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Reconstruction
By USHistory.org
2016

This text discusses Reconstruction, or the period of rebuilding following the Civil War. The Civil
War lasted from 1861 to 1865 and was fought between the northern states, known as the Union,
and rebellious southern states, known as the Confederacy. The Union won the war and had to
decide how to bring the country back together again, leading to the controversial Reconstruction
Era.

As you read, identify the goals of the Radical Republicans, President Andrew Johnson, and
Southern Democrats during the Reconstruction era.

[1] After the Civil War ended in 1865, The United

States needed to rebuild, particularly in the
devastated1 southern states. The period
following the Civil War in which this rebuilding
took place is referred to as Reconstruction. It
lasted from 1865 to 1877. It was a time of
great pain and endless questions. On what
terms would the Confederacy of southern
states be allowed back into the Union? Who
would establish those terms: Congress or the
President? How would freed blacks be treated
in the South? Did the end of slavery mean that
black men would now enjoy the same status "A Visit from the Old Mistress" by Winslow
as white men? What was to be done with the Homer is in the public domain.
Confederate leaders, who were seen as
traitors2 by many in the North?

Founding the Reconstruction Era

The military conflict was over. But in many ways, Reconstruction was still a war. Many radical
Northerners3 wanted to punish the South. Many Southerners were desperate to preserve4 their

1. Devastate (verb) to destroy

2. Traitor (noun) someone who betrays their country
3. The radical Northerners aimed to create extreme changes in American politics. They sought

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 way of life.

The way of life for African-Americans, though, was bound to change. Congress approved three
amendments5 to the Constitution that changed African-American rights. The Thirteenth
Amendment formally abolished6 slavery in all states and territories. The Fourteenth
Amendment promised all men, including African-American men, equal protection under the
law. And finally, the Fifteenth Amendment gave African-American men the right to vote. For a
southern state to be readmitted to the Union, it had to ratify, or approve, these new
amendments. Although they were positive steps towards racial equality, they proved difficult to
enforce.

In the end, the president chose how to organize Reconstruction. After President Lincoln was
assassinated,7 his successor8 President Andrew Johnson decided not to punish the South
harshly. During the Civil War, Johnson remained loyal to the Union, even though his home state
of Tennessee was one of the states that seceded from the Union. As president, Johnson
provided pardons9 to most Confederate leaders, many of who returned to power. And while he
outlined steps to create new state governments, he allowed each state to decide how it would
treat its black citizens. Many southern states adopted Black Codes10 of law that sought to
maintain white power. The North was furious. Recently freed African-Americans found the
postwar South very similar to the prewar South.

[5] President Johnson faced strong opposition in Congress. In the 1866 Congressional Elections, a
group known as the Radical Republicans came to power. They wanted to punish the South and
take power from the long-ruling white Southern Democrats. The Radical Republicans passed
the Military Reconstruction Acts of 1867 to do so. They divided the South into five military
districts with new governments. They also forced southern whites to allow blacks to vote, hold
political office, and serve as judges or police chiefs. This power shift angered many Southerners.

President Johnson vetoed11 all of the Radical Republican initiatives,12 but Congress overrode

to promote racial equality and increase federal protection against states’ rights to
discriminate against African Americans. They formed the bulk of the “Radical Republicans.”
4. Preserve (verb) to keep (something) in its original state
5. Amendment (noun) an addition to a document
6. Abolish (verb) to put an end to
7. Assassinate (verb) to murder
8. Successor (noun) a person who has a job after someone else
9. Pardon (noun) an official act that forgives one for a crime and prevents their punishment
10. The Black Codes were a series of laws passed in 1865 and 1866 about former slaves that
kept them from voting or being citizens. The Black Codes also tried to force blacks to work
for low wages or in debt, similar to a slave-based system. The Civil Rights Act of 1866
abolished the Black Codes (although President Johnson vetoed the Act in 1865, Congress
overrode him in 1866).

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 him each time.13 It was the Radical Republicans who impeached14 President Johnson in 1868.15
The Senate, by a single vote, failed to convict him,16 but his power to create radical reform was
reduced.

The End of Reconstruction

Many Southern whites could not accept the idea that former slaves could not only vote, but also
hold office. Their anger created the white supremacist17 Ku Klux Klan.18 The Klan targeted
Republican leaders and blacks trying to exercise their new rights. The Klan would beat, lynch,19
or massacre their enemies. Targets of the attacks looked to the federal government for
protection, with few results. Entire armed militias20 of citizens formed in the South dedicated to
fighting Republican intervention21 and suppressing22 black voters.

When Ulysses S. Grant became president in 1868, he failed as well to oversee lasting reform.
Grant was a revered and decorated Union general during the Civil War, yet turned out to be less
effective as a politician. From 1869 to 1876, the Republican President Grant faced multiple
scandals and corruption that allowed Democrats to gain seats and power in Congress.

