Download The Civil War, 1861-1865

Radical Reconstruction
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.
2
The Civil War, 1861-1865
3
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
4
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
5
Re-building the South
Over 1 million Americans lost their lives
during the Civil War:
664,928 Northern casualties
483,286 Southern casualties
After 4 years of war, could Northerners
and Southerners rebuild together?
Could they become unified as citizens of
the same country?
6
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.?
7
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?
8
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.
9
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.
10
Why was the Radical
Republican plan for
Reconstruction considered
Radical?