Reconstruction (1865-1876)

Key Questions now that the Civil War is over 1. How do we bring the South back into the Union? 4. What branch of government should control the process of Reconstruction? 2. How do we rebuild the South after its destruction during the war? 3. How do we integrate and protect newly Freed slaves?

President Lincoln’s Plan AKA “The10% Plan” Pardon to all but the highest ranking military and civilian Confederate officers. When 10% of the voting population in the 1860 election had taken an oath of loyalty and established a government, it would be recognized.

Radical (Congressional) Reconstruction

Wade-Davis Bill (1864) Senator Benjamin Wade (R-OH) Required 50% of the number of 1860 voters to take an “iron clad” oath of allegiance (swearing they had never voluntarily aided the rebellion ). Required a state constitutional convention for states, ending slavery, before the election of state officials. Senator Benjamin Wade (R-OH) Congressman Henry W. Davis (R-MD)

Lincoln and Congress would clash over the future (1864) Pocket Veto President Lincoln Wade-Davis Bill

However they would work to the get the 13th Amendment passed Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Freedmen’s Bureau (1865) Created by Congress to help the transition of former slaves into society. Many former northern abolitionists risked their lives to help southern freedmen. Northerners were called “carpetbaggers” by white southern Democrats. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-m701yB_ro

Freedmen’s Bureau School

Both Plans were derailed by

The Assassination of Lincoln

The country would have to wait and see how the next president would handle the situation.

President Andrew Johnson Agreed with Lincoln that states had never legally left the Union. Let peace and prosperity be restored to the land. May God bless this people: may God save the Constitution. - Andrew Johnson in the U.S. Senate March 22, 1875

President Johnson’s Plan (10%+) Offered amnesty upon simple oath to all except; Confederate officers and those with property over $20,000 (they could apply directly to Johnson)

Johnson’s Plan would rule the day, but at a cost… 1. Southern leaders became distrustful (revival of southern defiance and creation of “black codes”) 2. Pardoned too many rich planters (13,500) which allowed them back into political power EFFECTS? 3. Republicans/Northerners were outraged that planters were back in power too soon

Black Codes Purpose: Guarantee a low cost labor supply now that blacks were free. Keep former slaves in their place. Forced many blacks to become sharecroppers [tenant farmers].

Congress gets angry with the Johnson February, 1866  President vetoed the (renewal) Freedmen’s Bureau bill. March, 1866  Johnson vetoed the 1866 Civil Rights Act. Congress passed both bills over Johnson’s vetoes  1st Time in U. S. history!!

Congress toughens their Plan for Readmission Southern governments were subject to military supervision. Required new state constitutions, including black voting rights and ratification of the 13th and 14th Amendments. 14th Amendment Ratified in July, 1868 Provide a constitutional guarantee of the rights and security of freed people (i.e. citizenship). Southern states would be punished for denying the right to vote to black citizens

Reconstruction Acts of 1867 Military Reconstruction Act Divide the 10 “unreconstructed states” into 5 military districts.

Congress gets fed up and impeaches President Johnson

The Senate Trial 11 week trial Johnson acquitted 35 to 19 (one short of required 2/3s vote) Johnson would not be selected by the Republicans to run for reelection

The 1868 Republican Ticket

The 1868 Democratic Ticket

1868 Presidential Election

The Winner: Ulysses S. Grant

Grant Administration Scandals Grant presided over an era of unprecedented growth and corruption. Grants scandals include: Whiskey Ring Credit Moblier

1872 Presidential Election

Black "Adjustment" in the South

Sharecropping

Establishment of Historically Black Colleges in the South

15th Amendment The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Black Senate & House Delegates

The “Invisible Empire of the South”

Ways that African Americans were disenfranchised from voting Poll Tax-A.A. were forced to pay in order to vote Literacy Test- A.A. and poor whites were required to pass a test in order to vote Grandfather Clause-If your grandfather couldn’t vote in 1865, then you could not vote Gerrymandering-”Redistricting”

The Abandonment of Reconstruction

And They Say He Wants a Third Term

1876 Presidential Tickets

The Political Crisis of 1876 “Corrupt Bargain” Part II?

1876 Presidential Election

Hayes Prevails

Alas, the Woes of Childhood… Sammy Tilden—Boo-Hoo! Ruthy Hayes’s got my Presidency, and he won’t give it to me!

A Political Crisis: The “Compromise” of 1877-Reconstruction fades