Understanding the Civil War and Reconstruction Period

1. Hey! It’s me…Rosa Parks! I hear you need help understanding the events leading to the Civil War and the period after the War known as the Reconstruction Period. No problem! I think I can help.

2. To understand what caused the Civil War, begin by reminding yourself that this was a war fought on American soil between Americans living in the North and Americans living in the South. Then, ask yourself: What made these two groups so different that they decided to fight each other?

3. The roots of the conflict can go as far back as colonial times. Differences in geography between the two regions resulted in the creation of two separate economies: one based on industry and manufacturing and the other on agriculture (now that’s a fancy word for growing things)

4. Although slavery is far from an acceptable form of labor today, it was in the 1700s. It was profitable for southern plantation (large farms) owners to purchase slaves for a small sum of money to work for 10 hour days for FREE! In the North, although slavery was present, indentured servants and wage laborers (people who don’t work for FREE) provided much of the work force in the factories.

5. Let’s fast forward – shall we? Well, I will anyway. At the Constitutional Convention, the issue of slavery was the so-called “elephant in the room.” While the word “slavery” does not appear in the Constitution, when determining representation, “other persons” (slaves) were considered 3/5 of a person. Know, I was never good at math, but how is that possible? ?

6. Taking perhaps Thomas Jefferson’s words seriously – the idea that “all men are created equal,” northern states started to end slavery in their states. The South kept it intact. Slavery was more than a economic necessity it became a part of their social fabric – children in the South grew up believing that slavery was a “natural” state of being – equating “blackness” with inferiority. Go Vermont – abolishing slavery in 1777!!

7. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the U.S. and gave way to the “market revolution” – increasing the demand for slaves and land. You see, many Americans believed that the U.S. was “destined” to extend its borders to the Pacific. This is where the Mexican-American War comes into the picture.

8. A U.S. victory and the so-called “Mexican Cession” (fancy phrase for the land we acquired from Mexico), reignited the “slave issue:” would slavery be allowed in these new territories? This debate and the growing abolitionist movement made slavery the most divisive issue of the 1850s.

9. And when it was time to vote for a new President in 1860, everyone was voting based on the candidate’s position on slavery. I man from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln won the election. Despite promising not to touch the institution of slavery, seven states from the South peaced out and formed their own club called the Confederacy.

10. After Lincoln tried to re-supply a U.S. fort in South Carolina (supposedly now Confederate territory), the new “nation” attacked – starting the CIVIL WAR and causing four other states to secede.

11. Fast forward four years. The War is over. The Confederacy lost and with the passing of the 13th Amendment, slavery is official abolished!!!! So what now? Well, the nation needed to “reconstruct” or rebuild naturally. I mean there was a war for crying out loud.

12. What would happen to all those now ex-slaves? Where would they go? What would they do? Are they now citizens? What about those ex-Confederates? Should they be forgiven or punished for treason? So many questions. I am so glad it wasn’t my responsible to answer them. ?

13. Let me show you a quick power-point that my buddy Greg made. I think it gives a nice overview of some of the things that went down during Reconstruction. Take it away Greg!

14. Most Pressing Question #1 Should southerners be pardoned (forgiven) or punished for treason (violation of allegiance toward one's country)?

15. Do you think she still loves me? What do you think Lincoln will do with the ex-Confederates? ON

16. At first…before Lincoln was killed, he believed that…. • 10% of southerners in each state must swear an oath of allegiance and abolish slavery before est. a new state government • -Former confederate generals and officials could not vote or hold office • -South divided into military districts under Union army control

17. In the end… • Andrew Johnson (President • after Lincoln was killed) offered a • pardon to nearly all white • southerners who took an • oath • Amnesty Act (1872)– • restored the right to vote • to nearly all white • southerners • ex-Confederates • reclaimed control of the • South

18. Most Pressing Question #2 What will happen to former slaves? What will the U.S. government do to help former slaves transition from slavery to freedom?

19. At first… Freedmen’s Bureau – an agency created to protect the legal rights of former slaves and to assist with their education, jobs, health care, and landowning (40 acres and a mule)

20. Radical Republicans • Passed the 14th Amendment • (born in U.S. = citizenship) • -Passed the 15th Amendment • (can vote regardless of your race) • - In 1868 – Congress also attempted but failed to impeach President Andrew Johnson • Impeach = bring formal charges of wrongdoing against an elected official

21. In the end… • Southern states pass laws to control the lives of blacks (known as the black codes). • Sharecropping – former slaves work (for very small wages) on former master’s plantation • White supremacist groups (KKK) use fear and violence to keep blacks from voting and holding office.

22. Thank you Greg! That was lovely. So I guess while Reconstruction had some successes, in the end, the U.S. government failed to ensure that former slaves received the same political, economic and social freedom as their white counterparts. Bummer! What a missed opportunity for the U.S. to follow through.

23. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be until more than 50 years later, when a little old lady refused to move from her seat that the black freedom struggle would once again attract serious attention by the U.S. government. Thank you for listening to me! Hehehehe! Good luck on the exam!