Civil War

Reconstruction
Presented by

Ms. Castro
 Why it's important to
study it?
1. Understanding the Causes of Conflict – The Civil War was

1 rooted in issues like slavery, states’ rights, and economic

differences. Studying it helps us understand how unresolved
tensions can lead to war.

2
Impact on Civil Rights – The war led to the abolition of slavery
through the 13th Amendment and set the stage for future civil
rights movements.

3
. Shaping Modern United States of America – The war
transformed the U.S. politically, economically, and socially,
reinforcing federal authority and redefining citizenship.

4
Military and Technological Advancements – The war introduced
new strategies, weapons, and medical practices that influenced
future conflicts
Lessons on Division and Unity – Understanding the war helps

5 us recognize the dangers of national division and the importance of

working toward unity and justice
 introduct
ion
The Reconstruction era was the period after the
American Civil War from 1865 to 1877, during which
the United States :
• Dealt with the challenges of reintegrating into the
Union the states that had seceded
• Determining the legal status of African Americans.
In the middle of the
Civil war
The national debate over
Reconstruction began during the
Civil War.

Remember that Lincoln was part

of the Wig party against the
Democratic. I 1854 joined the
Republican Party.
 Lincoln'S
He reunite all the states and rebuild the country

1 2
Plan
In December 1863, Pres. Abraham
Lincoln announced the first
Pardon all Southerners who swear
allegiance to the Union, except
comprehensive program for Confederate leaders and those
Reconstruction, the Ten Percent Plan. accused of crimes against
prisoners of war

Under it, when one-tenth of a state’s

prewar voters took an oath of loyalty,
they could establish the new state.
 Laws and
Black Code
opposition
Blacks can only be farmers or servants

■ Must carry special pass to travel

Jim Crow Laws
To Prevent Blacks from
voting
Radical
Republicans
■Leader Thaddeus Stevens

Believed the States did secede

Required to pay Poll Tax
■ Can not vote
Pass reading test Wanted to punish the Southern States
■ Can not serve on jury for the rebellion
Enacted in 1865 and 1866, the Black Codes Grandfather Clause- if
were designed to replace the social controls your grand-daddy voted Congress had the constitutional power
previously exerted over Black Americans by in 1867 you don't need to to readmit the States not the President
slavery, which was ended through the pay or pass test
Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth
Started Segregation- Wanted all African Americans to be
Amendment to the Constitution.
separating people in given full citizenship and voting rights
Freedmen in the
North
■ Gave clothes, food, medical care to poor blacks whites

■ Open over 4,000 schools

■ Many hospitals

■ Several universities

■ Despite effort many blacks still poor and jobless

 Lincoln
Dies
■April 14, 1865

Lincoln is shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater

Lincoln Assassinate

■Lincoln dies next day

■ Andrew Johnson assumes presidency

Booth, a supporter of the Confederacy, initially planned to kidnap
Lincoln but ultimately decided to assassinate him when it became clear
that the Confederacy was facing defeat.
 After Lincoln
While U.S. Pres. Andrew Johnson attempted to return the Southern

Dies
states to essentially the condition they were in before the
American Civil War, Republicans in Congress passed laws and
amendments that affirmed the equality of all men before the law and
prohibited racial discrimination, which made African Americans full U.S.
citizens, and that forbade laws to prevent African Americans from voting.

Johnson pardoned all Southern whites except Confederate

leaders and wealthy planters (although most of these subsequently
received individual pardons), restoring their political rights and all
property except slaves. He also outlined how new state
governments would be created. Apart from the requirement that
they abolish slavery, repudiate secession, and abrogate the Confederate
 Andrew's
Johnson
Andrew Johnson, as Lincoln's successor, proposed a very lenient
policy toward the South. He pardoned most Southern whites,
appointed provisional governors and outlined steps for the
creation of new state governments. Johnson felt that each state
government could best decide how they wanted blacks to be
treated. Many in the North were infuriated that the South would be
returning their former Confederate leaders to power. They were
also alarmed by Southern adoption of Black Codes that sought to
maintain white supremacy. Recently freed blacks found the
postwar South very similar to the prewar South.
 Radical
Republicans
The Congressional elections of 1866 brought Radical Republicans to power.
They wanted to punish the South, and to prevent the ruling class from
continuing in power. They passed the Military Reconstruction Acts of 1867,
which divided the South into five military districts and outlined how the new
governments would be designed. Under federal bayonets, blacks, including
those who had recently been freed, received the right to vote, hold political
offices, and become judges and police chiefs. They held positions that
Radicals Respond
formerly belonged to Southern Democrats.
Pass Civil Rights Act 1866
■ Said Blacks have equal rights under the law and are citizens
Passed 14th Amendment
1. Said anyone born here is an American
2. States can not pass laws to take away rights
people
3. States had to give people due process
 Southern
Punishment
Southern Punishment

Military Reconstruction Act

of 37

■Divided south into 5

military controlled districts
 conclus
Constitutional amendments altered the nature of

ion
African-American rights. The Thirteenth Amendment
formally abolished slavery in all states and territories.
The Fourteenth Amendment prohibited states from
depriving any male citizen of equal protection under
the law, regardless of race. The Fifteenth Amendment
granted the right to vote to African-American males.
Ratification of these amendments became a
requirement for Southern states to be readmitted into
the Union. Although these measures were positive
steps toward racial equality, their enforcement
Reconstruction
Amendments
13th, 14th
and 15th
 Thirteenth
Section 1

Amendment
This section officially abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude in the
United States, making it illegal to hold anyone as a slave or force them to
work against their will. The only exception to this is if someone has been
convicted of a crime, in which case they could be forced to work as part of
their punishment (like prison labor). So, it effectively ended slavery as a legal
institution but allowed for the possibility of forced labor as a consequence of
criminal conviction.
Section 2
This section grants Congress the power to create laws to enforce the
amendment. This means Congress has the authority to pass legislation that
would ensure the abolition of slavery is upheld and protected, and to address
any issues related to forced labor or discrimination that might arise as a
result.
In short, the 13th Amendment made slavery illegal except as punishment for
a crime and gave Congress the power to enforce the law.