RECONSTRUCTION

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RECONSTRUCTION
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The Beginning

• After the Civil War, the South was defeated
  militarily, devastated economically, and many
  were just trying to rebuild their lives.
• Reconstruction-rebuilding the nation after war
• Congress and the President had to decide how to
  reunite the nation how to deal with former
  Confederates and former slaves and their
  admittance into the Union.

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Lincolns Plan for Reconstruction

• Lincolns Plan Proclamation of Amnesty and
  Reconstruction.
• He wanted to reconcile with the South instead of
  punishing them.
• Lincoln offered to pardon all southerners who
  took the loyalty oath.
• When 10 of the voters had taken the oath, a new
  state government would be organized.
• Confederate government officials, military
  officers, judges and members of Congress would
  not be pardoned.

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Radical Republicans

• Radical Republicans did not want to reconcile
  with the South.
• These were led by Thaddeus Stevens and Charles
  Sumner.

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Radical Republicans Cont.

• They had three goals
• 1. Prevent Confederate leaders from returning to
  power
• 2. Wanted the Republican Party to be powerful in
  the South
• 3. Wanted the federal govt. to help African
  Americans achieve political equality by
  guaranteeing the right to vote.

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Wade-Davis Bill

• Moderates were caught in the middle of these
  plans and created
• The Wade-Davis Bill (1864)- majority of adult
  white men in the Confederacy had to take an oath
  of allegiance before a new state govt. could be
  formed.
• Each state would have to abolish slavery, reject
  all Confederate debts and deny all former
  Confederate govt. officials and military officers
  the right to vote.

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Wade-Davis Cont.

• Congress passed the Wade-Davis Bill, but Lincoln
  blocked it with a pocket veto. He did not want a
  harsh peace agreement with the South. He feared
  it would alienate southerners when the South was
  already devastated and thousands of freedmen were
  following Union troops seeking help.

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Freedmans Bureau

• March, 1865 Freedmens Bureau was established
  to feed and clothe war refugees. It also helped
  former slaves find work and get educated.

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Johnsons Plan for Recon

• Johnsons plan in the summer of 1865, with
  Congress in recess, Johnson began implementing
  his plan which resembled Lincolns.
• He would accept a loyalty oath from southerners,
  except for Confederate officers and officials.
  Southern states had to ratify the 13th Amendment
  to abolish slavery.

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President Andrew Johnson's Plan Radical Republicans' Plan (Congress)
To reenter the Union, states had to- swear allegiance to the Union- ratify the 13th amendment Was willing to pardon high-ranking Confederate officers Favored states' rights on issues such as giving African Americans the right to vote Did not support the Freedman's Bureau Took a conciliatory approach Supported the Freedman's Bureau- Created schools- Created hospitals- Created Industrial Institutes- Created teacher-training centers- Distributed food and clothing Supported Civil Rights Act of 1866, which outlawed Black Codes Passage of 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments required to reenter Union Divided the South into five military districts Supported equal rights for African Americans
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Black Codes

• By the time Congress returned in December, the
  process was well underway.
• Many were displeased that southern voters had
  elected many Confederate leaders to Congress.
• Southern states had also passed new laws, called
  black codes, to restrict the rights of freedmen.
  These included things like curfews, restrictions
  on property ownership and employment.

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14th Amendment

• Congress formed a Joint Committee on
  Reconstruction to develop their own program.
• They proposed the 14th Amendment which granted
  citizenship to former slaves this would
  guarantee property rights and provide equal
  protection under the law.

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Military Reconstruction Act

• 1867 Congress passed the Military
  Reconstruction Act. This divided the former
  Confederacy into 5 districts.
• A Union general was placed in charge of each
  district to maintain peace and protection.
• Each state had to hold new constitutional
  conventions to design constitutions acceptable to
  Congress. They had to give the right to vote to
  all males and ratify the 14th Amendment.

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Military Reconstruction Act
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Offices created by the President

• Johnson had shown the willingness to veto bills
  passed by Congress. To avoid this, Congress
  passed the Command of the Army Act and the Tenure
  of Office Act.
• The Command of the Army Act required all orders
  from the president to go through General Grant
  first.
• Tenure of Office Act required the Senate to
  approve the presidents removal of any govt.
  official that had been approved by the Senate.

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Impeachment of Pres. Johnson

• Johnson retaliated by firing Secretary of State
  Stanton.
• Within a week, the House of Representatives voted
  to impeach Johnson.
• He was charged with high crimes and
  misdemeanors. He had broken the law when he
  refused to uphold the Tenure of Office Act.
• Johnsons impeachment vote was one short of
  removing him from office.

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15th amendment and Grant

• Johnson did not run for re-election.
• U.S. Grant would be the next president.
• Congress passed the 15th Amendment gave former
  slaves the right to vote.

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Africans during Reconstruction

• Immediately after the war ended during
  Reconstruction African Americans were allowed
  to vote and some were elected to Congress and
  state offices.