Download US History Sem 1 Answer Key

US History Sem 1 Answer Key
Unit 1
AS: Native American Map
Select at least 10 Native American tribes.
For each tribe, show their location on the map of the United States and list at least one distinguishing characteristic of
the tribe.
Use a blank map similar to the one in your Unit 1 contents or a similar blank map of North America. A blank map has
been attached, but you can use another if you prefer.
There are hundreds of Native American tribes. These are some of the larger nations, but you may chose any that
interest:
Iroquois, Anasazis, Hohokam, Mississippians, Cherokees, Natchez, Algonquians, Navajo, Blackfoot, Caddos,
Chippewa, Shoshones, Muskogee, Crows, Hopis, Hurons, Kiowas, Seminoles, Nez Perce, Pawnee, Pueblo, and
Utes.
Sample Student Submission
Map with locations was attached with the following:
1. Iroquois:
The Iroquois consist of 6 nations such as, the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca,
and Tuscarora.
2. Cherokees:
The Cherokees are the largest of 563 federally recognized Native American tribes in the United
States.
3. Navajo:
The Navajo live in hogans, which are made from wooden poles, tree bark, and mud.
4. Blackfoot:
During mid-summer, the entire Blackfoot tribe assembles and performs the major tribal
ceremony, the Sun Dance.
5. Chippewa:
The Chippewa fought with the French against the British in the French and Indian War.
6. Hopis:
The Hopis religion is anti-war.
7. Kiowas:
The Kiowas would migrate with the buffalo because that was their only main food source.
8. Pawnee:
The Pawnee planted their crops according to the position of the stars.
9. Pueblo:
The Pueblo tribe are recognized worldwide for their adobe buildings.
10. Utes:
Each spring the Utes held their traditional Bear Dances.
AS: Colonization Timeline
Create a timeline of the first colonial settlements. Be sure to include, dates, the name of the group of people, the
founder of the colony, the reason for each particular colonization and some interesting fact about their experience.
In addition to some of the first settlers, be certain to include the groups that became all of the first 13 colonies.
Sample Student Submission
*Colonization Timeline*
1620- The Pilgrims, people who seek religious freedom sailed to Plymouth, Virginia on a boat
called the Mayflower, and were taught by Squanto and his people how to live off the land.
1623- Captain John Mason, sent a bunch of settlers to build a fishing colony in the territory of
New Hampshire.
1623- The Dutch founded New Netherlands. (New Jersey)
1624- Peter Minuit, a German but with the Dutch West India Corporation, bought New York
from the local Indians for 60 guilders or twenty four dollars.
1630- John Winthrop led the Puritans to the Massachusetts Bay, and wanted to build their new
society on the laws of God. (The Bible)
1633- A group of settlers who were led by Leonard Calvert founded Maryland with the
curiousity of establishing a colony of freemen.
1636- Roger William, a Puritan minister, founded Providence, which was the first settlement in
Rhode Island where all religions were welcomed.
1636- Thomas Hooker and sixty Puritan followers founded the settlement of Hartford in
Connecticut, and Thomas thought that each church should be independent and choose their own
leaders.
1638- Peter Minuit and some Swedish settlers founded Delaware, and the Swedish were the
ones that brought the log cabin idea to America.
1653- North Carolina was founded by a group of Virginia colonists, which provided a buffer
for the southern frontier.
1663- King Charles II founded South Carolina, and then granted the territory to loyal
supporters.
1682- King Charles II granted William Penn a charter to the land west of the Delaware River,
and called it “Pennsylvania”, which became the largest city in North America and evolved with
the help of immigrants.
1732- King Charles II granted the land of Georgia to James Edward Oglethorpe, an English
general, because he wanted that new colony to become a support system for the northern
colonial partners.
AS: Aggression
Like early Europeans, America has traditionally actively sought out resources from other nations. Sometimes these
tactics have been aggressive and violent, particularly when we were denied the opportunity to trade for the goods we
wanted. From a historical perspective, this aggressive stance made Europeans and then the United States dominant
and strong. Our aggression protected our country, people and culture.
Today, many people take a Darwinist approach saying that we are in competition. The strong are the most successful
and its better to dominate then be on the bottom.
But there are others that feel that in this modern age, hostile actions are too destructive and that we should seek
better ways of interacting with other nations.
What do you think? Does our early history of aggression have a place in the world today? Please do not argue both
sides of the issue. Select one side and defend your point of view.
Sample Student Submission:
Our early history of aggression has definitely affected the way our society and
government are today. If it weren’t for being aggressive and not letting other countries just
walk all over us, then the United States wouldn’t have the power and control that has separated
them from other countries. Therefore, I believe that having the ability to be aggressive, to
achieve necessary goals, makes America what it is today. For instance, when 911 occurred, if
we wouldn’t have gone to Iraq to protect the United States, then how do we know that it
wouldn’t have happened again and for the outcome to be even worse? Because of the war in
Iraq and other countries, oil has become an expensive commodity. The American public has
been paying this commodity through soaring gas prices. America can’t afford to not be
aggressive because we have limited transportation options. In my opinion, yes, America shows
strength and success with being aggressive and determined.
Unit 2
ASU2: The Boston Chart
The Boston Massacre occurred on 3/5/1770 and the Boston Tea Party on 12/16/1773.
Both of these acts of colonial resistance defined many of the problems that were increasing between colonials and the
British.
Open the attached chart and fill in information about both events.
Sample student submission
Boston Massacre
Boston Tea Party
Acts of Parliament
that stimulated the
reaction of the
Colonists

