Essential Question:
5-1.1 How did the aims of Reconstruction vary?
5-1.1 How did the aims of Reconstruction vary?
Abraham Lincoln’s aim was to preserve the Union and end the Civil War as quickly as possible. He promised an easy Reconstruction in order to persuade southern states to surrender. Lincoln promised that if ten percent of the people of a state would pledge their allegiance to the United States of America and ratify the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery, they could form a new state government, elect representatives to Congress, and fully participate in the Union again.
Vice President Andrew Johnson became president, he continued Abraham Lincoln’s basic policy. However, as a Tennesseean from the white working class, Johnson’s aim seemed to be to humiliate the southern elite. He required southerners who owned large amounts of property to ask for a presidential pardon. Johnson wanted the elite southerners to acknowledge his power, but he granted pardons easily. While Congress was not in session, Johnson allowed southern states to form new state governments.
The goals of the United States Congress for Reconstruction were different from that of Southerners or President Johnson. They wanted to ensure that the Civil War had not been fought in vain and that the freed slaves would indeed be free. They refused to allow the former Confederates elected as senators and representatives by the southern states to take their seats in Congress.
The aim of southern African-Americans for Reconstruction were to reunite their families and communities; establish a network of churches and other autonomous institutions; stake a claim to equal citizenship, which included access to land and education; and carve out as much independence as possible in their working lives.
Standard: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Reconstruction and its impact on the United States.