13th amendment

Question 1

reasons for the 13th amendments introduction

Answer 1

• ending slavery was a moral issue for many Americans
• black soldiers played a key role in the unions army defeat of the confederacy
• many black soldiers escaped from their masters so restoring slavery was practically impossible
• Republican Party believed that slavery was a key cause of civil war, so continuing slavery would lead to more problems
• Lincoln believed that a constitutional amendment was the proper way to end slavery’s existence

Question 2

when did the confederate army surrender

Answer 2

9th April 1865

Question 3

when was Lincoln assassinated

Answer 3

14th April 1865

Question 4

what was the significance of Johnson

Answer 4

• unsuccessful presidential reconstruction
• firm believer of ‘state rights’
• content to see the re-establishment of southern white confederate elite + white supremacy
• unsuccessful opposition to radical reconstruction

Question 5

what were the main two issues that congress and Johnson clashed between

Answer 5

• continuation of freedmen’s bureau
• passage of 1866 civil rights bill

Question 6

why was there political uncertainty after the civil war

Answer 6

• collapse of confederacy stalled most political processes in south
• state and local government had to be organised
• bitter quarrels among the leaders of the dominant Republican Party concerning the proper basis for political reconstruction

Question 7

why was there economic chaos after the civil war

Answer 7

• bridges and railroads destroyed
• because plantation owners lost their former slaves and couldn’t replace them with agricultural equipment, business was at a standstill
• confederacy farm houses, barns, and mills had been burned
• towns looted and inhabitants were driven out

Question 8

why was there social confusion after the civil war

Answer 8

• war destroyed whole structure of southern society
• changing status of blacks caused serious social tensions
• aristocratic planters yielded to the growing influence of bankers, merchants and small farmers

Question 9

what were Johnsons believes

Answer 9

• black Americans weren’t equal to white Americans and so they shouldn’t vote
• conciliatory policies towards the south were the best way to ensure his re-election in 1866
• loyalty of the southern white needed to be restored as the south was to be part of the union again
• federal intervention in the political, economic and social systems of individual states was against state rights

Question 10

how would southern states be readmitted into the union under Johnsons reconstruction

Answer 10

any southern states that accepted the end of slavery and rejected the confederacy would be readmitted into the union

Question 11

what was reconstruction

Answer 11

the introduction and management of south being reincorporated into the union

Question 12

why were radical republicans disappointed with Johnsons reconstruction plans

Answer 12

Johnson moved to conciliate the traditional southern elite

Question 13

why, when and by who was the freedmen’s bureau introduced

Answer 13

• introduced by congress in 1865
• to help former black slaves and the poor white in the south

Question 14

what did the freedmen’s bureau provide

Answer 14

provided housing, medical aid, food and legal assistance

Question 15

how did the freedmen’s bureau create tensions

Answer 15

attempted to settle former slaves on confederate lands which were confiscated or abandoned during the civil war

Question 16

why was the freedmen’s bureau prevented from carrying out its programmes

Answer 16

due to a shortage of funds and personnel

Question 17

why did congress shut the bureau

Answer 17

it was under the pressure of southern whites

Question 18

what did the many former slaves who learned how to read and write in army schools do in summer 1865

Answer 18

organised mass meetings and petitions for civil equality

Question 19

what was the consequence of organised mass meetings and petitions for civil equality by black people in 1865

Answer 19

black demands and white resentment led to wide spread violence in south

Question 20

what was the consequence of ex-slaves attempting to leave plantations and set up their own farms

Answer 20

• tensions rose
• black people were assaulted and killed

Question 21

how was the economy transformed in the south after the civil war

Answer 21

pre-war southern economy depended heavily on labour but now plantation owners would have to pay workers

Question 22

why did most slaves have no chance but to remain trapped in slavery

Answer 22

• they lacked money or land
• 90% were illiterate

Question 23

why did many former slaves work as tenant farmers (sharecroppers) to the southern elite

Answer 23

many plantation owners and the freedmen’s bureau encouraged former slaves to return to plantations

Question 24

what did the republican congressmen believe

Answer 24

• they were moderates
• believed that the basic rights of former slaves should be protected
• didn’t want major social change in the south
• believed that confederate leaders should be barred from holding office

Question 25

examples of black codes

Answer 25

• black people not serving on jury
• black people couldn’t carry a gun
• black people couldn’t have no other occupation other than farming

Question 26

what were black codes

Answer 26

Black Codes restricted black people

Question 27

what was Johnsons response to the black codes

Answer 27

he decided to side with the democrats which caused clashes

Question 28

why was there a clash over the freedmen’s bureau

Answer 28

• bureau wanted to allocate acres of land that were confiscated or abandoned in the south to ex-slaves for a rental period up to 3 years, after which the freedmen had the option to buy the land
• Johnson ordered the return of the seized and abandoned to all previous owners who had been pardoned

Question 29

why was congress influenced to put forward the freedmen’s bureau bill

Answer 29

• reports of violence against ex-slaves in the south
• fears of black codes

Question 30

why did Johnson veto the freedmen’s bureau bill

Answer 30

• Johnson believed that the former black slaves would take care of themselves
• Johnson argued that everyone coming to America has to work their way up and therefore it would be offensive to offer help to ex-slaves
• 10th amendment would be violated

Question 31

what is the 10th amendment

Answer 31

state rights

Question 32

what was the civil rights bill 1866

Answer 32

citizens have full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings

Question 33

why did Johnson veto the civil rights bill 1866

Answer 33

• it intervenes with the southern economy that needed to adjust and federal interference would obstruct the process
• Johnson explains good and bad factors for freedom
• bill favours ex-slaves and makes them citizens while a foreign white man will be on probation for 5 years
• viewed the bill as a stride towards centralisation of power

Question 34

what did congress do to Johnson vetoing the civil rights bill 1866

Answer 34

Congress overturned Johnsons veto and the bill became a law

Question 35

what was the 14th amendment

Answer 35

made black Americans citizens

Question 36

what Supreme Court ruling did the 14th amendment nullify

Answer 36

Dred Scott v Sanford

Question 37

what was the most significant part of the 14th amendment

Answer 37

the equal protection clause - ‘no state shall… deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws’

Question 38

what did Johnson do to freedmen’s bureau renewal act

Answer 38

congress again passed the freedmen’s bureau bill which Johnson again vetoed but congress was able to override the veto

Question 39

what did the freedmen’s bureau act allow

Answer 39

• enforcement of civil rights
• reunite the families separated by slavery
• rent and repair schools and hospitals
• furnish basic food, clothing and shelter until recipients could provide for themselves