A tax on imports into the colonies
(Townshend Acts)
 The growing mistrust between
Americans and British soldiers



Reasons why
Parliament acted as
they did

Reasons why the
colonists acted as
they did

What happened in
the incident, places,
actions

A new tax on tea (Townshend
Acts)
A tax on all written materials
(Stamp Act)
Having the right to tax the
colonists without any
representation
To make more money for the
French and Indian War because
they were broke
They were broke from the French
and Indian War
To make more money for the war
The Sugar Act and Stamp Act
wasn’t successful

They weren’t used to being told
what to do
They thought that they should
have representatives from their
colonies



British soldiers shot 5 male
citizens to death in Boston town
A mob of men were taunting a
sentry standing guard at the city’s
customs house
The colonists disguised
themselves as Indians and
dumped all the tea from the ships
Dartmouth, Beaver, and Eleanor
into the Boston Harbor
Who were some of
the key people on the
British side?



John Adams
Josiah Quincy
Captain Preston



British East India Company
British Government
Governor Hutchinson
Who were some of
the key people on the
colonial side?







John Hancock
John Adams
Sons of Liberty
Samuel Adams
Reaction of
Parliament to
incident

Samuel Adams
Paul Revere
People who died:
1. Crispus Attucks
2. Samuel Gray
3. James Caldwell
4. Samuel Maverick
5. Patrick Carr
A few British soldiers were
arrested
(John Adams and Josiah Quincy)

The British government allowed
the East India Company to sell
tea to the colonies without
payment of any customs or any
duties (Tea Act)
Reaction of the
colonists to the
incident

They boycotted the British goods

They started to gather up as
much tea as they could from the
Boston Harbor




They were tired of the import
taxes
They were tired of having to pay
for the British government’s
mistake when they don’t even
have any representation
Justification: Pick a
side in each incident.
Why would you
support one side over
the other? Explain
and support your
answer with what
you learned in your
research.


I would support the colonial side
because I agree with them about
letting them have a say in whether
they should be taxed or not.
I also would support their side
because I don’t think that it’s right
that the people should have to pay
for their government’s mistake.

