Reconstruction Assessment

The "Somebody-Wanted-But-So" chart is an excellent way to summarize important information from history. In it, you identify a person or group of people; their goal, need, or want; what conflict of interest stood in the way; and the outcome. This strategy works great because history depends on the needs, wants, and actions of humans.

Part 1 – Complete the following chart using information from the lesson. One example appears for you.

Somebody ...|Wanted ...|But ...|So ...|

President Abraham Lincoln|the nation to heal as quickly as possible from the Civil War and planned to reunify the nation quickly|he was assassinated in 1865 only days after Robert E. Lee’s surrender|plans for Reconstruction were taken over by Vice President Andrew Johnson, who became president after Lincoln’s death|

President Andrew Johnson| To reunite and heal the country as soon as possible, he agreed with Lincoln.

He also believed in patience for changing the social structure of the South, he said it would take time for the Southerners to accept black citizens as equals.| The Southerns stated passed laws called: black codes, that were laws instituted by southern legislatures beginning in 1865 to prevent African Americans from exercising their civil rights.| In the election that fall, the Republicans gained an overwhelming majority in both the House and the Senate so the Congress began passing bills that would change Reconstruction policy.

President Johnson vetoed many bills that Congress passed. His attempts to stop Congress from taking over Reconstruction led many other Republicans to join the Radicals. Together, Republicans in Congress were able to override the president's vetoes and put their plans in action.

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Radical Republicans|They wanted the Federal Government to be active in changing the Southern Politics and the Society rules they stated.

The Confederate leaders to be punished for their roles in the Civil War that led to the death of 620,000 americans and to...