Healing or Punishment Slides Historical Inquiry
Healing or Punishment?
Evaluating the Plans to Rebuild the Union
Post-Civil War Era
Reconstruction
The Great Disagreement
"Two friends get into a massive fight. One friend wants to apologize, shake hands, and move on immediately. The other friend wants a strict punishment and a list of rules before they can be friends again."
Discussion Questions:
Who is right in this situation?
What happens if the punishment is too harsh?
What happens if the apology is too easy?
What is Reconstruction?
The Big Task
Reconstruction (1865–1877) was the period after the Civil War focused on:
Bringing the Southern states back into the Union.
Rebuilding the South's economy and society.
Protecting the rights of newly freed African Americans.
The Conflict
The President and Congress had very different ideas about how to do this.
Lincoln's "10% Plan"
Presidential Vision
Abraham Lincoln
Goal: Healing & Speed
Lincoln wanted to reunite the country as quickly as possible without extreme punishment.
The Oath
Only 10% of voters in a state had to swear loyalty to the Union.
Slavery
States had to agree that slavery was now illegal.
The Wade-Davis Bill
Congressional Vision
Goal: Punishment & Protection
Radical Republicans in Congress thought Lincoln was being too "soft" on the South.
The Oath
Over 50% of white men had to swear they never supported the Confederacy.
Voting Rights
Wanted to ensure newly freed people could vote and hold office.
"Radical" Republicans
Which Road Would You Take?
The Path of Forgiveness
"With malice toward none; with charity for all..."
Quick return to normal
Avoid another conflict
Easy terms for the South
The Path of Justice
"Treason must be made odious, and traitors must be punished and impoverished."
Strong protections for rights
Proof of loyalty required
Prevent old leaders from returning
Time to decide. Open your worksheets!
Battle of the Plans Worksheet Battle of the Plans
Reconstruction Comparison Worksheet
Name:
Date:
Mission Briefing
Compare President Abraham Lincoln's 10% Plan with the Radical Republicans' Wade-Davis Bill . Use the details from the lesson to fill in the Venn diagram. Focus on the requirements for swearing loyalty, the treatment of Southern leaders, and the rights of newly freed people.
Lincoln's 10% Plan
"Healing"
Wade-Davis Bill
"Punishment"
Both Plans
1 Which plan do you think was more likely to bring the country together quickly? Why?
2 Why was protecting the rights of freed people a priority for the Radical Republicans but not the main focus for Lincoln? Battle of the Plans Answer Key Battle of the Plans
Teacher Answer Key
Lesson 1: Reconstruction
Grade 5 History
Lincoln's 10% Plan
Only 10% of voters in a state had to swear loyalty to the Union.
Aimed for quick healing and reuniting.
"With malice toward none" - very lenient.
Pardons for most Confederates.
Both Plans
Required states to abolish slavery .
Required a new state constitution to be written.
Focused on readmitting Southern states to the Union.
Required an oath of loyalty to the U.S.
Wade-Davis Bill
Over 50% (majority) of white males had to swear loyalty.Required the "Ironclad Oath" (never supported Confederacy).
Stronger protections for the rights of freed people .
Southern states seen as "conquered provinces."
1. Which plan do you think was more likely to bring the country together quickly? Why?
Suggested Answer: Lincoln's 10% Plan was more likely to bring the country together quickly because it required a much smaller percentage of the population to agree to the terms and was less focused on punishing former Confederate leaders. This would make Southern states more willing to rejoin without further conflict.
2. Why was protecting the rights of freed people a priority for the Radical Republicans but not the main focus for Lincoln?
Suggested Answer: Radical Republicans believed that the war was fought to end slavery AND ensure equality. They feared that without strict rules, Southern leaders would try to take away the rights of African Americans. Lincoln's primary goal was the preservation of the Union; he believed that once the states were back, other issues could be resolved more easily.
Mapping Martial Law Slides Unit: Rebuilding the Union
Martial Law
The Military Reconstruction Acts of 1867
A Divided Land
MAP PLACEHOLDER
Students examine a map with 5 distinct zones labeled District 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Think About It:
If you saw your neighborhood divided into five zones, each controlled by a general and guarded by soldiers, what would you think was happening?
This was the reality for the American South in 1867.
Why Military Rule?
The Problem
Southern states were passing "Black Codes" (laws that restricted the freedom of African Americans) and refusing to give voting rights.
The Solution
Congress took control away from the President. They sent the Army to ensure the South followed the new laws and protected the 14th Amendment.
