Question 1

In the years immediately following emancipation, the Freed people

Accepted Answer

After emancipation, the Freed people considered securing jobs and land to be their primary goals. They wanted to establish themselves as independent and free citizens, and land ownership was especially important as a symbol of that independence.

Question 2

In trying to establish a policy for reconstruction of the South after the Civil War,

Accepted Answer

A conflict arose between Congress and the president about who had authority in the matter. Congress believed they had the power to determine how the South should be reconstructed, while President Johnson believed he had the sole authority to determine the process. This led to a clash between the two branches of government and eventually resulted in Congress passing their own plan, which Johnson vetoed but was later overridden by Congress.

Question 3

The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution

Accepted Answer

The Fourteenth Amendment, which granted citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to African Americans and slaves who had been emancipated after the American Civil War, became a central issue in the midterm elections. President Andrew Johnson, who opposed the amendment, campaigned against Republicans, while Democrats appealed to voters' prejudices, making it a divisive and controversial issue.

Question 4

In providing aid to the blacks after the Civil War, the Freedman's Bureau

Accepted Answer

The Freedman's Bureau had mixed success in providing aid to the blacks after the Civil War. While it was able to provide some basic services such as education and healthcare, it was also plagued by corruption and insufficient funding. Additionally, it often faced opposition from Southern whites who resented its presence and activities. Therefore, while it was not a total failure, it did not fully meet the needs of the newly freed slaves.

Question 5

At the end of the Reconstruction period, southern blacks in general

Accepted Answer

Southern blacks remained economically dependent on southern whites at the end of Reconstruction. Although Reconstruction legislation had provided some land ownership and educational opportunities for blacks, discrimination and violence kept the vast majority of southern blacks in poverty and without political power.

Question 6

In the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, Congress

Accepted Answer

The Reconstruction Acts of 1867 established military districts in the former Confederate states and sought to ensure voting rights and political participation for African Americans. This was done by dividing the southern states into five military districts, each under the control of a Union general, and requiring them to adopt new state constitutions that guaranteed black suffrage and ratify the 14th Amendment.

Question 7

The election of 1866 was critical in determining the outcome of Reconstruction because the

Accepted Answer

The election of 1866 saw the Republicans winning an overwhelming victory, giving them a majority in Congress and paving the way for the Reconstruction measures to be passed. This allowed for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the 14th Amendment, and other legislation that aimed to rebuild and reform the South after the Civil War.

Question 8

In the months immediately after the Civil War, the dominant emotion among southern whites was

Accepted Answer

Southern whites were afraid of what the future held after the end of slavery and the destruction of the Confederacy. They feared retaliation from newly freed slaves and the loss of their former way of life. This fear was compounded by the presence of Union troops in the region, who were seen as a reminder of southern defeat.

Question 9

At the end of the Civil War, emancipated blacks

Accepted Answer

Emancipated blacks often changed their manners toward whites to demonstrate their freedom, such as refusing to bow or address them by titles like "master" or "missus." However, they did not receive ownership of 40 acres of land and did not immediately achieve full equality with southern whites. While some black families did remain on the plantations where they had been slaves, many others migrated to cities or other parts of the country in search of work and new opportunities.

Question 10

In 1865, at the end of the Civil War, the southern states

Accepted Answer

The southern states had been devastated by the Civil War, with their economy and infrastructure in ruins. The northern states, on the other hand, had experienced economic growth and prosperity during the war due to increased industrial production. Therefore, the southern states contrasted starkly with the economic prosperity of the northern states.

Question 11

Radical Republicans created their own plan for Reconstruction, including

Accepted Answer

The Radical Republicans aimed to assist Freed people in transitioning to full freedom, including civil rights and suffrage, as part of their Reconstruction plan.

Question 12

In 1865, at the end of the Civil War, the Democratic Party

Accepted Answer

The Democratic Party was in shambles organizationally at the end of the Civil War, as many Democrats had either joined the Confederacy or supported it. The party struggled to regain its footing in the years following the war.

Question 13

During the Reconstruction period, northerners

Accepted Answer

During the Reconstruction period, many Northerners were hesitant about the idea of granting African Americans the right to vote. This was a time of significant social and political change, and while there was support for certain rights for African Americans, the idea of full political equality, including voting rights, was not universally or enthusiastically supported by all Northerners.

Question 14

As the Allstons began to reestablish their lives after the Civil War, they found that

Accepted Answer

The Allstons would have to establish new relationships with their former slaves as they were no longer in a position of ownership over them. The end of slavery meant a fundamental shift in power dynamics and relationships in southern society. It would not be simple to reestablish the old patterns of society as the abolition of slavery brought about significant changes. Option A is incorrect as not all former slaves ran away. Option B is incorrect as the blacks did not take control of southern society. Option C is incorrect as reestablishing the old patterns of society was not a straightforward process.

Question 15

During the Reconstruction Era, the "Black Codes"

Accepted Answer

The "Black Codes" were a series of laws passed by southern states in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War. These codes aimed to restrict the economic opportunities of Freed people by imposing harsh penalties on them for minor offenses like loitering or vagrancy. The codes also sought to maintain the racial hierarchy of the South by limiting the rights and freedoms of Black people. Although the Black Codes did not reestablish slavery, they did contribute to the creation of a system of forced labor known as "convict leasing."

Question 16

Chief among those who wanted to provide economic support for the Freed people after the Civil War was

Accepted Answer

Thaddeus Stevens was a prominent Radical Republican who advocated for economic support for Freed people after the Civil War. He played a key role in passing the Freedmen's Bureau Bill and the Civil Rights Act of 1866, both of which were intended to provide economic opportunities and protections for Freed people. While Lincoln and Grant also supported the Freedmen's Bureau, Johnson was widely criticized for opposing its extension and for his lack of support for Freed people.

Question 17

In an overall analysis, Congressional Reconstruction for the Freed people

Accepted Answer

Congressional Reconstruction provided little economic security for freed people. While it did grant them political rights and protection under the law, it did not provide significant economic opportunities or assistance in rebuilding their lives after slavery. Additionally, it faced strong opposition from southern whites who resented the changes brought about by Reconstruction.

Question 18

During the Reconstruction period, southern tenant farmers

Accepted Answer

Southern tenant farmers, who rented land from landowners, often struggled to make ends meet and frequently fell into debt due to low crop yields and high rent expenses. It was not easy for them to gain ownership of their own land during Reconstruction. They typically did not have the resources or capital to unite and confiscate land from landowners. While they may have grown some of their own food, they often relied on selling crops to earn money, which was not always easy to do.

Question 19

Congress impeached President Johnson for

Accepted Answer

President Johnson was impeached by Congress for violating the Tenure of Office Act. This act prevented the President from removing certain officeholders without the approval from the Senate. Johnson ignored this act and replaced Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without Senate approval, which led to his impeachment.

Question 20

Andrew Johnson's plan for national reconstruction

Accepted Answer

Andrew Johnson's plan for national reconstruction was very lenient toward the South. He offered pardons to all former Confederates who took a loyalty oath and appointed provisional governors to oversee the creation of new state governments. His plan did not provide any protections or rights for African Americans and did not punish former Confederates for their actions during the Civil War. This lenient approach angered Republicans in Congress who believed that the South needed to be punished and that African Americans deserved more rights and protections.

Quiz 14: The Union Reconstructed