Reconstruction: The Battle Between the Branches

Overview

What happens when the branches of government don’t see eye to eye? After the Civil War, the federal government’s vision for Reconstruction led to a political battle between the legislative and executive branches over how to rebuild the country. In this lesson, students learn how Congress and the president clashed over the issue of civil rights for Freed People and how both branches used their powers and checks to try and undermine each other.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Defense Education Program (NDEP) for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education, Outreach, and Workforce Initiative Programs under Grant No. HQ0034-21-S-F001. The views expressed in written materials or publications, and/or made by speakers, moderators, and presenters, do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Defense nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.