USHI1.S9.O3.02 Standard 9 Objective 3 Learning Page
Reconstruction
It is one thing to win a war. It’s completely different to solve the problems of the war. The Civil War became the bloodiest war fought by Americans. More than 3 million fought in the war and over 620,000 men died (over 2% of the whole population!). The Civil War began as a war to keep the United States together and ended up becoming a war to end slavery. The south was destroyed by “total warfare”. The leaders of the country must now decide how to bring the United States back together.
Video #1
This is the introduction to the PBS "Reconstruction" program. As you watch this clip, pay attention to some of the problems that will need to be dealt with after the Civil War and the different perspectives of northerners, white southerners, and former slaves.
Video #2
Power Struggle Over Who "Reconstructs"
Reading: Impeachment of Andrew Johnson Links to an external site.
Video #3
Congressional Reconstruction: Success or Failure?