US History
CIVIL WAR & RECONSTRUCTION
Zinn, Chapter 9 reading guide #2
Pages 186 – 205
1. Lincoln’s priority as President was unifying the states. How
does this political / personal goal affect his other policy of emancipating
the slaves?
2. What is ironic about the Emancipation Proclamation (with regard to “freeing
the slaves”)?
3. Other than fighting as soldiers of the Union Army, how did the slaves
help force surrender of the South?
Important quote from an unnamed Confederate General: “If slaves
will make good soldiers, our whole theory of slavery is wrong.”
4. If one of the arguments or theories supporting the claim that slaves were
happy in bondage was that some of them stayed on the plantations during the
war and following the emancipation proclamation, what does Zinn offer to
refute it?
5. What situations and policies were obstacles for Southern Blacks getting
land following the war?
6. Following the assassination of Lincoln, Andrew Johnson became president.
What did Johnson do with regard to the rights of the freed slaves?
7. Name one of the “Black Codes” enacted by southern states.
8. What are some of the immediate advancements made by Blacks following the
war?
9. The Supreme Court, in the late 1870’s, began to interpret the 14th
amendment in a manner, which made it difficult to enforce. What was
its interpretation? (Page 199)
Important fact: 19 of the 24 northern states did not allow blacks to vote.
10. What was Booker T. Washington’s statement about his fellow Blacks?
(Page 203-04)
11. What is Du Bois’ vision of the working poor? What is this
new capitalism?
