Reconstruction DBQ

The years between 1860 and 1877 presented the people and politicians of the United States with a number of social and constitutional problems which had been mounting for
decades. The Civil War and other events would bring each of these to a crisis point, necessitating a final resolution. These answers and the way in which they were found amounted to a
revolution of the American political and social landscape. They will affect many future actions in the U.S. and continue to do so today.
The greatest Constitutional conflicts of this time period centered around states' rights and the power of the federal government. The line of division was usually between the
north and south. This occurred because of their inherent differences. The north being free and industrial, the south being agricultural with slavery. States sometimes attempted to nullify
unfavorable laws, such as South Carolina and the tariffs of the early 1800's. This rebellion against federal authority climaxed with the South Carolina secession of 1860. They contended
that since the states had founded the Union, they could leave it. The north and the government stated that the people had founded the Union and the states had no right to secede. South
Carolina seceded because it believed the government had impeded on its rights, which were that "powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution . . . are reserved to the
states" (10th Amendment). After such drastic actions by South Carolina and the south, the question of states rights needed to be resolved. The victory of the Union in the Civil War
provided the opportunity for this. After this victory, nullification was no longer considered an option for states, while secession was shown to be illegal and unsuccessful. These results
increased the power and authority of the federal government by ending the states' contentions over its actions.
The end of the Civil War also brought constitutional questions for the newly restored Union. The conditions of the newly freed blacks raised questions over the authority of the
federal government to grant suffrage or legislate civil rights laws. States' rights argued that the Constitution had not delegated this power to the federal government, thereby leaving it to
the states. The diary of Gideon Welles shows that these doubts even pervaded the federal government. However, Congress decided that only federal authority could guarantee a right
such as suffrage or to give useful civil rights. This was necessary to ensure evenly equal rights throughout the nation and prevent discrimination by states. The states certified the 13th
and 14th amendments, thereby abdicating power in these areas to the federal government.
The overall results of these constitutional arguments was to increase and solidify the federal government's authority. The states options of nullification and secession were ended
permanently. Also, power over suffrage and civil rights were given to the federal government. This change would allow an amendment to grant women's suffrage by federal authority,
allow further civil rights acts such as those under Lyndon Johnson, and generally increase the areas in which the federal government would be permitted to legislate. The immensity of
this change was noted at the time in the March 23, 1871 issue of Nation. It summarizes these new powers as "the duty of protecting life and property," and states that such power had not
been held by the federal government before.
The end of the Civil War also brought social problems in the United States to a resolution point. The Emancipation of the slaves presented the need for bestowing upon them the rights of
other citizens. The federal government granted them citizenship, civil rights, and suffrage. This brought immense change to the lifestyle of the south. Blacks gained political power and
elected many able leaders to spaces in government. Blacks had finally received the recognition and respect as Americans they had worked for. The Petition to the Union convention in
Tennessee illustrates the great emotion blacks felt in this area. Blacks were also given a chance to improve their economic status by the Freedmen’s Bureau. They received free
education and other assistance. The Bureau, however, failed to distribute land in large amounts as it was promised to do. This hurt the chances of many blacks, but a large number was
still able to reach success.
The reaction of many whites in the South signalled a deeper division there. The Ku Klux Klan moved to suppress the blacks. State government also did this with their Black
Codes, which damaged many rights of blacks. These included voting restrictions which made it difficult for blacks to vote. Thomas Nast noted this division and the hatred it contained in
his cartoon in Harper’s Weekly in 1874.
The social changes of this time period brought many new rights and freedoms to blacks. They were able to attain the privileges of citizenship. However, the reaction of many whites in the
South triggered a racial division there which would last for many years and cause many more problems. In this respect, the revolution was not as complete or successful as had been
hoped for.
The time period between 1860 and 1877 were times of great social change and constitutional evolution. The powers of the federal government were expanded. Blacks were
elevated to citizen status and given their civil rights. However, the white reaction caused a racial divide there. These changes occurring simultaneously certainly amount to a revolution in
the American way of life.

Thesis: The extent of the revolution caused by the constitutional and social developments between the years 1860 and 1877 increased the authority of the federal government over the
states and instituted new ideas on racial equality. But these developments were ahead of their time and some of them did not last.
Body Paragraph 1: Before and throughout the civil war, there was always two extreme views on the role and authority of the government.
Body Paragraph 2: The constitutional developments made throughout the revolution, increased the authority of the fed gov
Body Paragraph 3: The social changes that caused the revolution stemmed from the issues blacks had after the war.
Body Paragraph 4: These social developments were far ahead of their time after blacks continued petitioning for the ability to vote and civil rights they get it from the 14th amendment

Potential Body Paragraph 1: In the years prior to 1861, tensions and disagreements between North and South America built up. These issues erupted into a full scale war which was
known the Civil War. The Civil War lasted for 4 harsh years, and it ended with North as the victor. Although the war ended, it would still be a long time before the union would return it its
former state. The era of reconstruction began after the civil in order to bring the south back into the union and punish them for there secession. During both the civil war and
reconstruction era, many new policies were introduced that were considered radical. These radical changes amounted to a revolution. The extent of the constitutional and social
developments between 1860 and 1877 caused a revolution that increased the authority of the federal government over the states and instituted new ideas on racial equality. However,
these developments were far ahead of their time and some of them did not last.

State Rights (constitutional developments) Slavery (social developments)

Doc A (1860) - South Carolina declared secession and these are the Doc C(1865)- Blacks propose an idea about why they aren't given the
point they cover: Compact Theory, the 10th amendment(​The powers right to vote even though they fought on the North's side to help win the
not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by war.
it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the
people.)(Compact Theory not in the Constitution, it was a verbal
agreement.) For states

Doc B (1863) - Pro-business legislation in Congress. State vs Federal. Doc E (1865) - Blacks argue about how they were promised land and
Senator John Sherman believes that everything should be national. For how they deserve rights. However, the north wants to give the land back
fed to the southerners, the ones who were in rebellion.

Doc D (1865) - Gideon Welles, the Secretary of the Navy believes that Doc F(1866) - The country has moved past slavery and the war has
the federal government uses arbitrary(lawless) powers over states and ended, now everyone needs to accept that and blacks need rights in
that the federal government should not dictate suffrage in individual order for the country to move forward.
states. For states

Doc H (1871) - *for states rights* saying that Grant does not have the Doc G (1867) -Blacks finally able to participate in politics
power to send federal troops down south kkk act

Doc I (1874) - Reconstruction is basically over and this illustration

explains that it failed due to racism and whites not wanting to help
blacks enough. Everything they worked for is now gone.