In this situation, I would support
the colonial side because they
shouldn’t be taxed when they
don’t have any representation,
and having them pay for the
British government’s actions in
the French and Indian War.
ASU2: Revolutionary War Scavenger Hunt
Use all of the resources available, Internet, books, people, to complete a scavenger hunt of the American Revolution.
Make certain you read the questions completely.
The Hunt is found in your content for this unit or you may open the attached document.
Sample student answer
1. What happened in 1775 on the outskirts of Boston?
The battles of Lexington and Concord were fought.
The Rebels conquered Ticonderoga from the Redcoats.
The Battle on Bunker Hill was fought on Breed’s Hill.
2. When did the Patriots recapture Boston?
On March 17, 1776.
3. Who were the Hessians?
German mercenary soldiers who were hired by the British to fight in the Revolutionary War
with their army.
4. What is this famous American symbol and what does it stand for?
The Liberty Bell and it stands for the golden anniversary of Penn’s Charter.
On July 8, 1776, this bell was rung because it motioned for the people of Philadelphia to go and
hear the first reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon.
It gained importance for the abolitionists because they chose that to be their symbol during
their attempt to try and end slavery.
5. What were three advantages George Washington and the Continental Army had over
the British in the fight?
Instead of the normal education and schooling, he studied geography, military history,
agriculture, deportment, and composition.
He had experience and was intelligent with his military strategies.
The Continental Army didn’t make themselves an easy target for the British to shoot at because
they didn’t march in straight lines all the time like the British did.
6. What was the importance of New York in the war?
About one third of the battles during the Revolutionary War were fought on New York soil.
7. Who were the colonists allies in the war?
The French
8. Why was Benjamin Franklin important to the war effort?
He helped organize the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War.
9. Where is Valley Forge?
In Pennsylvania
10. Find a picture of Washington Crossing the Delaware and describe it in 10 words.
Strong
Proud
Determined
Turbulent
Windy
Teamwork
Promising
Rainy
Patriotic
Inspiring
11. What was the importance of the Battle of Bunker Hill?
That by the death number of the British, it proved to the Americans that they could indeed take
on a professional army.
12. Did any Africans fight in the Revolutionary War?
Yes, and it began with Crispus Attucks when he was one of the 5 men who died in the Boston
Massacre.
13. What was the deadliest battle of the War?
The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill.
14. Why did most eastern Native Americans support Britain in the War?
They supported the British hoping that the British would help to limit colonial expansion.
15. Why was there more loyalist support of Britain in the south during the War?
The South always had closer ties to the British because of their agricultural industry that supplied England
with raw goods. Most white Southern planters considered themselves to be loyal to Britain and thought
Northerners were upstarts.
16. Where can you find out how much did the Revolutionary War cost?
The Revolutionary War cost $287 million
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War#Financial_costs
17. How did Cornwallis get trapped?
The Americans and the French surrounded him and his troups by having the French take over
the Cheasapeake Bay, which enabled the British to get their supplies by boat.
18. Who represented the colonists at the Treaty of Paris?
John Adams
Benjamin Franklin
John Jay
Unit 3
ASU3: War of 1812
Use all of the resources available, Internet, books, people, to complete a scavenger hunt of the War of 1812. Make
certain you read the questions completely.
The Hunt is found in your content for this unit or you may open the attached document.
Sample student submission:
1. What were the causes of the War of 1812?
The British were forcing U.S. citizens to join their Navy, called impressment
The U.S. was trading with France, and the British didn’t like it because they were at war with
France
The US was trying to prove to the British that they were no longer just a bunch of colonies.
2. Who were the War Hawks, and what did they stand for?
A group of Democratic Republicans who dominated the House of Representatives
They were fed up with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
They didn’t like the British practice of impressments of American sailors and the British Orders
in Council
3. Who were some of the important War Hawk leaders and where were they from?
Henry Clay- Senator and Representative of Kentucky
Peter B. Porter- General of the New York State Militia
Langdon Cheves- Chairman of the naval committee
4. What did the Native Americans have to do with the war?
They were angry with the U.S., so they decided to join the British side. They were hoping that
conflict with Britain would help stop US expansion into their lands.
5. What happened with the Invasion of Canada?
The Americans tried to conquer the Canadian land
The Americans surrendered against the British at Detroit
6. What happened with the British Invasion?
The British tried to invade places like Baltimore and New Orleans. In D.C. the British even
managed to burn down the White House, but the Americans drove them off successfully.
7. Who was Francis Scott Key and what did he do?
A lawyer in Georgetown
He wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner” (“Defense of Fort McHenry”)
8. What was the importance of Andrew Jackson's Battle of New Orleans?
