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C-SPAN > C-SPAN in the Classroom > Reconstruction

Presidential Powers during War Time: Reconstruction

Once the Civil War ended, Reconstruction defined the South for the next decade. It was Congress and the President�s attempt to restore the governments of former Confederate states and to rejoin them with the Union. The plan for Reconstruction fell to President Lincoln�s successors, Presidents Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes. While this period brought advances such as the ratification of the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th Amendments, it brought corruption and conflict as well. Ensuing disagreements between the executive branch and a divided, partisan Congress brought Reconstruction policies to an end soon after the election of 1876.

Watch the clips below and then answer the discussion questions.

Clip 1 (2 min.)
Author Frank Williams discusses what President Lincoln did to try and pass a Constitutional amendment abolishing slavery in Congress.

Discussion Question
1. According to Mr. Williams�s account, President Lincoln used bribes in order to secure enough votes to pass the 13^th Amendment in Congress. Were his actions ethical ?

Clip 2 (1 min.)
Author Shelby Foote claims that the 13^th Amendment, not the Emancipation Proclamation, freed the slaves.

Discussion Questions
1. Some historians say that the Emancipation Proclamation was the predecessor to the 13^th Amendment. How do you think the two are related?
2. Could the 13^th Amendment have been added to the Constitution if the Emancipation Proclamation had not been issued in 1863?

Clip 3 (1 min.)
Author Shelby Foote criticizes the 13^th Amendment for leaving freed slaves unprepared for life on their own.

Discussion Question
1. Mr. Foote says that emancipation was a "sin." Why does he consider this to be so, and what could have been done differently to avoid exploitation of freed slaves?

Clip 4 (2 min.)
Author Geoffrey Perret lays out the differences between Presidents Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant in their views on Reconstruction.

Discussion Questions
1. Why does this author feel that Reconstruction was necessary after the Civil War?
2. What was Reconstruction meant to achieve?
3. What were the differences between Presidents Johnson and Grant?

Clip 5 (3 min.)
Author Roy Morris, Jr. discusses Reconstruction governments and the state of the country in 1876.

Discussion Questions
1. What did the nation look like in 1876?
2. Why was Ulysses S. Grant unable to get a nomination for a third presidential term?
3. What were Reconstruction governments, and what impact did they have on the election of 1876?

Clip 6 (4 min.)
Biographer Ari Hoogenboom talks about the end of Reconstruction and President Rutherford B. Hayes's efforts during this period .

Discussion Questions
1. What role did President Hayes have in ending Reconstruction?
2. Give evidence of how the balance of power within government affected the success of Reconstruction? Could President Hayes have prolonged Reconstruction?