Apush Case

During the civil war and the period of reconstruction that occurred around 1865-1877 many changes were made to how the nation was to be run. This was a period in which the federal government had to step in and make changes to ensure the stability of the nation. The federal government had more of a role in improving race relations and settling disputes brought on by the nation's westward expansion. Although the U.S. government meant to unite the conflicting regions of the United States and reconcile whites with blacks and Native Americans following the Civil War, it ultimately divided them even further.

Race Relations was important to the start of the Civil War. The government's inability to set stable and fair rules about slavery created tension between the North and the South. Although there were more factors than just slavery and race contributing to the start of the Civil War, The Emancipation Proclamation of 1861 is an important event in making the war more race related. The Emancipation Proclamation addressed a supposed end to slavery thus causing a rebellion among Southern slaves, creating further tension. After the Civil War was fought from 1861-1865 a period of reconstruction was necessary to unite the nation again. In the south slavery was abolished under the 13th amendment and the three fifths compromise was repealed. As a result Southern states gained more representation in the federal government. After slavery was abolished, the Freedmen's Bureau was used to help freed slaves through the period of reconstruction. The Bureau's goal was for Congress to help former slaves with legal food and housing, oversight, education, health care, and employment contracts with private landowners. Another act of the federal government at this time was the creation of the 14th amendment containing its Citizenship Clause that provides a broad definition of citizenship that overruled the Dred Scott v. Sandford ruling by the Supreme Court that held that blacks could not be citizens of the United States.

Westward expansion was an important movement during and after the civil war. One act put forth by the government was the Homestead Act of 1862 which granted 160 acres of land to homesteaders. This promoted small farms as well as promoting the union army. The Homestead act provided special treatment and land to those who fought on the Union army and those who fought against received nothing. This changed the role in the federal government because it allowed the government to distribute land as a method of bribery. In order to gain all this new land, the government had a hand in "exterminating" the Native Americans. General Custer killed important Native American leaders, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, in what was called "Custer's Last Stand". As a result, the government moved the Native American's to reservations throughout the west.