For the US to control the Mississippi River. Also it made Jackson famous so he was popular
when he ran for the office of President.
9. What was the importance of Tecumseh's plan?
A Shawnee leader, Tecumseh wanted to have tribes unify together to hold off white expansion.
It scared the whites and in the Battle of Tippecanoe Tecumseh’s entire village was destroyed to
make him stop. It didn’t, but Tecumseh was never able to completely unify the tribes.
10. What were the terms of the Treaty of Ghent?
Released all prisoners
Restored all pre war lands and seized ships
11. Was the Treaty of Ghent a triumph or a defeat? Explain!
The Treaty of Ghent was a defeat because at first everything that was agreed upon eventually
fell through. For example, the British promised to return the captured slaves, but ended up
paying the United States for them instead.
12. How did the War of 1812 end the Federalist party?
The Federalists were against the war, saying it was dangerous, the US wasn’t ready and it
would cost too much. At The Hartford Convention they tried to make something of their
issues, but there were so many other issues that they got torn apart. When the US started
winning some major battles, opinion of the Federalists changed from support to unpopular and
The Federalists never recovered.
13. What were national feelings at the end of the War of 1812?
British stopped their practice of impressments against the American sailors
America declared victory of what they called their “second war of independence”
14. What is the idea of nationalism?
A social movement that focuses on the nation with people supporting and glorifying their
country. Americans were very nationalistic after 1812.
ASU3: King Andrew?
President Andrew Jackson showed firm authority as President. He wielded so much power that his critics sometimes
referred to him as "King Andrew".
Research Andrew Jackson's presidency and answer the following:
1. How was Jackson's presidency similar to previous presidents?
2. How was Jackson different from previous presidents?
3. How do you think Jackson viewed his presidency.
4. If you had lived in that time, would you have voted in Jackson for a second term? Why or Why Not?
Student submission:
1. How was Jackson's presidency similar to previous presidents?
Andrew Jackson’s presidency was similar to the previous presidents because they all believed
in having a strong Union. They also believed in expanding the US and making her powerful
2. How was Jackson different from previous presidents?
Andrew Jackson was different from the previous presidents because he was the first to have his
vice-president resign, he vetoed more parts of the legislation than the first 6 presidents
combined, the first to marry a divorcee, and the first to use an informal “Kitchen Cabinet” of
advisers.
3. How do you think Jackson viewed his presidency?
Andrew Jackson viewed his presidency as him having all of the power and control, where
nobody could object to any of his decisions because he thought he was kind of the king of the
nation, which makes more sense to me how the critics refer to him as “King Andrew”.
4. If you had lived in that time, would you have voted in Jackson for a second term? Why or
Why Not?
Honestly, if I had lived in that time I wouldn’t have voted in Andrew Jackson for a second term
because it seems like he doesn’t really care about his country, he just cares about himself and
how much power he has over things. Basically, he was a very selfish man, which doesn’t make
for a good president because generally, presidents think about their nation and the people that
live there instead of themselves, or at least that’s how it should be.
Unit 4
AS4: Tough Choices
Abraham Lincoln faced a number of tough choices both before and during his Presidency.
Research the life and times of Abraham Lincoln.
Select two decisions that Lincoln made either before or during his term of office that created controversy.
Explain the following for each:
- What was controversy?
- Who opposed Lincoln?
- Who supported Lincoln?
- What reasons did Lincoln give for his decision?
- Do you think Lincoln made the right decision, why or why not?
Cite your sources that give evidence of the controversy.
While Lincoln remains an important figure for his long-term effects on the United States, remember to focus on issues
that occurred in his lifetime.
Student submission:
What was controversy?
1. One controversy was slavery because that was one of the main causes and issues of the Civil
War.
2. Another controversy was his military strategies and commands.
Who opposed Lincoln?
1. The main people who opposed Lincoln with slavery were the South and the Democrats.
2. George B. McClellan was the one who opposed Lincoln the most with his strategic military
tactics.
Who supported Lincoln?
1. The people who supported Lincoln were the North and the Republican Party.
2. The main person who supported Lincoln through this war was Ulysses S. Grant.
What reasons did Lincoln give for his decision?
1. Lincoln declared that if slavery stopped expanding, then eventually it will become extinct.
He was getting a lot of pressure to end slavery in the north. Also, he was hoping that by
stopping the spread of slavery the slaves would be encouraged to join the war on the side of the
north.
2. Lincoln already had too many responsibilities with his presidency, and couldn’t really focus
on coming up with clever military tactics. Also, Lincoln didn’t have a background in war, he
wasn’t a soldier. He hoped a good commander in the field would turn the war around for the
north.
Do you think Lincoln made the right decision, why or why not?
1. I definitely think that Lincoln made the right decision with slavery because it’s wrong, and I
dislike it very much. It also got him the support of the north and the blacks.
