Reconstruction
Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution
The Handwritten Thirteenth Amendment
At the end of the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves who lived in rebellion Confederate states, but did not eliminate slavery everywhere. President Lincoln knew that the only way to abolish slavery throughout the United States involved an amendment to the Constitution. The Thirteenth Amendment was the first of three “Civil War Amendments” enacted during Reconstruction. Ratified in 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment stated, “neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude, expect as punishment for crime where of the party shall have duly convicted, shall exist within the United States.” Unfortunately, President Lincoln was not alive to witness the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment.
Plans for Reconstruction
Reconstruction is referred to as the period of time during which the United States began to rebuild after the Civil War. This meant readmitting the Confederate states back into the Federal Government. Reconstruction of the South after the Civil War took place between 1865 and 1877. Matters became complicated because different views existed on how Reconstruction should take place. President Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, and the Republican Party all had opinions on Reconstruction. In this interactivity, learn about various plans for Reconstruction, and the reaction by Congress. Click the player button to begin.
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Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution
The Handwritten Fourteenth Amendment
In 1866, Republicans joined forces with the Radical Republicans in an effort to override President Johnson’s vetoes of the Civil Rights and Freedmen’s Bureau acts. Republicans were angry that former Confederate leaders had been elected to Congress. Even though the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was vetoed, Congress eventually passed the act in April of 1866 with a majority vote.
In addition to overriding the veto of the Civil Rights Act, Congress drafted the Fourteenth Amendment. This Amendment made “all persons born or naturalized in the United States citizens of the country." This amendment made it so that no state could deprive people of life, liberty, or property without the due process of the law. President Johnson feared that this amendment treated former Confederate leaders too harshly. He advised all Southern states to reject the amendment. Because of Johnson’s actions, all Southern states except Tennessee rejected the Amendment and it would not be ratified until 1868.
Andrew Johnson
Most of Johnson’s presidency was spent in a struggle with Congress on Reconstruction. Johnson was the first president to be impeached for misconduct. View Andrew Johnson 60-Second Presidents from eMediaVASM to learn about the seventeenth president of the United States.
Election of 1866 and the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution
The Handwritten Fifteenth Amendment
The Democrats knew that Andrew Johnson would not win a re-election. They nominated governor of New York, Horatio Seymour to run against Republican Ulysses S. Grant. With the help of Southern African American voters, Grant won by a large margin.
Grant attempted to foster a peaceful reconciliation between the North and South. He felt that Confederate leaders should not be punished for their role in the Civil War, and opposed Radical Republicans that wanted those harsh repercussions. Grant also supported the pardons of former Confederate leaders while attempting to protect the civil rights of freedmen.
Quickly after Grant’s election, Radical Republicans introduced the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This amendment stated that no one can be prevented from voting because of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” The amendment was ratified in 1870.
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was a tremendous commander in the Union Army, but he was not as successful as a politician. Grant was able to defend the rights of freedmen, and even passed the Fifteenth Amendment giving black men the right to vote. View Ulysses S. Grant 60-Second Presidents from eMediaVASM to learn about the eighteenth president of the United States.
The End of Reconstruction
With differing views on Reconstruction, the South was not recovering quickly. President Grant struggled to enact policies that would truly help the Southern states. As support for the Republican Party faded, the Democrats took control. The final straw for Reconstruction was the Compromise of 1877. As soon as the Federal Government's control was removed from the Southern states, the Jim Crowe Era began and lasted until 1965. In this interactivity, learn how Reconstruction came to an end. Click the player button to begin.
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Economic Impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction
Even after Reconstruction ended, there were vast differences between the Northern and Southern states. The South was still in shambles, and poverty dominated most areas. The economy of the North and Midwest continued to grow with advances in industry. In this interactivity, learn about the economic differences between the North and South during the Reconstruction Era. Click the player button to begin.
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Reconstruction Review
Now that you have explored the impact of Reconstruction, complete this activity to check your knowledge. In this non-graded interactivity, follow the directions on each question slide. Click the player button to get started.