In the 1876 election, Democratic nominee Samuel J. Tilden won the popular vote23 over
Republican nominee Rutherford B. Hayes. However, Tilden was one vote short of the majority

11. Veto (verb) to vote to not approve something

12. Initiative (noun) a plan or program intended to solve a problem
13. Congress can override a presidential veto if two thirds of both Houses vote to approve the
law.
14. Impeach (verb) to charge with crime done while in office
15. Eight of the 11 articles of impeachment were focused on Johnson trying to dismiss Secretary
of War Edwin M. Stanton, who was chosen by Lincoln and often supported Congress over
Johnson, from office. In 1867, Congress enacted the Tenure of Office Act to protect Stanton
and other Senate-approved officials from removal and in 1868 Johnson dismissed him from
office specifically to challenge the new act.
16. The House of Representatives impeaches a president by charging him with crimes. The
Senate votes whether to convict the president of those crimes or not.
17. White Supremacy is the racist belief that whites are superior to all other races and deserve
more power as a result.
18. The Klu Klux Klan is a hate group that supports white power and acts through terrorism
against those it opposes.
19. Lynch (verb) to kill illegally as punishment for a supposed offence by hanging without trial
20. Militia (noun) a body of citizen soldiers
21. Intervention (noun) involvement in the affairs of others
22. Suppress (verb) to prohibit or restrain
23. The popular vote is the final tally of how every citizen votes in an election.

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 needed to win the Electoral College,24 and 20 electoral votes were disputed. A special electoral
commission, or official group, established in 1877 decided in favor of Hayes, but Democrats
resisted the decision. Finally, through informal meetings, Democrats and Republicans agreed to
the Compromise of 1877. The compromise stated that if Hayes were elected, he would
withdraw federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction. Democrats gave the
election to Hayes, knowing that the end of Reconstruction governments would allow them to
return to power in the South.

[10] In 1877, Union Troops withdrew from the South. Without their support, Reconstruction state
governments fell, Democrats retook positions in local governments, and southern whites
renewed their efforts to strip African-Americans of their rights.25 It would take another century
before the Civil Rights Movement made meaningful racial change in the South.

Reconstruction by USHistory.org is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license

24. The Electoral College is a small body of people who elect the president and vice president.
They usually pledge to vote in support of the popular vote of the people they represent.
However, the complex process by which the Electoral College votes can result in elections
that do not support the overall popular vote.
25. After Reconstruction, the South worked to block much of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendment. The South also created Jim Crow laws meant to keep blacks inferior to whites.

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 Text-Dependent Questions
Directions: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete
sentences.

1. What are TWO central ideas of this text?

A. Northerners and Southerners wanted to put the war quickly behind them
and return to peace.
B. President Johnson wanted to punish the South for its rebellion but
Congress limited his power to do so.
C. Many Northerners wanted to punish the Southerners for their treason and
defiance.
D. Reconstruction ended in a stalemate, with neither the Republicans nor
Democrats wielding significant power in the South.
E. President Johnson was impeached for continuously working against
Congress by not only vetoing their approved laws, but defying new
approved, legal legislation.
F. It was fortunate that that President Johnson was not removed from office
because it would have set a dangerous precedent for American politics.

2. PART A: Which statement best describes the relationship between the Ku Klux Klan
and Reconstruction? [RI.3]
A. The Klan emerged to fight for stronger protection of whites against
retaliating former slaves.
B. The Klan formed after Reconstruction ended in order to provide structure
to disorderly states.
C. The Klan formed to fight against Reconstruction policies that gave
citizenship and rights to freed blacks.
D. The Klan formed to create terror in the Reconstruction Era South as
punishment to the ruling Southern Democrats.

3. PART B: Which phrase from paragraph 7 best supports the answer to Part A?
A. "The Klan targeted Republican leaders and blacks trying to exercise their
new rights."
B. "The Klan would beat, lynch, or massacre their enemies."
C. "Targets of the attacks looked to the federal government for protection."
D. "Entire militias formed in the South dedicated to fighting Republican
intervention"

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4. How do the Black Codes help us understand the Radical Republicans?
A. Radical Republicans rose to power in order to enforce the Black Codes and
racial equality.
B. Radical Republicans rose to power to fight inequality found in
institutionalized discrimination such as slavery or the Black Codes.
C. Radical Republicans rose to power because they feared the Black Codes
would legalize slavery once again.
D. After the Black Codes were created, southern freed blacks voted Radical
Republicans into power to protect their voting rights.

5. What was the major cause of the end of Reconstruction? Provide evidence from the
text in your answer.

6. What was the likely reason that the author chose to include several rhetorical
questions in paragraph 1?

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 Discussion Questions
Directions: Brainstorm your answers to the following questions in the space provided. Be
prepared to share your original ideas in a class discussion.

1. Imagine you became the President after President Lincoln was assassinated. What
would have been your goals? How would your actions have been similar or different
to the actions chosen by President Johnson? Explain.

2. Why do you think Reconstruction failed to make lasting change towards racial
equality in the South? What elements of postwar racial inequality can we still see in
society today? How do we fight against these towards a more equal society for all?

3. Why do you think the North was so quick to punish the destroyed South after the
war? If they had succeeded in harsher punishment, do you think Reconstruction
would have been more effective?

4. Was the deal struck between the Republicans and Democrats in the Election of 1876
fair or unfair? Who got the better deal?