2. I believe that Lincoln made the right decision. There were other more qualified men for that
position but they had made mistakes. Lincoln already had too many things on his mind and he
needed help. Grant turned out to be a great commander.
AS4: Crisis Speech
Research the Tariff of Abominations and the Nullification Crisis.
Imagine that you are appearing before a group of law makers in Washington.
Write speech about the crisis.
In your speech you must:
1. Argue for one side or the other
2. Name some of the historical figures and states that agree with your side
3. Give proof of why you are right
Your speech should be 3 - 4 minutes in length. (Hint, a single page is not enough. Read your speech aloud to yourself
and time it to get a feel for how long 3 - 4 minutes is.)
Your speech should be impassioned. Use words and ideas to get people really thinking about this issue.
While you will not have to give this speech, your written speech must be written like it would be read.
Student submission:
Most esteemed gentleman of law I have come before you today to argue for the right of
South Carolina to preserve its states economic wellbeing. I know we all love the constitution of
our great country and the bill of rights that enable each of us the pursuit of happiness. In South
Carolina our pursuit of happiness has been challenged by certain Individuals and interest in an
economic fashion. How can our state carry out the rights of freedom if we are forced into
poverty and debt. John Quincy Adams has signed certain tariffs into law, here called the tariffs
of abomination . The tariffs of 1828 and 1832 favor the northern economy and create a
hardship for the southern economy. Gentlemen we are all in agreement that since the war of
1812 and the fall of the second bank of the United States our economy has been spiraling
downward. Furthermore we all agree that the government and president should intercede when
possible to stimulate and help our economy grow. Is there no other way to accomplish this
other than through protecting the interests of the north while crippling the buying power of the
south. We all know that new England textile manufacturer have press congress and the
administration to protect there interest. But Congress and former president John Adams have
made into law intolerable tariffs that the south find unconstitutional. Our new president Andrew
Jackson has done little or nothing to correct this trouble. The constitution we believe is a
contract between the Federal government and the states and not supreme law. These tariffs are
dividing north from the south and now they are dividing the central government in Washington
since vice President John C. Calhoun has resigned his post and spearheaded our governorship
in South Carolina. The west has further tainted the situation by infecting the tariffs with more
tax on raw materials causing further economic trouble for South Carolina. Andrew Jackson’s
move to make southern cotton more expensive has now triggered the threat of the British
seeking new markets to buy their cotton. This will lead to the poverty of our great state of
South Carolina. If we do not act and act quickly you rich cousins in the south will be begging
from the states in the north surviving merely from handout given from other states or the
federal government. We believe that these tariffs are to be made null and void in our state
because they are a form of protectionism. We believe as a state we have the right , no the duty
to preserve our own economy. The tariffs written into law has cost John Adams the presidential
vote and Andrew Jackson refuses to correct the problem. We either need to resolve the issue or
a possible succession from These United states is eminent. We have created an ordinance of
Nullification exercising our right to economically exist. On July 14 1832 Our most illustrious
vice president resigned his office in favor of South Carolina’s ordinance of Nullification. Even
though this is a regional crisis here we have the makings of a full national crisis if the
government has the right to protect regional economies at the cost of other regional harm. I
stand in front of you today appealing for a cure for this trouble. I appeal to you as law makers
today to recognize our right to prosper and govern our state in such a way to protect its citizens.
ASU5: What Plan?
If you had been in charge in 1865, what type of Reconstruction plan would you have devised?
You will need to research this topic and create a 600 - 800 word document that considers and addresses some of the
following issues:
Economic problems in the Postwar South
Destroyed infrastructure (buildings, railroads, factories)
The need for a labor force in a agricultural society
The lack of education, housing or resources for freed slaves (and remember that there were over 3.5 million slaves in
the South at this time)
Resentments between North and South, white and black
If you use some of the ideas of Lincoln's, Johnson's or the Radical Republican plans, explain why.
Student submission by Camoen Vanwagner, Helium
Lincoln's Plan: The "Ten Percent Plan"
After the Civil War ended with General Robert E. Lee's surrender to General Grant at the
Appomattox Court House, the nation faced another issue. This issue was the Reconstruction
Plan. What plan would bring the nation together to form a Union after fighting the bloodiest
battle in American history? For four years, the South had waged battle against the North.
About 620,000 died in the war, but how did it help the United States? The government was
strengthened by the outcome of the Civil War, and the nation was given a chance to start anew.
The three most popular plans were Lincoln's Plan, otherwise known as the ten percent plan, the
