Post-Civil War Reconstruction: Economic & Political Impact

1. Post- Civil War: Reconstruction

2. What economic impact did the Civil War have on the South?

3. What economic impact did the Civil War have on the South? ANSWER! Devastated-- farms, railroads, and factories destroyed throughout the South. Cities of Richmond and Atlanta lay in ruins.

4. What long term economic impact did the Civil War have on the South?

5. What long term economic impact did the Civil War have on the South? ANSWER! South would remain a backward, agriculture-based economy and the poorest section of the nation for many decades

6. What economic impact did the Civil War have on the North and Midwest?

7. What economic impact did the Civil War have on the North and Midwest? ANSWER! Strong industrial economy, lay foundation for industrialization in the next half-century and emergence of U.S. as global economic power

8. What political impact did the Civil War have on the nation?

9. What political impact did the Civil War have on the nation? ANSWER! Test of federalism, federal government maintains supremacy Abraham Lincoln’s view that the U.S. was one nation indivisible prevailed

10. What social impact did the Civil War have on the nation?

11. What social impact did the Civil War have on the nation? ANSWER! 600,000 American die. Southerners were left embittered by their losses. Questions remained about how to put the nation back together, both emotionally and politically Dead at Antietam

12. What was Reconstruction?

13. What was Reconstruction? ANSWER! The period of rebuilding after the Civil War (1865-1877)

14. What were 5 things that needed to be “rebuilt” after the Civil War?

15. What were 5 things that needed to be “rebuilt” after the Civil War? ANSWER! Southern economy Status of newly freed slaves Southern infrastructure Southern states readmitted to union Trust between North and South

16. How did Abraham Lincoln’s believe the South should be treated after the Civil War?

17. How did Abraham Lincoln’s believe the South should be treated after the Civil War? ANSWER! No punishment, “with malice towards none, with charity for all…to bind up the nation’s wounds”

18. How did Lincoln view the political Reconstruction of the nation?

19. How did Lincoln view the political Reconstruction of the nation? ANSWER! Reconstruction was a matter of quickly restoring legitimate state governments that were loyal to the Union

20. Why did Lincoln view Reconstruction as a quick process?

21. Why did Lincoln view Reconstruction as a quick process? ANSWER! Secession was illegal, Confederate states had never really left the Union.

22. What happened to Lincoln just a few days after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox?

23. What happened to Lincoln just a few days after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox? ANSWER! Assassinated at Ford’s Theatre by John Wilkes Booth

24. Lincoln’s Funeral Procession

25. What impact did the assassination of Lincoln have on Reconstruction?

26. What impact did the assassination of Lincoln have on Reconstruction? ANSWER! Allowed the Radical Republicans to influence Reconstruction in a way more punitive towards the former Confederate states

27. How did the Radical Republicans believe the South should be treated after the Civil War?

28. How did the Radical Republicans believe the South should be treated after the Civil War? ANSWER! South should be punished, seceded states were not allowed back into the Union immediately and put under military occupation

29. In what military district was Virginia?

30. In what military district was Virginia? ANSWER! Military District 1

31. What did the Radical Republicans what to do for former slaves?

32. What did the Radical Republicans what to do for former slaves? ANSWER! Guarantee voting and other civil rights to African Americans (Radical social reform)

33. What were the 3 “Civil War Amendments” to the Constitution?

34. What were the 3 “Civil War Amendments” to the Constitution? ANSWER! 13th- Abolished slavery 14th- States prohibited from denying equal rights 15th- Voting rights guaranteed regardless of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude” (former slaves)

35. Who did the Radical Republicans clash with in their push for Civil Rights?

36. Who did the Radical Republicans clash with in their push for Civil Rights? ANSWER! President, Andrew Johnson (successor to Lincoln) (HINT: Look at the “freemen’s bureau”—to help former slaves--- kicked out by Johnson’s veto power)

37. What did the Radical Republicans do to President Andrew Johnson?

38. What did the Radical Republicans do to President Andrew Johnson? ANSWER! Attempted to impeach (formally charge him with misconduct). Failed by one vote to remove him from office.

39. What ended Reconstruction?

40. What ended Reconstruction? ANSWER! Extremely close election of 1876. Compromise of 1877– in return for the White House, Republicans agreed to end military occupation in the South

41. Why were the states of S.C., L.A., and FLA, in dispute in 1877?

42. Why were the states of S.C., L.A., and FLA, in dispute in 1877? ANSWER! Many votes for the Democratic candidate were forced through intimidation

43. What was the impact of the Compromise of 1877?

44. What was the impact of the Compromise of 1877? ANSWER! Reconstruction failed, former Confederates controlled the Democratic party and regained power in the South

45. What was the legacy of a failed Reconstruction?

46. What was the legacy of a failed Reconstruction? ANSWER! Jim Crow Era– long period in which African Americans in the South were denied the full rights of American citizenship