The End of the War Reconstruction

The Close of the War End of 1864 and early 1865, Union forces began to beat down the South. Lee surrendered on April 9, Five days later President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. The war left 618,000 dead (more than any other wars involving the U.S. combined) The widows were left to begin new lives. 4,000,000 slaves were now free but not equal. The need to bring the Union back together led toward a plan to reconstruct the United States.

Reconstruction One of the issues needing to be resolved after the war was how to readmit those states that had made up the Confederacy President Lincoln and Congress each had different views of how this was to be accomplished - Lincoln believed it was his authority to accept Southern states back into the Union while Congress believed it was its constitutional rights to readmit the states Lincoln’s plan was also seen as too lenient on the South

Differing Plans of Reconstruction Lincoln’s 10% Plan –Proclamation of Amnesty & Reconstruction –Offered full pardon to Southerners (w/exception to some Confederate leaders) if they took an oath of loyalty. 10% of voters on 1860 election had to participate –Emancipation of slaves had to be accepted –Once terms were met states could organize and begin steps for readmission –Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee ready to be readmitted in 1863 Congressional Plan –Wade-Davis Bill Radical Republicans opposed Lincoln’s plan –50% of voters in 1860 election had to take oath of loyalty to Union –Federal appointed governors would call for state elections to begin process of readmittance –Penalties for certain Confederate leaders (no voting rights; banned from holding office –Lincoln uses his pocket veto to defeat plan

Andrew Johnson From North Carolina, had no formal education (didn’t read or write until teen years) Served in the Senate, only Southern Senator to remain loyal to the Union even after secession In election of 1864, Lincoln chose him to be his running mate even though Johnson was a Democrat Becomes president upon Lincoln’s assassination; vows to continue Lincoln’s plan

Congress at Work 13th Amendment (January 1865) - abolishes slavery Freedmen’s Bureau (1865) - established to provide aid to former slaves and poor whites; passed out food, gave medical care, set up schools and hospitals Civil Rights Act (April 1866) - passed in response to Southern attempts to resume pre-Civil War life; granted equal rights to all citizens regardless of race; President Johnson will veto the act but Congress will override the veto 14th Amendment (June 1866) - makes civil rights part of the U.S. Constitution 15th Amendment (February 1869) - grants voting rights to all males of the U.S. including freedmen

Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan Most of Johnson’s plan centered on his dislike for southern planters (which he was not) & former slave owners. He accepted emancipation but was opposed to black equality Amnesty Plan differed greatly from Lincoln’s –Offered pardons to many southerners, but not high Confederate officials or Southerners who owned property worth $20,000 or more. These individuals had to apply directly to Johnson for a pardon before they could vote or hold office –Appointment of provisional governors to former Confederate states –Voting rights to freedmen but ignored the Civil Rights Act & the 14th Amendment

The Reconstruction Acts As a result of the South attempting to return to its “white” ways; also stemmed from continued problems between Congress and Johnson, Congress passed the following: –Military Reconstruction Act (March 1867) - declared Southern governments formed using Johnson’s plan as illegal –Command of Army Act - limited the power of the president as commander-in-chief of the armed forces –Tenure of Office Act - denied the president the power to fire any government official w/out approval of the Senate

Plan for Impeachment Congress plots to impeach President Johnson by passing the Reconstruction Acts w/the hope that Johnson would violate one of these laws –Johnson fires Secretary of War Edwin Stanton violating the Tenure of Office Act –Congress files charges of impeachment Feb 1868 –Johnson is acquitted by one vote Election of Republicans choose Ulysses Grant, Democrats choose Horation Seymour; Grant will win election in this very close race (black Republican voter turnout helps)

Dealing with the Freedmen The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in the Confederacy; after the war these “freedmen” now had to be dealt with Many choose to stay on the plantations & work for former masters or the widows; a great deal will head North or West Freedmen were given the opportunity to rent land also sharecropping was a way to get not only land but also supplies, a home, & equipment Numerous blacks began to participate in politics w/a few even being elected to the Senate

The South and the Freedmen Southern states reacted to having emancipated slaves by enacting “Black Codes” which were laws to govern the conduct of blacks. Southerners also resorted to violence against the freedmen. Terrorist groups formed to keep blacks from voting and taking part in politics. One group was the Ku Klux Klan.

Reconstruction Ends Democrats emerge as the “new” political party of the South U.S. suffers an economic depression Presidential election - Democrats nominate Samuel Tilden, Republicans nominate Rutherford Hayes, election is tainted by a scandal involving the electoral college; Hayes wins The South continues its struggle with accepting the 15th amendment and enacts the literacy test and poll taxes to discourage black voters Jim Crow laws which are designed to segregate blacks from whites are passed in the South