ICivics: Civil War & Reconstruction

Understand the Civil War & Reconstruction era. Learn about amendments, slavery, and key figures!

The Constitution: Something's Missing The Constitution set up the rules for our government. The first ten constitutional amendments, called the Bill of Rights, listed the rights that citizens should expect. But when these documents were written, over one-third of the population of the United States was not considered citizens. These were the slaves and free blacks living in the United States. They were born in the U.S., worked in the U.S., and died in the U.S. — but were not protected by the founding documents or by state laws. It took a war between the states to bring changes to the Constitution that would end slavery and set the path for greater equality. What listed the rights Americans could expect as citizens? US Constitution Last 10 amendments Bill of Rights Magna Carta Civil War! The debate over slavery and rights was the main factor leading to the bloodiest war in our country’s history. The slave states in the South decided they would be better off as a separate nation, so they seceded from the United States. Secession means separation or breaking away. But President Abraham Lincoln did not want the nation to be divided. War began between the southern states, which called themselves the Confederate States of America, and the northern states, which were still known as the United States of America. President Lincoln led the United States during the war. The Confederate States set up its own government and military. This “War Between the States,” now called the Civil War, deeply and bitterly divided Americans on both sides. Taking Sides Match the quote with who probably said it. Northern Abolitionists "I think slavery is terrible! Slavery is not needed and should be illegal! The government should do something about this." Southern Slave Owner "Slaves are necessary to my cotton business. The government shouldn't tell me how to run my plantation!" Poor Southern Farmer "I grow cotton, but I can't afford to won slaves. If they are freed, they might try to take my job!" Confederacy or Union? Sort the person or term with the correct side of the war. The North United States of America (USA) President Abraham Lincoln Soldier nickname: Billy Yank (Yankee) National capital: Washington, DC The South Confederate States of America (CSA) President Jefferson Davis National capital: Richmond, VA Soldier nickname: Johnny Reb (Rebel) Emancipation and Ending the War In the middle of the war (1863), President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all the slaves in the South were free (emancipation means freedom). Although it was a huge and important step, it didn’t have much immediate effect. It did not help slaves in the South, because the Confederate States of America had its own government and did not feel bound by proclamations by the United States president. It also did not help slaves in states that had not seceded.Even so, the Emancipation Proclamation was a big deal. Although it failed to free any actual slaves, it did send a strong message: When the war was over, slavery in the U.S. would end. The U.S. government took this as a sign to move forward with additional laws that changed citizens’ rights in America.In January 1865 – three months before the war ended – Congress passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, outlawing slavery in the United States. The war ended when the Confederacy surrendered in April 1865. After that, all states were once again part of the United States of America. In December 1865, slavery was finally abolished in the entire United States when the last state ratified (passed) the 13th Amendment. Freeing the Slaves Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in Confederate territory 13th Amendment freed all slaves in the United States What effect did the Emancipation Proclamation have? Reconstructing a Nation President Abraham Lincoln is said to have saved or “preserved the Union” by winning the war to keep all the states together. But the war left much of the South destroyed and disorganized, and the Southern states needed to be made part of the United States again. The new president, Andrew Johnson, believed the Southern states should be let back into the U.S. with no consequences. But many in Congress wanted to make sure the Southern politicians were punished for seceding. They also did not want Southern politicians to interfere with the new freedom of African Americans. This period of rebuilding after the Civil War is known as Reconstruction. Many in the South resisted the changes, and the federal government had to send troops to enforce the new civil rights laws. How did President Andrew Johnson's vision for Reconstruction differ from Congress' plan? Changing the Constitution The 13th Amendment did not end the former slaves’ troubles. Many Southern states quickly passed laws to restrict what little freedom the former slaves had. Something more was needed to expand and protect the rights of the former slaves. As part of the Reconstruction effort, Congress added two more amendments to the Constitution. In 1868, the 14th Amendment guaranteed citizenship to all people born in the U.S. This amendment also gave all citizens the right to due process and equal protection under the law. In 1870, the 15th Amendment gave all men the right to vote regardless of their race or whether they had been slaves before the war. Name that Amendment! 13th Amendment (1) Slavery is illegal in the United States! 14th Amendment (3) If you are born in the US, you are a US citizen. Former slaves are protected by law and are considered citizens. Due process and equal protection are guaranteed to all. 15th Amendment (1) Former slaves and men of all races can vote Which of the three Reconstruction amendments do you think had the greatest impact? Explain your answer. Due Process and Equal Protection Due process means people have the right to be treated fairly by the government. There are two kinds of due process. One has to do with what a law actually says. Laws must be fair and reasonable. The government cannot pass laws that unfairly limit people’s life, liberty, or property. The other type of due process has to do with how laws are enforced. Government officials must follow certain rules or procedures when they enforce laws. They cannot take away or limit someone’s life, liberty, or property without following those rules.Equal protection under the 14th Amendment means the government must treat people equally. Unreasonable discrimination by the government is not allowed. If a law does treat one group of people differently, the government must prove there is a good reason for it. Courts will decide if that reason is good enough to let the law stand. Both equal protection and due process were rights that African Americans lacked due to their race and former state of slavery. By granting these rights, as well as the right to vote, the Constitution expanded citizenship to a whole new group of Americans. Is That Fair? Based on the idea of due process, do you think these laws are constitutional? Write yes or no. People accused of a crime must be told what crime they're being accused of. yes People are only allowed to vote if they can pass a reading test. no The government can disconnect your television service if you're watching unapproved programs. no A school that suspends a student must notify the parents and give a reason for the suspension. yes People who look irresponsible cannot get a driver's license. no Evidence obtained illegally cannot be used to convict someone in court. yes Wrap Up: Select a vocabulary term to complete each sentence. 1. In the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln announced that all slaves in the South were free.2. The period of rebuilding after the Civil War is called Reconstruction.3. The secession crisis occurred when eleven southern states declared their independence from the United States.4. The 14th Amendment says that the government must treat all people the same way. This idea is called equal protection.5. Fair treatment by the government, or due process, comes in two types: substantive (what the law says) and procedural (how the law is enforced).