The election of 1866 revealed
A)strong support for Andrew Johnson's reconstruction plans.
B)the emergence of white "backlash" in the South.
C)the increasing popularity of the Republican Party among southern whites.
D)the increasing popularity of the Democratic Party.
E)the belief among Republicans that much more needed to be done to reconstruct the South.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The election of 1866 saw the Republicans win a majority in Congress, which indicated that while there was some support for Johnson's reconstruction plans, there was more belief among Republicans that much more needed to be done to reconstruct the South. This was in line with the Republican Party's agenda of putting in place stringent measures to prevent the South from reverting to its old ways, such as implementing civil rights laws and enfranchising African Americans. Therefore, option E is the best choice. Option B is partially correct as there was also evidence of white backlash in the South, but it does not capture the full picture of what the election revealed. Options A, C, and D are incorrect as they are not supported by the historical record.

The Election of 1866 Revealed