoms.
• 🗣️ The summary of Reconstruction provided is a simplified version of the events, highlighting key struggles between North and South post-Civil War.

Q & A

What event does the speaker compare the Reconstruction of America to?

The speaker compares Reconstruction to a time when your little brother broke your Lego set, and you tried to put it back together while explaining that racism is bad, only for him to break it again.

When did talks about Reconstruction arguably begin?

Talks about Reconstruction arguably began as soon as the Civil War started in 1861.

What was President Lincoln's goal regarding the readmission of former Confederate states?

Lincoln's goal was to readmit former Confederate states as soon as possible once 10 percent of the white voters in each state took an oath of allegiance and agreed that the 13th Amendment was a good idea.

What was Congress's response to Lincoln's 10% plan?

Congress decided that the 10% plan was inadequate and wanted 50% of voters to take an oath of allegiance instead.

Who succeeded Lincoln after his assassination, and what approach did he take towards Reconstruction?

Andrew Johnson, Lincoln's vice president and a Southerner, took over in 1865 and continued Lincoln's policy of quickly readmitting states into the Union, even if they hadn't fully enfranchised African-Americans.

How did Congress react to Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction policies?

Johnson's policies were unpopular with the hardcore Republicans in Congress, leading to his impeachment.

What did the 14th Amendment accomplish during Reconstruction?

The 14th Amendment enfranchised black men.

What happened to Southern governments under military occupation?

New Republican governments, generally supported by black voters, were put into power, which made some white Southerners mad and led to acts of terrorism.

What challenges did President Ulysses S. Grant face during his presidency regarding the South?

During Grant's presidency, Republican governments in the South became increasingly corrupt and unstable, and he began pulling federal forces out of the South, leading to Democrats taking over and restricting the freedoms of African-Americans.

How does the speaker describe their summary of Reconstruction?

The speaker describes the summary as a gross oversimplification of the events.