Reconstruction Flashcards
(42 cards)
What is the main cause of the Civil War
slavery
List the 3 underlying causes of the Civil War
Sectionalism
State rights
Expansion
What is sectionalism?
Regional differences in the Northern states vs Southern States
north= more industrial
south= cotton king
Why did sectionalism help cause the Civil War?
North did not need slavery to survive economically/ was more in favor of ending
How did states’ rights help cause the Civil War?
Southern states wanted to assert their authority over the federal government
abolish federal laws they didn’t support
laws interfering with the South’s right to keep slaves and take them wherever they wished.
How did territorial expansion help cause the Civil War?
South wanted slavery in new western territories,
North was committed to keeping them open to white labor alone.
New states would flip the power of congress voting. Wanted to make sure they would join in on their sides to keep it balanced
What was the spark of the Civil War/ why?
Republican party (Northern) = gaining prominence
members strongly opposed to the westward expansion of slavery into new states
Not dependent on slavery for money
Had members who wanted to abolish slavery
1860: election of a Republican, Abraham Lincoln, as President
without a single Southern electoral vote
clear signal to the Southern states that they had lost all influence.
turned to the only alternative they believed was left to them: secession
“To protect States Rights…”
political decision that led directly to war
Lincolns stance on slavery?
top priority -preserve the Union, not free the slaves
Did not think was in his power
views and arguments changed as war dragged on( what are we fighting for?)
Why did Lincoln issue the emancipation proclamation?
NOT a declaration of citizenship or of equal rights for Blacks
Only works if slaves are recognized as “property” in confederate territories
In power of president to confiscate “supplies” of confederate
Advantages the North had during the war?
More fighting power
More factories/railroad s
Greater food production
Passed the national banking act
Advantages the South had during the war?
King Cotton” and profits
Good generals
Military tradition
Defending homeland
National bank act
During the civil war, the federal government set up a system of regulating banks better. Made banks safe for investors during war= money was flowing= taxes flowing = more money for fighting
13th amendment
ended slavery
Reconstruction
Period of rebuilding the United States post-Civil War.
3 sections needed to be rebuilt during reconstruction?
Government: who would be in charge? What should happen with southern leaders? Southern fighters?
Should the south be let back in?
Society: how should freed slaves be treated?
Can they unify now?
Economy: how is the south going to make money?
How should it be rebuilt?
Radical republicans
Republicans in congress, who wanted “radical” changes at the time, like full civil rights for freedmen.
Thaddeus stevens
Leader of the radical republicans
Wade-davis Bill
Radical republican’s reconstruction plan.
Wants to PUNISH the South for treason
Committed to FULL CIVIL RIGHTS FOR BLACK PEOPLE
When 50% of states population gives loyalty to union allowed back and must give suffrage to freedmen
Ten percent plan
Lincolns plan for reconstruction. Wanted rapid restoration of union
When 10% of the male voting population denounced secession, they were in! No questions asked!
Why did the Radical republicans dislike Lincoln’s plan?
Believed it was too lenient on southerns and did not give rights to freedmen
Why did Lincoln’s reconstruction plan not go into effect?
he was assassinated
Freedmen’s bureau
865 by Congress to help millions of former black slaves and poor whites in the South in the aftermath of the Civil War.
-The Freedmen’s Bureau was to provide food, shelter, clothing, and medical care, and land.
Problems:Understaffed /Politics /Racism
15th amendment
protected the right to vote for all men regardless of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”
14th amendment
made citizens of “all persons born or naturalized in the United States”
Also granted equal protection of the law
No state could deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law