Radical Republicans Plan, otherwise known as the Wade-Davis Bill, and Andrew Johnson's
Plan, otherwise known as Restoration. Both Lincoln's Plan and the Wade-Davis Bill were
presented before the end of the Civil War, while Andrew Johnson presented his plan after
Lincoln's assassination when he became president. I believe that Lincoln's plan, while perhaps
not the greatest for bringing the nation together, would've been the best for the promoting the
principles of freedom and equal rights for all in the newly reformed union.
Lincoln wanted to broaden voting rights to include African Americans, but he wouldn't force
states to give the same rights to African Americans as white Americans. As well, he created the
Freedman's Bureau to defend the rights of formerly enslaved people. Though it was mainly
focused on African Americans, it also worked to help southerners that had been loyal to the
Union. This bureau also helped establish schools, colleges, and universities that permitted
African Americans, and supported institutions that were beginning to accept African Americans
as part of the student body. Lincoln's Plan was the most beneficial for African Americans, as it
granted and protected new rights they held, and it did not take civil liberties away from white
Americans.
Under the Radical Republicans Plan, the Fourteenth Amendment that gave civil rights to
African Americans and the Fifteenth Amendment which banned the rejection of votes cast
because of differing races were ratified. This was a great gain for African Americans, and as
well, the Radical Republicans in Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in 1866. The only
problem with this plan is that it did not balance the new rights of the African Americans with
the rights of whites. This plan caused hard feelings between whites and African Americans
because it gave many rights to the freed slaves in a time when whites were just beginning to get
used to the prospect of African Americans holding any civil rights at all.
Andrew Johnson's Plan was the worst for protecting African American's rights, because under
his Restoration, he vetoed the Civil Rights bill. Luckily, Congress overturned his veto of the
Civil Rights bill and made it an act. Andrew Johnson had no interest in protecting the rights of
African Americans. As you can see, Lincoln's plan was the best for African Americans,
because it protected their new rights, and also provided a balance between the rights of whites
and African Americans.
It was easiest for states to rejoin the Union under Lincoln's Plan, because it offered amnesty to
all people in the states, apart from Confederate officers, when 10% of its voters had pledged to
be loyal to the Union. This is a very forgiving plan, and three Confederate states seized by the
Union formed new governments under it in 1864. Unfortunately, these states, Arkansas,
Louisiana, and Tennessee, were unable to join the Union after following the plan because the
radical controlled Congress wouldn't allow the states' representatives to join the federal
government.
The radicals passed the Wade-Davis Bill, part of the Radical Republicans Plan, which was later
vetoed by President Lincoln. In order to rejoin the Union, at least half of the state's white males
had to swear fidelity to the Union, and then a state convention could be held for the reformation
of the state's constitution. Only white males who had sworn that they had not taken up arms
during the Civil War could vote for delegates to this meeting. After taking on a new
constitution that deemed slavery unlawful, the state could finally rejoin the Union. The radical's
plan was much more inconsiderate than Lincoln's. Where as Lincoln wanted to forgive the
Confederate states, the radicals wanted to impose severe conditions for reentering the Union.
Under Andrew Johnson's Plan for restoration, the majority of the southern populous would be
forgiven, including previous Confederate leaders, after swearing loyalty to the Union. Before
rejoining the Union, they had to hold a Constitutional Convention in which they made it clear
that secession and slavery were unlawful. Before applying to rejoin the Union, the state had to
rewrite its constitution and sanction the Thirteenth Amendment that abolished all slavery in the
Union. Under this plan, more southerners had to swear loyalty than under Lincoln's Plan, which
would've caused more difficulty for states that wished to be readmitted to the Union.
All in all, under Lincoln's Plan, it would be easiest for Confederate states to rejoin the Union,
would offer new rights to African Americans and protect them, and would promote freedom
and liberty. If the nation had agreed to Lincoln's Plan, racism may have been more easily
overcome, and the Union would be reunited in a strong bond because of the amnesty granted.
ASU5: What Effect?
Do you feel that Reconstruction was a success or a failure?
Write a paragraph explaining why. Be sure to support your answer with supporting evidence from this unit and
additional research into this topic.
Student submission:
I think that for the most part the Reconstruction was a success. Lincoln fought the war to
reunite the United States. The Reconstruction was harsh, but we have a union today because
the southern states were able to rejoin and become productive members of the union. Also,
during the Reconstruction the Constitutional Amendments 13, 14 and 15 brought more freedom
and rights to African Americans than they’d ever had before. Problems with the Jim Crow
Laws and Southern resistance would go on for a long time, but granting legal freedoms to them
at the federal level back then meant that they could start moving up in society. The fact that we
have a black president for the unified United States now is a sign that the Reconstruction did
work.