Reconstruction The Lost Cause

Lincoln’s Plan 10% of state’s voters took oath pledging loyalty to Union and emancipation No vengeance Pardoned all Southerners, except high ranking Confederates

Wade-Davis Bill Radical Republicans dissatisfied Two Republican leaders constructed own plan Goal: punish Confederate leaders, permanently destroy the South's slave society Stricter expectations to re-enter the Union High ranking officers stripped of citizenship Unsuccessful, but placed wedge within party

13th Amendment Abolishes slavery No compensation for former slave holders Leads to establishment of Freemen’s Bureau All-purpose agency Emergency services to south 40 acres and a mule; program of land distribution Education improved, literacy jumps from 10% to 30% in 5 years

Andrew Johnson, No Lincoln Selected as VP because a Southern Democrat loyal to Union Self made man Initially spoke of “punishing” ex-confederates Only Rhetoric Racist views overpowered all Lenient policy implemented

Cont… After all 11 states accepted plan, announced Reconstruction was over Outraged Republican party Three Glaring Issues: Many had failed to accept 13th Amendment Dozens of ex-Confederates were being elected to state offices Creation of Black Codes Vagrancy

Ending the Slavocracy If Reconstruction was slowed, opportunities for roots to take hold in south 14th Amendment, federal government key in individual civil rights Complex amendment Natural born citizens given civil rights, equal protection, states denying rights to vote penalized Johnson on the attack

Cont…. March 1867, Republicans ready to go South divided in five military districts New state constitutions drawn up, allowing universal male suffrage Took two full years after Civil War, but a clear Reconstruction plan in place Time for Southerners to recover and fight

Johnson Impeached Johnson dismisses Secretary of War Stanton Door opened for opponents Violated the Tenure of Office Act Proceedings began, but saved by moderate Republicans

Changes in the South Carpetbaggers: looking for opportunities in the south Scalawags: southerners who joined Republican party for political gains, viewed as traitors by some Former slaves made up most of the population Distinct role in society increasing Engaged in politics, growing churches, businesses, politics

Reconstruction Under Fire Charges of mismanagement and corruption flying Increased taxes bothersome In reality the charges and tax increases were minimal, enough to create controversy Grant wins presidency in 1868, tense situation

White Resistance 15th Amendment, black suffrage required “explicit” constitutional guarantee Women wanted in on the action, rejected, one thing at a time KKK on the rise Use of violence and intimidation Discouraged African Americans from voting Grant’s Enforcement Acts in 1870 tries have impact Mississippi plan: campaign of terror, Grant does not send support

Reconstruction’s End Panic of 1873, rejection of the Civil Rights Act of 1875, and the election of Rutherford B. Hayes 1877 last federal troops on way out of south