Reconstruction Unit

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Rutgers University *

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101

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Political Science

Date

Dec 6, 2023

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pdf

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2

Uploaded by ChancellorWren2942

Directions: Read pages 424-427, and 431-433, in your textbook American Pageant OR use classlinks on the WWP database to answer the following questions and prompts. 1. What were some of the hardships different groups of people in the South faced after the War? African Americans confronted racial discrimination, violence, and the implementation of Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation and denied them equal rights. They also experienced limited access to education, jobs, and land ownership. Former Confederate soldiers and white Southerners endured the loss of homes, livelihoods, and loved ones, while grappling with a devastated economy and adapting to a new social order. Southern farmers struggled to rebuild their livelihoods, as the war had left farmland destroyed and disrupted the labor system. Women, both white and African American, faced their own difficulties in redefining their roles in society, with many widows and female heads of households grappling with providing for their families amidst societal expectations. 2. Why did Lincoln eventually take the position that the seceded states had to be “readmitted” to the Union? Lincoln eventually took the position that the seceded states had to be "readmitted" to the Union because he believed in preserving the unity and integrity of the United States. He considered secession illegal and viewed the Southern states' actions as a rebellion against the federal government rather than a legitimate act of secession. Lincoln's goal was to restore the Union and ensure that the seceded states would be brought back into the fold, adhering to the principles of the Constitution and maintaining the nation's territorial integrity. 3. Andrew Johnson was able to put into place his reconstruction plan for the first eight months of his term. Explain this success compared with his later difficulty. Andrew Johnson's initial success in implementing his reconstruction plan during the first eight months of his term can be attributed to his alignment with Lincoln's moderate approach and the sympathy he received following Lincoln's assassination. However, Johnson's later difficulty arose when he clashed with the Radical Republicans in Congress over his lenient policies towards the Southern states and his resistance to fundamental reforms. This led to political conflict, culminating in his impeachment by the House of Representatives and subsequent acquittal by a narrow margin in the Senate. 4. How did the Radical Reconstruction plan differ from the Presidential Reconstruction plans?
The Radical Reconstruction plan differed from the Presidential Reconstruction plans in its approach to addressing the post-war South. While the Presidential Reconstruction plans, particularly those of Andrew Johnson, aimed for a more lenient and quick restoration of the seceded states, the Radical Reconstruction plan pursued a more stringent and transformative agenda. The Radical Republicans sought to implement stricter measures to protect the rights of freed African Americans and ensure their political participation. They advocated for the passage of civil rights legislation, the establishment of military districts in the South, and the enforcement of voting rights for African Americans through the 14th and 15th Amendments. The Radical Reconstruction plan was characterized by its emphasis on securing civil rights and political empowerment for formerly enslaved individuals, whereas the Presidential Reconstruction plans focused more on reconciliation and a rapid return to normalcy in the South. 5. Why did the Congress impose articles of impeachment for President Johnson? Congress imposed articles of impeachment for President Johnson primarily due to his clashes with the Radical Republicans and his violation of the Tenure of Office Act. Johnson's resistance to the Radical Reconstruction agenda and his removal of Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of War, without the Senate's approval led to his impeachment. The act of dismissing Stanton was seen as a direct violation of the newly enacted law, which aimed to limit the president's power to remove certain officeholders without Senate consent. These actions, combined with his broader conflicts with Congress and his attempts to obstruct Reconstruction measures, resulted in the articles of impeachment being brought against him.
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