Reconstruction Venn is a term that refers to a venn diagram that compares and contrasts the different plans for Reconstruction after the American Civil War. Reconstruction was the period from 1865 to 1877 when the United States tried to reunite the nation and protect the rights of the freed slaves. There were three main plans for Reconstruction: Lincoln’s plan, Johnson’s plan, and the Radical Republicans’ plan. Each plan had different goals, methods, and outcomes for the South and the former slaves.
A venn diagram is a graphic organizer that uses overlapping circles to show the similarities and differences between two or more sets of items. A Reconstruction Venn diagram would show how the three plans for Reconstruction overlapped and differed in terms of their views on amnesty, loyalty, suffrage, military occupation, and civil rights. For example, Lincoln’s plan and Johnson’s plan both offered amnesty to most former Confederates, but the Radical Republicans’ plan was more harsh and required a majority of the white males in each state to swear loyalty to the Union. The Radical Republicans’ plan also granted suffrage to all black men, while Lincoln’s plan and Johnson’s plan left that decision to the states. The Radical Republicans’ plan also imposed military occupation and civil rights legislation on the South, while Lincoln’s plan and Johnson’s plan were more lenient and conciliatory.
A Reconstruction Venn diagram can help students understand the complex and controversial history of Reconstruction and how it shaped the nation’s future. It can also help students analyze the sources and motivations of the different political factions that influenced Reconstruction and how they responded to the challenges and opportunities of the post-war era. A Reconstruction Venn diagram can also help students compare and contrast the different perspectives and experiences of the various groups of people involved in Reconstruction, such as the former slaves, the white Southerners, the Northern Republicans, and the Southern Democrats.
Here is an example of a Reconstruction Venn diagram that I created using my own words and knowledge:
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Lincoln’s Plan Johnson’s Plan Radical Republicans’ Plan
– 10% Plan: 10% of voters in – Similar to Lincoln’s plan, – Wade-Davis Bill: 50% of voters
each state had to take an oath but more lenient to former in each state had to take an
of loyalty to the Union and Confederates and more hostile ironclad oath of loyalty to the
accept the end of slavery to former