Reconstruction Skit
Characters:
President Lincoln
President Johnson
Radical Republican
Confederate Soldier
Freedman
Frederick Douglass
Cabinet Member
Robert E Lee
Narrator
Scene 1: The White House, Washington DC
Narrator: The scene opens in April 1865, President Lincoln and his cabinet member are discussing
Reconstruction.
Lincoln: Now that the Civil War is over, we must decide what to do about putting the nation back
together again.
Cabinet Member: I agree Mr. President. What do you think we should do?
Lincoln: I have always believed that preserving the Union is more important than punishing the
South. I believe we should forgive and forget. We will re-admit the southern states into the union as
they are, provided that a mere 10% of them swear allegiance to our country, and provided that they
ratify the 13th Amendment which bans slavery.
Cabinet Member: I agree Mr. President.
Lincoln: I am thinking of creating an amendment guaranteeing equal voting rights for African
Americans as well. What do you think?
Cabinet Member: A solution that Frederick Douglass will find most excellent.
Lincoln: I agree. Yes, I believe we must forgive and forget, that’s the only way this nation will be put
back together.
Scene 2: A Freedman’s House in the South (A Freedman is standing, talking to the audience)
Freedman: I am excited! Now that the Civil War is over, I have been granted my freedom, and I
hope that I will become a fully equal citizen.
(A Southerner runs up.)
Confederate Soldier: You’ll never be fully equal, we’ll make sure of it! Lincoln’s policies could never
protect you from us! We’re going to make laws to limit your rights! (Confederate Soldier runs away.)
Freedman: Oh dear. I hope that the President’s plan to put the country back together gives us
freedman equal rights!
Scene 3: The White House, Washington DC (Johnson, Cabinet Member, Frederick Douglass and a
Radical Republican are talking)
Narrator: In April 1865, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. The man who took his place after
assassination was a much weaker president. His name was Andrew Johnson. A group of
northerners who wanted to punish the South - called Radical Republicans, tried to make President
Johnson change Lincoln’s policies.
Johnson: I will do my best to make sure that our dear President Lincoln’s policies continue. What
do you think of that?
Cabinet Member: A good plan Mr. President.
Frederick Douglass: The only thing I might urge, Mr. President is that you give more equality to
freedmen. Perhaps create an Amendment that guarantees equal voting rights? And give them new
opportunities for equality. Perhaps an agency to support them.
Johnson: I will create a Freedmen’s Bureau to give aid to freedmen, and as for the amendment, I
will try to do that eventually, Douglass, but right now I just want to bring the south into the union.
Radical Republican: How dare you bring the south back into the Union so easily? Don’t you
remember how many people died in the Civil War? Our sons died in this war, and we don’t want the
south forgiven so easily. You had better stop being so nice to the South, or you’ll find yourself in big
trouble. The South needs to be PUNISHED!
Scene 4: The South (The Confederate soldier is talking to Robert E. Lee).
Robert E. Lee: I urge you to stop fighting and reconcile with the north. The war is over. It’s time to
move on.
Confederate Soldier: I can’t move on. I’m still so angry at the north!
Robert E. Lee: But look at how easily the north is going to forgive you and move on!
Confederate Soldier: (thinks for a moment, shakes his/her head “no”, and walks away)
Scene 5: The White House, Washington DC (President Johnson is talking to his cabinet member)
Johnson: I am getting so much pressure from the Radical Republicans, and I need to give equality.
What am I going to do?