Reconstruction, Chapter 12

RECONSTRUCTION PLANS Chapter 12 Section 1

The Reconstruction Battle Begins Reconstruction – rebuilding after the war. Lincoln’s Plan – Offer amnesty, pardon to all Southerners who took an oath of loyalty. The Radical Republicans – Opposed Lincoln’s plan. – 3 main goals: 1.Prevent Confederate leaders from returning to power 2.Republican power in the South. 3.Federal government guarantee right to vote for African Americans.

The Wade-Davis Bill Would have required an oath of allegiance. Must abolish slavery Confederate leaders and officers could not vote. Lincoln blocked it with a pocket veto, he let the session of Congress expire without signing the bill.

The Freedmen’s Bureau Lincoln had to deal with the freed African Americans, called freedmen who began following the Union army for food and shelter. Congress created the Freedmen’s Bureau to feed and clothe war refugees in the South. Many wanted to give “Forty acres and a mule” Made improvements in education. Negotiated work contracts.

Reconstruction Plan’s Imagine you are a member of Congress in 1864 and Choose either President Lincoln’s approach to Reconstruction or the Radical Republicans approach. Make an argument justifying your position. Think of pros and cons, dangers or consequences with your plan.

CONGRESSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION Chapter 12 Section 2

Johnson Takes Office Andrew Johnson Democrat from Tennessee Johnson’s Plan: – Restoration plan – Proclamation of Amnesty- pardon all citizens of the Confederacy if they take an oath of loyalty to the Union. – States had to call a Constitutional Convention and revoke secession and ratify the 13 th amendment. – Many former Confederates were elected to Congress, angering other members.

Johnson Takes Office, cont. The new Southern state legislatures passed a series of laws known as black codes, which severely limited African Americans’ rights in the South. Intended to keep African Americans in a condition similar to slavery.

Radical Republicans Take Control Angry over Johnson’s Reconstruction plan, Moderate Republicans join with radical republicans to develop their own plan of rebuilding the Union. Civil Rights Act of 1866 – Granted citizenship to all born in the U.S., except Native Americans 14 th Amendment-granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and declared that no state could deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. – “Equal Protection Under the Law” – Passed June 1866

The Election of 1866 President Johnson attacks the 14 th amendment hoping Northern voters will vote against Radical Republicans. Violence in the South against R.R. – Johnson blames R.R.; R.R. blame Johnson and Democrats as being traitors. Republicans achieve an overwhelming victory – 3-to-1 majority in Congress.

Military Reconstruction March 1867, Republicans pass the Military Reconstruction Act, divided former Confederacy into five military districts.

Impeachment Republicans pass the Command of the Army Act and Tenure of Office Act. All orders from the president to go through the headquarters of the general of the army and prevented Johnson from firing any government official whose appointment required the Senate’s approval. Johnson fires Sec. of War Edwin Stanton

Impeachment Feb. 24, 1868 – the House of Representatives vote to impeach Johnson. – “High Crimes and Misdemeanors” Johnson put on trial before the Senate. 2/3 majority needed for removal from office. – Senate votes 35 to 19, one vote short of conviction.

Election of 1868 Republicans nominate Ulysses S. Grant Democrats nominate Horatio Seymour

The Fifteenth Amendment Declared that the right to vote “shall not be denied on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Radical Reconstruction’s impact on the South: – Brought thousands of African Americans into the political process for the first time. – Began to change Southern society. – Angered many white Southerners.

REPUBLICAN RULE Section 3

Republican Rule in the South By late 1870, all former Confederate states had rejoined the Union. – Republican party takes power. Carpetbaggers- Northerners who moved to the South, many with the intent to exploit the war torn region. Scalawags- White southerners who worked with Republicans and supported Reconstruction. – Old Scotch-Irish term for weak, underfed, worthless animals.

Republican Rule in the South African Americans Enter Politics – Served on state constitutional committees, as mayors, police chiefs, United States House of Representatives, and Senate – “Black Republicanism” Republican Reforms in the South – Repealed the black codes – Est. hospitals, orphanages, rebuilt roads, railways, and bridges. – Graft, or gaining money illegally through politics was common in the South.

African American Communities A desire to learn – By 1876, about 40 percent of all African American children (roughly 600,000 students) attended school in the region. – African American colleges and universities like Morehouse College. Churches and Social Organizations – Served as the center of many African American communities.

RECONSTRUCTION COLLAPSES Chapter 12 Section 4

The Grant Administration Grant’s beliefs about politics left him weak and ineffective on many issues. Republicans split – Liberal Republicans side with Democrats over Republican programs introduced during the Civil War such as sin taxes. – Liberal Republicans tried to prevent Grant from a second term. – To gain Southern support they promised to pardon Confederates and remove troops from the South.

The Grant Administration Scandals tarnish Grants second term. – Sec. of War William Belknap accepted bribes. – “Whiskey Ring” Scandal Group of St. Louis distillers cheated the government out of millions of dollars. The Panic of 1873 – Severe economic crisis

Reconstruction Ends Democrats “Redeem” the South through voter fraud, bribery, and appealing to racism. Election of 1876 – Republicans nominate Rutherford B. Hayes. – Democrats nominate Samuel Tilden

Election of 1876

Reconstruction Ends Compromise of 1877 – 15 person commission appointed to deal with the issue. – 8 Republicans; 7 Democrats – Both houses of Congress had to approve the vote. – April 1877, Hayes pulled federal troops out of the South, ending Reconstruction.

A “New South” Arises The South experienced industrial growth. – Railroads, tobacco processing, cotton mills. For African Americans, an end to Reconstruction meant a return to the “Old South”. – Many became tenant farmers, paying rent for the land they farmed. – Others became sharecroppers, paying a share of their crops to cover their rent. – Many lost much of their newly gained freedom.