Reconstructing Society

Objective 3.04 Analyze the political, economic, and social impact of Reconstruction on the nation and identify the reasons why Reconstruction came to an end.

Reconstruction Period during which the United States began to rebuild following the Civil War (1865-1877). The process the federal government used to readmit the Confederate States.

Ideas on Reconstruction Lincoln, his successor (Andrew Johnson), and Congress all had differing ideas on how Reconstruction should be handled.

Presidential Reconstruction Abraham Lincoln – announced his 10 percent plan in 1863. This said that all Confederates except for high ranking officials and those accused of war crimes would be pardoned if they would swear allegiance to the Union. Once 10 percent of those on 1860 voting lists took the oath, a Confederate state could form a new state government and gain rep. in Congress.

Radical Republicans Congressmen who wanted to destroy the political power of former slaveholders. They wanted African-Americans to be given full citizenship and the right to vote. No other country that had abolished slavery had done this. Led by C. Sumner (Mass.) and Thaddeus Stevens (Penn.)

Wade-Davis Bill 1864 – states that Congress, not president, is responsible for Reconstruction. Also, for a state government to be formed, a majority of the voters from 1860 must take an oath to support the Constitution.

Lincoln’s Pocket Veto Lincoln used a pocket veto to kill the Wade-Davis Bill after Congress had adjourned. Bill was passed less than 10 days before session ended, and president simply ignored it.

Showdown Radicals are outraged over Lincoln’s pocket veto and a presidential-congressional showdown is set for the Reconstruction process.

Assassination of Lincoln Lincoln’s death complicates the Reconstruction process.

Lincoln’s Successor Andrew Johnson becomes President after Lincoln’s assassination. Johnson was a Democrat from Tennessee. He was the only senator from a Confederate state to remain loyal to the Union. He was seen as a traitor in the South. Radicals believed that he was one of them.

13th Amendment 1865 – abolished slavery and allowed Congress to pass legislation implementing its abolition

Andrew Johnson

Johnson’s Plan May, 1865 – Johnson announces his own Presidential Reconstruction plan. Each of the seven remaining Confederate states could be readmitted to the Union if it met several Conditions: Withdraw it secession Annul Confederate war debts Ratify the 13th Amendment (abolished slavery)

Radical Disappointment Thaddeus Stevens and Radicals in Congress were upset that Johnson’s plan (like Lincoln’s) failed to address the needs of former slaves in three areas: Land Voting rights Protection under the law

New Southern Congressmen December 1865, newly elected Southern legislators arrived at Congress. Most had sat in the Congress of the Confederacy and four had even been Confederate generals. Johnson pardoned all of them, angering Radicals and giving African-Americans a feeling of betrayal.

Standoff in Congress Congress refuses to admit newly elected Southern legislators.

Freedmen’s Bureau Congress continues and enlarges the Freedmen’s Bureau (1866). Assisted former slaves and poor whites in the South by distributing clothing and food. Also set up hospitals, schools, industrial institutes, and teacher-training centers.

Freedmen’s Bureau Former slaves line up to receive rations

Civil Rights Act of 1866 Gave African-Americans citizenship and forbade states from passing black codes.

Black Codes Discriminatory laws that severely restricted African-American’s lives. First enacted by SC and Miss.

Black Codes (continued) Restored many of the restrictions of slavery. Showed many members of Congress that the South had not given up the idea of keeping African Americans in bondage.

Johnson Vetoed the Freedmen’s Bureau Act and the Civil Rights Act Johnson alienated moderate Republicans who were trying to work with him on Reconstruction. Moderate and Radical Republicans joined together to override Johnson’s vetoes of both of these acts. Became the first legislation ever enacted over a presidential veto.

Swingin’ Round the Circle •Congressional Elections of 1866 –Johnson wanted members sympathetic to the South –Started his “swing round the circle” tour –Such a bad speaker he helped Republicans get votes •Got better than 2/3 majority- veto-proof

Fourteenth Amendment Provided a Constitutional basis for the Civil Rights Act. Made “all persons born or naturalized in the United States” citizens of the country. No state could provide any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

Johnson opposes Johnson opposed the Fourteenth Amendment because he thought it treated former Confederates too harshly. Johnson wanted to break the power of the planter aristocracy in the South, but he was also committed to white rule. All Southern states but Tennessee rejected it. Amendment was not ratified until 1868.

1866 Congressional Elections Who should control Reconstruction? Became one of the central issues in the 1866 congressional elections. Moderate and Radical Republicans won a landslide victory over Democrats. Republicans were ensured of having the numbers to override presidential vetoes.

Reconstruction Act of 1867 Abolished governments formed in the former Confederate states; divided those states into five military districts; set up requirements for readmission to the Union.

Military Districts of the South

Scalawags and Carpetbaggers

Johnson Impeached Radicals wanted to impeach the president – to formally charge him with misconduct in office. Congress charged Johnson with violating the Tenure of Office Act. Dealt with presidential removal of cabinet officers.

Impeachment fails Radicals came up one vote short in the Senate of gaining required two-thirds majority for impeachment. Johnson stays in office, but his power as a president was hopelessly weakened.

NOT GUILTY •Johnson violated TOA as a test •Thaddeus Stevens a prosecutor •Vote fell one short of removal –7 Republicans had voted not guilty –Would have been a dangerous precedent –Most didn’t like the next in line (B. Wade) –Johnson indicated he’d stop obstructing Rep. legislation

Election of 1868 Horatio Seymour, Gov. of NY ran as the Democrat Gen. Ulysses S. Grant ran as the Republican. Grant won by a wide margin in the electoral college but a slim popular vote. Election showed the importance of the African-American vote to the Republican Party.

Ulysses S. Grant

Fifteenth Amendment Radicals were afraid that Southern whites might try to limit black suffrage. States that no person could be kept from voting because of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

No Women Voters •Women left out of 15th Amend. •major part in abolition movement –Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton –Tried to have the word “sex” added to amend.

Fifteenth Amendment African-American vote

Enforcement Act of 1870 Some Southern governments refused to enforce 14th and 15th Amendments. Some white Southerners used violence to prevent African Americans from voting. Protected the voting rights of African Americans and gave the federal government power to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment.