United States History Post-Civil War Reconstruction Era | Concordia University Wisconsin

University:
Concordia University Wisconsin
Course:
HIST 1215 | American Civilization II
Academic year:

2021
Views:

365

Pages:

2
Author:

maselarmwpa

Post-Civil War/ Reconstruction Era The Reconstruction Era was a time period following the Civil War when the Southern States were reorganized and reintegrated back into the Union. ● Marked by the military occupation of the South, attempts to remove a President, and major constitutional amendments. ● Withdrawal of federal troops from the South marked the end of Reconstruction in the U.S. Lincoln’s Plan for Reconstruction ○ Primary goal was to restore Southern representation in Congress. ○ The Union should be restored as quickly as possible. (Which could only happen if........) ■ The former Confederate States were treated as if they had never actually left the Union. ■ The idea of harsh punishments was rejected for the South. ■ The Southerners were forgiven and welcomed them back into the Union. Radical Republicans ● Group of Republicans that wanted harsh punishments for the South. ● Opposed Lincoln’s plan for Reconstruction, because the plan offered amnesty (official forgiveness) to nearly all Confederates who would swear allegiance to the U.S. ● Believed that Reconstruction should be used to force political and social reform in the Southern States. ● A major goal was to gain voting rights for the newly freed slaves. ● Did not want to readmit Southern States into the Union unless they ratified the 14th amendment. Solid South ● Nickname given to the former Confederate States after Reconstruction, because they consistently supported (voted for) the Democratic Party. Lincoln’s assassination: Lincoln’s death allowed the Radical Republicans to control Reconstruction policy. President Andrew Johnson: took over for Lincoln after his assassination. ● Supported Lincoln’s policy of Reconstruction which wanted the Southern States to reenter the nation as quickly as possible (wanted Southern States back in Congress). ● The Radical Republicans in Congress disagreed with Johnson about how to handle Reconstruction, which led to the impeachment of Johnson. Johnson was officially impeached because he fired the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, without Senate approval. (A violation of the Tenure of Office Act.) However, the impeachment failed, and Johnson remained in office.