Ch17 Lesson 2 “Congressional Reconstruction”

Terms to know

Marking the text 1. Highlight the two reasons why Northerners thought Congress should oversee Reconstruction, rather than the president.

Students should highlight: “The U. S Students should highlight: “The U.S. Constitution give Congress, not the president, the power to admit new states. For that reason many Northerners believed that Congress should oversee Reconstruction. Also, they saw that President Johnson’s Reconstruction plan had produced few changes in the South”.

2. Who were the Radical Republicans? Defining 2. Who were the Radical Republicans?

The Radical Republicans were Republicans who believed that Congress should direct Reconstruction.

Reading progress check 3. What actions by Texans and other Southerners upset Northern lawmakers in 1866?

Northern lawmakers were upset because people in Texas and other parts of the South: elected ex-Confederates to lead state governments, sent ex-Confederates to Congress, and passed black codes to limit African American’s rights.

What two states made up the military Fifth District? Identifying What two states made up the military Fifth District?

Texas and Louisiana made up the military Fifth District.

Marking the text 5. Highlight the conditions Southern states had to meet to be rid of military rule.

Students should highlight: “The Southern states had to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment. Some states, including Texas, had to ratify the Fifteenth Amendment, too. This guaranteed African American men the right to vote. States had to write new constitutions giving African American men the right to vote and hold public office. They also had to repeal the black codes.”

Amendments to know 13th amendment 14th amendment 15th amendment

6. What fraction of all Texas voters were freedmen by 1868? identifying 6. What fraction of all Texas voters were freedmen by 1868?

By 1868 nearly one half (50%) of all Texas voters were freedmen.

7. Who were the carpetbaggers and scalawags? defining 7. Who were the carpetbaggers and scalawags?

Carpetbaggers were Northerners in the South working for a Reconstruction government. Scalawags were white Southerners who supported Reconstruction.

Reading progress check 8. What two U.S. military officers controlled Texas during the period of Radical Reconstruction?

General Philip Sheridan was the military commander of the Fifth District, which included Texas. General Sheridan assigned the command of Texas to General Charles Griffin.

9. Underline two positive changes Governor Davis made in Texas. Marking the text 9. Underline two positive changes Governor Davis made in Texas.

Students should underline “He and the legislature improved Texas roads and set up compulsory public schools for African American and white children”.

Reading progress check 10. Describe the 1873 election for Texas governor and its outcome.

Democratic candidate Richard Coke won, but the Republicans contested it and the Texas Supreme Court nullified the election. Democrats were determined to replace Governor Edward Davis by force, if necessary. When President Grant refused to support Davis by sending troops. Davis resigned, ending Republican control of Texas government.

Writing: check for understanding Expository: Why Northerners think President Johnson’s Reconstruction plan was a failure? Expository: Who were the Ku Klux Klan, and what were their goals and methods? The KKK was a group of white Southerners who wanted to block Reconstruction and prevent African Americans from voting. The Klan threatened and attached freemen and Freedmen’s Bureau workers. They also attacked carpetbaggers and scalawags.