Lincoln's Reconstruction Plan
by Rosanne Lichatin

Essential Question:

To what degree was Abraham Lincoln successful in achieving his goals?

Background
The Civil War was perhaps the most momentous event that the United States endured in its history. Author and historian Shelby Foote said, “Any understanding of this nation has to be based on an understanding of the Civil War…It was the crossroads of our being.” The key personality in that contest was President Abraham Lincoln, who had the arduous task of steering this nation through the war and also the more difficult challenge of determining a course for peace and Reconstruction. As war leader and peacemaker, he faced criticism from political opponents as well as from members of his own party. This lesson will allow students to explore Lincoln’s words, speeches, and proclamations in order to understand his views on secession, amnesty, and Reconstruction as well as his hopes for the nation.

Objectives

  1. Students will examine primary documents in order to understand and evaluate Lincoln's plans for Reconstruction.

  2. Students will be able to identify the specific proposals Lincoln made for the readmission of Southern states, amnesty, and opportunities for freedmen.

  3. Students will analyze the conflict between the executive and legislative branches in trying to assert control over Reconstruction during Lincoln's term.

  4. Students will recognize the need for cooperation and compromise in creating federal policy on Reconstruction.

  5. Students will recognize the significance of Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address in setting the tone of reconciliation for the nation.
Procedure

Homework Assignment #1:
Divide the class in half. One half will be assigned "Lincoln's Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction." The other half will read the Wade-Davis Bill.

Documents:

The Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, December 8, 1863. http://www.history.umd.edu/Freedmen/procamn.htm

The Wade Davis-Bill, July 1864
www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=37&page=transcript

Students should answer the following questions in writing and be prepared to discuss them in class the next day:
  1. Who is the author of this document and when was it produced?
  2. According to the document, who should control Reconstruction?
  3. According to the document, what is the role of the executive branch? The legislative branch?
  4. What conditions must be met for Southern states to be readmitted to the Union?
  5. Who should be excluded from readmission? Is a rationale provided to justify this exclusion? Do you support it?
  6. Does this document indicate any provisions to support or assist former slaves?
  7. Who do you think would support this document? Who would reject it?
  8. What do you believe is the strength of this proposal?
  9. What difficulties do you believe might arise if this proposal was accepted?
  10. Choose one adjective to describe the terms of this plan. Be prepared to defend your choice.
Day 1:
  1. Students will share their responses in class, and a chart will be constructed to compare Lincoln’s plan with the Wade-Davis Bill. Students will debate the merits of each proposal and share their arguments.

  2. Distribute a copy of Lincoln's response to the Wade-Davis Bill to each student (Lincoln's response is printed at the bottom of this page):
    www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=37&page=transcript

All students will read this document in class and comment on Lincoln’s response.

  • What argument does Lincoln provide for not accepting the Wade-Davis Bill?
  • If you had been a member of Congress who had supported the Wade-Davis Bill, how would you have reacted to Lincoln's pocket veto?
Homework Assignment #2:

Document: Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/presiden/inaug/lincoln2.htm

Students should read Lincoln’s address for homework and come to class prepared to discuss its importance. The class will be divided into groups of three to discuss and respond to the following questions:
  • To whom do you think Lincoln was addressing his comments?


  • In her book Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin says about Lincoln, “More than any of his other speeches, the Second Inaugural fused spiritual faith with politics.” Identify specific comments made by Lincoln that prove this statement.
Day 2:
  1. The class will be divided into groups of three to discuss and respond to the
    homework questions.


  2. Suggested enrichment:
    1. The following document can be shared with students to bring the
      inauguration and the activities surrounding it to life:


      2. A photograph of the Re-Inauguration of President Lincoln,
      4th March, 1865 (distant view) can be found at:
      http://www.gilderlehrman.org/search/ display_results.php?id=GLC05111.01.0006
    2. Read George Rable's essay, "Lincoln's Civil Religion," in this issue
      of HISTORY NOW.
    3. An additional resource for an analysis of Lincoln’s Second
      Inaugural Address can be found at:
      http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues02/ apr02/lincoln.html
      Interview with Ronald C. White Jr., author of
      Lincoln’s Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural      , 2002.
    4. “An Inaugural Poem” dedicated to Abraham Lincoln of Illinois and Andrew Johnson of Tennessee. Printed in the Inauguration
      Procession of Lincoln & Johnson, Chronicle Junior
      http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/
      [Search for "Inaugural Poem"]

      Each stanza will be assigned to two students to analyze. Students will read the entire poem and then be responsible for reporting the meaning of their stanzas to the rest of the class. As part of that exercise, they will discuss how the poem frames the challenge Lincoln faced in saving the Union.

  3. Students will read the following in class:

    Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln & Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address by Frederick Douglass
    http://www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/content_inside.asp? ID=38&subjectID=2

    The teacher will lead a discussion that focuses on the following questions:
  • In what way did Lincoln make Douglass feel that he was supportive of the black race?
  • What words from the inaugural address do you think impressed Frederick Douglass
    the most?

Application:

  • Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper either supporting or opposing:
    1.) Andrew Johnson's Plan for Reconstruction
    OR
    2.) the Radical Reconstruction Plan.
  • Write a newspaper editorial responding to Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address.
  • Create an annotated historical timeline of Lincoln’s Reconstruction policies.
© The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, 2005. All Rights Reserved.