Word Wall 10 (Reconstruction)
Freedmen's Bureau
Definition: A bureau established by the Union to help improve the quality of life of former slaves and poor whites living in the South by providing goods and services such as legal assistance, education, medical care, food, clothes, etc. Significance: Johnson's act of pardoning the South and returning land, goods, wealth, etc. after they had met his new criteria threatened the Bureau's success because it turned things to the way they were before giving the same individuals power and success.
Radical Republicans
Definition: A group of people critical of Johnson's plan. They were abolitionists before the war, led by Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner. Significance:The Radical Republicans wanted Reconstruction to protect the rights of all people, and spread those rights and equality to African Americans. They took their ideas to Congress to help former slaves and give them equal rights. Johnson vetoed many of the laws, but Congress overrode the vetoes.
Congressional Reconstruction
Definition: Congressional Reconstruction was Congress's attempt at Reconstruction after they overtook Johnson. They consisted of the Reconstruction Acts Significance: Congress put forth a plan that allowed the South to reenter the nation. They didn't agree with Johnson's reconstruction plan and set up new guidelines.
Johnson's Impeachment
Definition: Johnson faced impeachment for not following Congress's laws because he felt their restriction on his power was unconstitutional. He did not get impeached, but was only safe by one vote. Significance: Johnson no longer opposed Congressional reconstruction, and Congress's powers of checks and balance were tested. Congress can check/balance the executive branch by impeaching the president.
Black Codes
Definition: Laws that were created to limit African-Americans' freedom by putting restrictions on their rights and opportunities. Significance:These codes spelled out the rights of African Americans (what they could and could not do), limited their upward mobility, and made sure they worked on plantations for farmers. They gave the same people power as before and oppressed African Americans.
Johnson's Reconstruction Plan
Definition: President Andrew Johnson's plan to rebuild the United States by readmitting Southern States once they had rewritten their state constitution, recreated their state governments, repealed secession, paid off war debts and ratified the 13th amendment. Significance: Andrew Johnson was trying to return the nation to the way it was (without slavery), but was not providing enough support for the South. The 13th amendment abolished slavery and although many urged Johnson to give former slaves the right to vote, Johnson did not.
Reconstruction Act of 1867
Definition: The guidelines that allowed the South to reenter the nation. Significance: 1.South divided into 5 districts controlled by the military 2.Males that were loyal to the Union, black and white, registered as voters 3.Confederate supporters not allowed to vote 4.Voters write new State Constitutions 5.Must give African Americans suffrage and ratify 14th Amendment 6.Congress limits Johnson's powers.
Reconstruction
Definition: The plan to rebuild the South after the Civil War and extend the ideas of liberty and equality to the slaves that had been freed during the war. Significance:This was an enormous undertaking, since parts of the South were completely destroyed. It was important to "heal" the nation's wounds and unify it once again.
