Unit 5: Civil War and Reconstruction 1850-1877
Big Picture Questions:
To what extent was the Civil War inevitable?
Why did the North win the civil war?
To what extent did the Civil War and Reconstruction change
American economics, politics, and society?
Unit Quick Look:
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Although Union forces seemed to possess numerous advantages, Confederate
force won several key battles in the early years of the Civil War
After victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, Union forces turned the tide of the
war in their favor
A period of Reconstruction began in 1865 after the Civil War ended
The president and Congress clashed over Reconstruction policies, particularly in
regard to the status of former slaves
Reconstructed ended in 1877 when northern troops were pulled out of the South.
Readings: The American Pageant, Chapters 20,21, 22
The American Spirit, Selected readings
Essential Content Questions
A. When did the Civil War begin?
The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate troops attacked Union forces
at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. After President Lincoln called for
volunteers to put down the rebellion, four southern states seceded and joined the seven
already in the confederacy.
B. What was the Emancipation Proclamation?
After an important northern victory at Antietam, Maryland, Lincoln issued the
Emancipation Proclamation and freed all slaves living in states rebelling against the
United States. Lincoln used the Emancipation Proclamation to inspire the northern
population and to win support from European nations.
C. What were the northern advantages in the Civil War?
Although the South had better military leadership in the early years of the war and was
fighting a defensive war on their own soil, the North had advantages in population,
industrial resources, agricultural resources, naval resources, and financial resources.
D. What were the northern and southern strategies to win the Civil War?
The northern strategy at the beginning of the war included a blockade of the
Confederacy, an attempt to take control of the Mississippi River, and an attempt to
capture Richmond, Virginia. The southern strategy was based upon protecting five key
cities: Richmond, New Orleans, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and Atlanta.
E. Why did southerners think that “King Cotton” would win the war?
Southerners hoped the England’s need for southern cotton would lead to English support
of the Confederacy. However, cotton surpluses in Egypt and India accompanied with the
British need for northern wheat meant that England did not put its full support behind the
Confederacy
F. Why was the battle of Bull Run important?
After a clear southern victory in the battle of Bull Run, the first major battle of the war,
many southerners became overconfident while northerners began preparing for a long,
difficult conflict.
G. Why is the year 1863 considered the turning point of the Civil War?
Although the Confederacy won many great victories in the early years of the war, Union
forces turned the tide in 1863 with two important victories. At Vicksburg, the North took
control of the Mississippi River. At Gettysburg, the North demonstrated that the South
would never be able to successfully invade the North.
H. When did the Civil War end?
Confederate forces under the command of Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union forces
commanded by Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.
I. What were some long term results of the Civil War?
Due to the northern victory in the Civil War slavery was abolished, the supremacy of the
federal government was established, and northern industry began dominating the national
economy.
J. What political questions needed to be answered with the U.S. government’s
Reconstruction policy?
The U.S. government had to decide what conditions southern states should meet in order
to return to the Union, whether the president or Congress was most responsible for
creating a Reconstruction policy, and what rights should be granted to former slaves.
K. What were the Reconstruction policies of the Lincoln-Johnson administrations?
Lincoln’s Reconstruction policies were based on his belief that southern states had not
seceded. (He believed the southern states had been in a state of rebellion.) Lincoln also
believed the president was most responsible for determining Reconstruction policies
because he held the constitutional power to pardon. In addition, Lincoln thought
Reconstruction policies should be lenient on southerners in order to gain southern loyalty
to the nation. Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865, put a southerner, Andrew
Johnson, into the presidency. President Johnson generally tried to follow Lincoln’s
policies. Johnson decided to let southern states determine the legal status of freed slaves.
L. What were the Black Codes?
Black Codes were implemented by southern states immediately after the Civil War. The
Black Codes restricted the rights of African-Americans by denying them the right to bear
arms, serve on juries, sue whites, or testify against whites.
M. What were the Reconstruction policies of the Radical Republicans in Congress?
Treating the South as if it were conquered territory, Radical Republicans wanted to
punish the South and protect the legal rights of freed slaves. Due to the congressional
power to admit new states, Radical Republicans believed the U.S. Congress was most
responsible for determining Reconstruction policies.
N. Why was President Johnson impeached?
President Johnson and Congress faced a political stalemate that resulted in Johnson’s
impeachment on the grounds that he violated the Tenure of Office Act. The Senate failed
by one vote to convict Johnson and remove him from office.
O. What were the results of the Reconstruction policies of the Radical Republicans?
Radical Republican policies resulted in the return of all southern states to the Union by
1870. These states, however, were under “carpetbag” governments and enforced Radical
policies. Radical Republican policies increased sectional bitterness to an extent that
southern vigilante groups tried to “redeem” the South and deny power to carpetbaggers,
scalawags, and African Americans.
P. What effect did the election of 1876 have on Reconstruction policies?
In a deal resulting from the controversial election of 1876, Rutherford Hayes was sworn
in as president after he agreed to pull northern troops out of the South. The
Reconstruction Era ended in 1877 after President Hayes pulled U.S. troops out of the
South.
Q. What happened to African-Americans after U.S. troops were pulled out of the
South?
Although African-Americans made political gains during Reconstruction, they found
themselves at the mercy of southern state governments after U.S. troops were pulled out
of the South. For a time, race relations remained moderate because of the leadership of
Booker T. Washington and southern Bourbons. In the 1890s, however, southern states
began to deny African-Americans the right to vote and a rigid system of segregation was
established.
Important content:
Mexican Cession, 1848
Wilmot Proviso, 1850
Compromise of 1850
Harriet Beecher Stowe
John
Bell
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, 1852
Kansas-Nebraska Act,
1854
John Brown
antebellum
Republican Party created, 1854
Dred Scott v. Sandford,
1857
Lincoln-Douglas debates, 1858
John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry,
1859
Election of 1860
Southern secession, 18601861
“peculiar institution”
Underground
Railroad
Fugitive Slave Act
Bleeding
Kansas
Popular sovereignty
Freeport Doctrine
Confederate States of America
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham
Lincoln
Frederick
Douglas
Radical Republicans
Compromise of 1877
Scalawags
Harriet Tubman
Freemen
Jefferson
Davis
Carpetbaggers
Henry Clay
KKK
John C.
Fremont
Jim Crowism
Roger Taney
Stephen A.
Douglas
John Breckenridge