The Five Military Districts
District 1
Virginia
District 2
North & South Carolina
District 3
Georgia, Alabama, Florida
District 4
Mississippi & Arkansas
District 5
Louisiana & Texas
Tennessee
Readmitted early; not in a district!
Rules of the District:
Run by a Union General.
Soldiers protected voters.
Required states to ratify the 14th Amendment .
Required new constitutions giving Black men the vote.
Martial Law
"When the military takes control of the government and police because the local laws are not being followed or enforced."
Think-Pair-Share
Was this a fair way to treat the South, or was it too extreme?
The Military Map Activity The Military Map
Mapping the Reconstruction Acts of 1867
Name:
Date:
Instructions
In 1867, Congress passed the Military Reconstruction Acts, dividing the South into five districts. Your task is to identify and color-code the states in each district.
South Region Map
Use your textbook or class slides to locate and label the states below.
District 1: Virginia
District 2: NC, SC
District 3: GA, AL, FL
District 4: MS, AR
District 5: LA, TX
1. Which state was NOT part of a military district?
Why was this state excluded?
2. Looking at the map, which district was the largest in size?
3. What was the main purpose of the soldiers in these districts?
Critical Thinking: If you lived in District 3 during 1868, how would the presence of Union soldiers change your daily life? Consider this from the perspective of a former Confederate soldier AND a newly freed person.
The Military Map Answer Key The Military Map
Teacher Answer Key
Lesson 2: Reconstruction
The Districts
District 1: Virginia
District 2: North Carolina, South Carolina
District 3: Georgia, Alabama, Florida
District 4: Mississippi, Arkansas
District 5: Louisiana, Texas
Map Verification
Check that students have used 5 distinct colors for the districts and correctly labeled the state of Tennessee as being outside the districts (readmitted in 1866).
Martial Law Definition
Ensure students understand that the military was there to enforce the law when local governments refused to protect citizens' rights.
1. Which state was NOT part of a military district? Why?
Answer: Tennessee. It was not part of a district because it had already ratified the 14th Amendment and was readmitted to the Union in 1866, before the Military Reconstruction Acts were passed.
2. Looking at the map, which district was the largest in size?
Answer: District 5 (Louisiana and Texas), primarily due to the massive size of Texas.
3. What was the main purpose of the soldiers in these districts?
Answer: The soldiers were there to maintain order, protect the rights of newly freed African Americans (especially the right to vote), and ensure that states followed the new Reconstruction laws passed by Congress.
President on Trial Slides Constitutional Crisis
President on Trial
The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
Checks & Balances
The Constitution
Breaking News!
February 1868
THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN IMPEACHED!
For the first time in United States history, the House of Representatives has voted to put the President on trial for "High Crimes and Misdemeanors."
What does it mean to "impeach" a president? Is he automatically fired?
The Impeachment Process
Step 1: The House
The House of Representatives impeaches (formally accuses) the President of a crime.
Step 2: The Senate
The Senate acts as the jury . They hold a trial to decide if the President is guilty.
Step 3: The Vote
If 2/3 of the Senate votes "Guilty," the President is removed from office.
Impeachment is a check on the President's power by Congress.
Why was Johnson on Trial?
Andrew Johnson
Lincoln's Vice President who took over after the assassination. He was a Southerner who wanted to be very lenient with the South.
His Action:
He vetoed (rejected) almost every law Congress passed to help freed people and punish the South.
The Radical Republicans
Controlled Congress. They wanted to transform the South and protect African American rights.
Their Response:
They passed laws specifically to trap Johnson. When he broke one (the Tenure of Office Act), they struck!
The Results
The Senate trial lasted for weeks. When the final vote came...
NOT GUILTY
Johnson was saved by ONE VOTE.
Even though he wasn't removed, his power was gone. Congress controlled Reconstruction from then on.
The Senate Jury Worksheet The Senate Jury
Impeachment Trial of Andrew Johnson
Senator Name:
State:
The Case Brief
"President Andrew Johnson is accused of violating the Tenure of Office Act by firing his Secretary of War without Senate approval. However, the real reason for the trial is the deep disagreement over how to handle Reconstruction. You are a Senator. Listen to the arguments and decide the fate of the Presidency."
The Prosecution
Their Main Argument:
The President ignored the laws of Congress. If he can break one law, he can break them all. He is acting like a king, not a president. He is blocking the rights of 4 million freed people.
What is their strongest point?
The Defense
Their Main Argument:
The President has the right to choose his own team. Congress is just trying to fire him because they don't like his politics. Removing a president over a small disagreement would destroy the office forever.
What is their strongest point?
