#AP US History: Reconstruction Study Guide 🚀

Hey there! Let's get you prepped for the APUSH exam with a super-focused review of Reconstruction. We'll make sure you're not just memorizing facts, but understanding the big picture. Let's dive in!

#The Big Questions of Reconstruction

Reconstruction was a messy, complicated time, but it all boils down to three key questions:

1. What to do with former Confederates? How should they be reintegrated into the Union?
2. What to do with formerly enslaved people? How would they be given rights and opportunities?
3. Who decides? Should it be Congress or the President? 🏛️ vs. 👑

#Reconstruction Amendments

The Civil War and Reconstruction brought about huge changes in the US. The federal government became much more powerful, and it started protecting citizens' rights in new ways. Here are the key amendments:

• 13th Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery. 🚫⛓️
• 14th Amendment (1868): Granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all people born or naturalized in the US, including formerly enslaved people. 🇺🇸
• 15th Amendment (1870): Granted African American men the right to vote. 🗳️

#Women's Rights Setback

The 14th and 15th Amendments didn't include women, which caused a big split in the women's rights movement. 💔

#Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan

Before his assassination, Lincoln had a plan:

• Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (10% Plan):
  • Full pardons for most Confederates who swore allegiance to the Union and accepted emancipation.🤝
  • A state could rejoin the Union when 10% of its voters took the loyalty oath. 📜

#Congress and Wade-Davis Reconstruction

Many Republicans in Congress thought Lincoln's plan was too soft. They wanted tougher terms:

• Wade-Davis Bill (1864):
  • Required 50% of voters to take a loyalty oath. 💯
  • Only non-Confederates could vote for the new state constitution. 🚫

Lincoln pocket-vetoed this bill, showing the tension between the executive and legislative branches. 😬

#Freedmen's Bureau

In March 1865, Congress created the Freedmen's Bureau to help those affected by the war:

• Provided food, shelter, and medical aid to both blacks and whites. 🏥
• Education was its biggest success: Established nearly 3000 schools for freed blacks, including colleges. 📚

#Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan

After Lincoln's death, Andrew Johnson became president. His plan, Presidential Reconstruction, allowed Southern states to rejoin the Union by ratifying the 13th Amendment. However, it also allowed them to pass Black Codes, which restricted the rights of freedmen. 😠

#What were Black Codes?

Black Codes were designed to keep freedmen in a subordinate position. They:

• Prohibited blacks from owning or renting land. 🚫🏡
• Forced freedmen into work contracts as “vagrants” or “apprentices.” 📝
• Prohibited blacks from testifying against whites in court. ⚖️
• Limited job opportunities to servants or laborers. 🧑‍🌾

#Congressional Radical Republican Reconstruction

Radical Republicans in Congress rejected Johnson’s lenient approach. They clashed with him over Reconstruction policies and passed laws over his veto.

• Civil Rights Act of 1866: Declared all people born in the US citizens, reinforcing the 14th Amendment. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑
• Reconstruction Act of 1867:
  • Divided the South into five military districts under Union army control. 🪖
  • Required states to ratify the 14th Amendment to be readmitted. ✅
  • Guaranteed voting rights to all adult males, regardless of race. 🗳️

This era saw the first black congresspeople, like Blanche K. Bruce and Hiram Revels. ✊🏿

#Johnson’s Impeachment

Johnson was a major obstacle to Congressional Reconstruction. He tried to undermine their efforts, leading to his impeachment.

• He dismissed officials who supported Radical Reconstruction. 😡
• Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act, limiting the president's power to remove officials. 📜
• Johnson's attempt to fire Secretary of War Edwin Stanton led to his impeachment by the House. 🏛️
• He was acquitted by the Senate by just one vote. 😮

Reconstruction is a high-value topic on the AP exam. Pay special attention to the different plans, the amendments, and the key figures involved.

#Final Exam Focus

Okay, let's get down to brass tacks. Here's what you really need to focus on:

• Key Concepts:
  • The three big questions of Reconstruction
  • The Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, 15th)
  • Presidential vs. Congressional Reconstruction
  • Black Codes and their impact
  • The role of the Freedmen's Bureau
  • Johnson's impeachment
• Common Question Types:
  • Multiple-choice questions on the specific provisions of the Reconstruction amendments and the various reconstruction plans.
  • Short-answer questions comparing and contrasting presidential and congressional reconstruction.
  • Free-response questions analyzing the successes and failures of Reconstruction, or the long-term impact of Reconstruction on American society.
• Last-Minute Tips:
  • Time Management: Don't spend too long on any one question. If you're stuck, move on and come back to it later.
  • Common Pitfalls: Don't confuse Black Codes with Jim Crow laws. Understand the differences between the various Reconstruction plans.
  • Strategies: For FRQs, make sure to have a clear thesis and support it with specific historical evidence. For SAQs, answer all parts of the question.

#Practice Questions

Let's put your knowledge to the test! Here are some practice questions to help you feel confident for the exam.

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following was NOT a provision of the Reconstruction Acts of 1867? (A) The division of the South into five military districts (B) The requirement that states ratify the 14th Amendment (C) The guarantee of voting rights to all adult males, regardless of race (D) The establishment of the Freedmen's Bureau

2. The Black Codes, passed in the South immediately after the Civil War, were intended to: (A) Grant citizenship to freedmen (B) Ensure the fair treatment of all citizens (C) Restrict the rights and movements of former slaves (D) Promote racial integration in schools

3. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the 13th Amendment? (A) To grant citizenship to African Americans (B) To guarantee equal protection under the law (C) To abolish slavery (D) To ensure voting rights for all men

Free Response Question

Analyze the successes and failures of Reconstruction in the United States between 1865 and 1877. Point Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, historically defensible thesis that addresses the successes and failures of Reconstruction.
• Successes (2 points):
  • Evidence of political changes: Reconstruction Amendments, Black political participation
  • Evidence of social changes: Freedmen's Bureau, educational opportunities for African Americans
• Failures (2 points):
  • Evidence of resistance: Black Codes, rise of white supremacist groups, violence
  • Evidence of political failures: Compromise of 1877, end of federal protection of Black rights
• Analysis (2 points):
  • Explains how Reconstruction laid the foundation for future civil rights movements
  • Explains how Reconstruction failed to achieve full equality for African Americans
• Synthesis (1 point):
  • Connects Reconstruction to other periods of American history (e.g., the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, or the legacy of slavery)

Short Answer Question

Briefly explain the differences between Presidential Reconstruction and Congressional Reconstruction. Provide one specific example for each.

You got this! Remember, it's all about understanding the big picture and connecting the dots. You're well-prepared, and you're going to do great on the exam! 💪