SS.912.A.2.3

During the early Reconstruction era, a significant issue that divided Republicans was:

• Whether to establish new trade agreements with European nations.

• How to address the rights and suffrage of freed African Americans in the South.

• The decision to relocate the nation's capital to a more central location.

• Whether to reduce tariffs to stimulate Southern economies.

The impeachment of President Andrew Johnson created divisions within the Republican Party because:

• He sought to extend voting rights to women before African Americans.

• His violation of the Tenure of Office Act raised questions about executive power.

• He refused to sign the Emancipation Proclamation into law.

• His aggressive military policies in the West conflicted with party goals.

Radical Republicans differed from Moderate Republicans primarily in their:

• Support for immediate statehood for all Western territories.

• Opposition to any form of civil rights for former Confederate soldiers.

• Approach to Reconstruction, especially regarding civil rights for freedmen.

• Desire to maintain a strong alliance with President Andrew Johnson.

The emergence of white extremist groups like the Ku Klux Klan affected Republican strategies by:

• Encouraging the party to promote these groups to gain Southern votes.

• Leading some Republicans to advocate for stronger federal protection of African Americans.

• Resulting in the withdrawal of all federal troops from the South to reduce tensions.

• Causing Republicans to shift focus entirely to economic issues in the North.

One economic debate among Republicans during Reconstruction involved:

• Implementing a national sales tax to fund public education.

• Deciding whether to redistribute land to former slaves to aid their independence.

• Establishing government subsidies for the railroad industry exclusively.

• Reducing federal spending to pre-war levels to balance the budget.

Some Republicans were reluctant to grant full voting rights to African Americans because they:

• Believed it would alienate Southern white voters and weaken the party's influence.

• Thought African Americans preferred to focus on agricultural work.

• Feared it would lead to increased migration to Northern states.

• Wanted to test literacy requirements on all voters first.

The integration of African American legislators into Southern governments resulted in:

• A unanimous Republican agreement on Reconstruction policies.

• Internal disagreements among Republicans over the emphasis on racial equality.

• Immediate improvements in Southern economies due to new policies.

• The resignation of many Republican officials in protest.

Disagreements over enforcing Reconstruction laws contributed to Republican divisions by:

• Sparking debates on the constitutionality of federal intervention in states.

• Leading to conflicts over international treaties unrelated to Reconstruction.

• Causing disputes about increasing taxes on imported goods.

• Resulting in arguments over the creation of a national bank.

The primary difference between Presidential and Congressional Reconstruction was:

• The method of financing the rebuilding of Southern infrastructure.

• The strategy for dealing with Native American tribes in the West.

• The leniency towards former Confederates and protection of freedmen's rights.

• The timeline for granting statehood to territories in the Midwest.

A social consequence of Reconstruction that highlighted Republican divisions was:

• The rapid industrialization of the Southern economy.

• Resistance from Southern whites leading to debates on how strictly to enforce new civil rights laws.

• The unanimous acceptance of the 15th Amendment by all states.

• The successful implementation of nationwide compulsory education.