The Final Verdict
GUILTY
NOT GUILTY
Reasoning for your Vote:
"The President... shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." — Article II, Section 4
New Voices in Power Slides Radical Reconstruction
New Voices in Power
Black Political Leadership in the 1870s
Political Pioneers
The Right to Lead
What Changed?
The "Before": 1850s
"Enslaved people had no legal rights, no citizenship, and zero voice in the government. The Supreme Court even ruled they could never be citizens."
The "After": 1870s
"Over 1,500 African American men were elected to offices ranging from local sheriffs to the U.S. Senate."
Image: 1870 Congress Lithograph
The first Black members of the House and Senate.
A Revolution in Representation
Hiram Revels
First U.S. Senator
MISSISSIPPI (1870)
The Seat of Jefferson Davis
In an ironic twist of history, Revels was elected to the very same Senate seat that had been held by Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy!
Background
Born free in North Carolina. Served as a chaplain for Black soldiers in the Union Army.
Goals
Advocated for education for Black children and legal equality for all citizens.
Joseph Rainey
First U.S. Representative
A Voice for South Carolina
Born into slavery, Rainey escaped to Bermuda during the war before returning to South Carolina to enter politics. He served ten years in the House.
The Civil Rights Act
He fought tirelessly for the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which banned discrimination in public spaces.
Quote
"I tell you that the Negro will never be satisfied until he has every right that belongs to him as a man."
SOUTH CAROLINA (1870)
A Dream Delayed
While these leaders made incredible progress, they faced extreme danger. Secret groups like the KKK used violence and intimidation to stop Black citizens from voting and leading.
After Reconstruction ended in 1877, many of these rights were taken away for nearly 100 years.
Political Pioneer Trading Cards Political Pioneers
Reconstruction Trading Cards
Historian:
The Assignment
During Reconstruction, brave African Americans broke barriers by becoming the first to serve in Congress. Choose one leader (like Hiram Revels , Joseph Rainey , or Robert Smalls ) and create a historical trading card highlighting their journey and achievements.
Political Pioneer
Draw Portrait Here
Name: ___________
State: _______________
First Elected: _______________
Political Party: _______________
Legacy & Achievements
Early Life & Journey:
Major Accomplishment in Office:
Power Quote or Key Fact:
"_________________________________"
Cut along the borders and glue back-to-back to create your collector's card!
The Reconstruction Proposal Project Guide The Reconstruction Proposal
Culminating Project Guide
Advisors:
Your Mission
"The year is 1865. The war is over, but the nation is broken. You have been appointed as a Presidential Advisor. Your task is to draft a 'Plan for Reunification' that decides how to heal the North and South while ensuring justice for all citizens. You will present your proposal to the House of Representatives (your classmates)."
I. Amnesty
How do we treat former Confederate leaders and soldiers? Pardons or punishment?
II. Civil Rights
How will you protect the rights and safety of newly freed African Americans?
III. Presence
Will the U.S. military stay in the South? For how long? What is their job?
1. The Requirement for Readmission
What percentage of voters must swear loyalty? What other conditions must be met? (Example: ratifying amendments)
2. Economic Recovery
How will the South rebuild its farms and cities without slavery? Who pays for it?
3. The Big Why
Why is your plan the best for the FUTURE of the United States? Defend your choices.
Prepare to present your proposal in a 3-minute speech to the House of Representatives.
The Reconstruction Proposal Rubric Proposal Rubric
Reconstruction Project Assessment
Speaker of the House Scorecard
Group Name:
Total Score:
/ 20
Criterion Excellent (4) Good (3) Developing (2) Novice (1) Historical Accuracy Plan correctly uses terms like amnesty, 14th Amendment, and martial law. Plan uses most historical terms correctly. Some confusion about historical facts or terms. Plan does not reflect historical context. Balance & Logic Choices clearly address both reunification AND civil rights. Choices are logical but might favor one side too much. Plan is missing one major pillar (Amnesty, Rights, or Presence). Plan choices seem random or are not explained. Presentation Speakers are clear, confident, and make eye contact. Speakers are mostly clear and well-prepared. Speakers rely heavily on notes or are hard to hear. Presentation is disorganized or unprepared. Q&A Defense Group defends their plan with strong reasons when questioned. Group answers questions but reasons could be stronger. Group struggles to answer class questions. Group cannot defend their choices. Teamwork All members contributed equally to the proposal. Most members contributed significantly. One or two people did most of the work. Group did not work well together.
Speaker's Notes & Feedback
"The task of rebuilding is greater than the task of winning."
