US History

U.S. History Study Guide

Chapter 14: Reconstruction, 1865-1877 This chapter will cover the Reconstruction era and the rebuilding of the South after the Civil War covering the presidential administrations of Lincoln, Johnson, Grant and ending with the election of Rutherford B. Hayes. 14.1 Reconstruction More Americans died in the Civil War than in any other war before or after. The war was devastating to the South, one in twenty white men were killed or wounded, and the land completely savaged and scorched. After the Union victory, the nation faced the tedious task of rebuilding the South's infrastructure, economy, and handling the social dilemma of the newly freed slaves. Lincoln would have the best plan and it would involve not overly punishing the South as well as brining equality to the newly freed male slaves. After he was assassinated, his plans were altered, which set off a chain of events that would lead to segregation, discrimination, and racism up until the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s. Andrew Johnson, the Vice President, would take over for Lincoln and impose his will neglecting Lincoln's plan, he would later be impeached. After Johnson, the hero of the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant, would serve two terms plagued with corruption. The Reconstruction era would end with the election of Rutherford B. Hayes and his compromise with the Southern Democrats, forfeiting the Union's grip on the South and handing the African-Americans in the hands of a bitter resentful South for redemption. 14.2 Reconstruction under Lincoln Administration Many of the Radical Republicans (Republicans who wanted immediate Civil Rights for freed slaves) in Congress wanted to punish the Confederate states, Lincoln proposed a more forgiving plan for Reconstruction. In December 1863, before the war had ended, Lincoln issued the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, also known as the Ten Percent Plan. 14.3 The Ten Percent Plan This offered a pardon to any former Confederates who would take an oath to support the Constitution. This pardon was not extended to officers in the Confederate armed forces, above certain ranks, or to those who had resigned Union government posts to aid in the Confederacy. When one-tenth of a state’s voting population had taken the oath of loyalty to the Union and established a new government, Lincoln would recognize that state government back into the United States. Significance • Lincoln’s plan for Reconstruction allowed a state to reenter the Union when ten percent of its voters pledged allegiance to the Union.

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