Radical Reconstruction

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Focus Activity• Where and when do you think this photograph was taken?• What are 3 things you think people living in this setting did in the years following the the photograph.

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The Civil War, 1861-1865

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The Civil War, 1861-1865

• Fought between the United States and the Confederate States of America

• Caused primarily by slavery in the Southern states and states’ rights

• The United States defeated the Confederate States of America

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Major questions following the Civil War

1. How to rebuild the South

2. How to bring Southern states back to the United States

3. How to bring former slaves into the United States as free people

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Re-building the South

Over 1 million Americans lost their lives during the Civil War:

664,928 Northern casualties483,286 Southern casualties

After 4 years of war, could Northerners and Southerners rebuild together?Could they become unified as citizens of the same country?

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Consequences for Confederate States

Should people who fought against the United States be allowed to become citizens? Should they be punished?

What should be done to Southern state governments that fought against

the U.S.?

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Freedmen

How would freed men and women be treated in the Southern states?

What do you think were some of the major challenges faced by former slaves?

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Presidential Leadership

• President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865.

• His Vice-President, Andrew Johnson, a Southern Democrat, became President.– While he had been opposed to

secession, he did sympathize with the South.

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Radical Republicans

• Many members of Congress opposed President Johnson and his plans for Reconstruction.

• Known as Radical (extreme) Republicans, they wanted to– See extreme changes in society– Punish the South for the Civil War– Provide freedmen (former slaves)

with equal rights.

Why was the Radical Republican plan for Reconstruction considered Radical?