A Level History - America - Practice Exam

What was the purpose of the Amnesty Act of 1872?

1. To grant citizenship to Native Americans

2. To allow Confederates to regain voting rights

3. To redistribute land to former slaves

4. To establish new states in the West

The correct answer is: To allow Confederates to regain voting rights

The Amnesty Act of 1872 was aimed at restoring voting rights and political participation to many individuals who had been involved in the Confederate government during the Civil War. By allowing former Confederates to regain their voting rights, the act sought to promote reconciliation between the North and the South after years of conflict. This legislative measure was part of a broader effort during the Reconstruction era to heal national divisions and facilitate the reintegration of Southern states into the Union. The other options do not accurately represent the act's contents or intentions. Granting citizenship to Native Americans was a different legislative process and was not the focus of the Amnesty Act. Additionally, redistribution of land to former slaves was part of more extensive debates and policies surrounding Reconstruction but not the purpose of the Amnesty Act. Lastly, the establishment of new states in the West was a separate issue related to westward expansion and did not pertain to the restoration of voting rights for former Confederates. Overall, the Amnesty Act was significant in redefining the political landscape of post-Civil War America by enabling a group previously marginalized due to their Confederate allegiance to participate once again in civic duties.