Political Reconstruction

Organizing Principle The period of Reconstruction was extremely controversial for both the North and South. Many historians call the period “The Second Civil War,” as the regions remained bitter as their wounds from the Civil War healed. Many questions loomed about who would direct the process of Reconstruction. There were many more questions about what was to be done with the emancipated slaves. Though lofty in its ideals, Reconstruction did little to ameliorate the plight of African Americans, or bring the North and South to agreeable terms. It did however push the nation into the direction of equality.

WWLD? Lincoln’s wartime conundrum: Treaty? Readmission? Recognizes South Readmission? Strict vs. lenient

Lincoln’s Plan (the 10% Plan) Lenient General amnesty Oath 10%=statehood Officials of the Confederacy Nucleus of Southern Unionists (“traitors”) would make up gov’t. Suffrage (voting rights) for blacks? Touchy subject Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee Readmitted under Lincoln Radicals in Congress resist Wade-Davis Bill “pocket” veto

R.I.P. Lincoln Lincoln Assassinated: April 14, 1865 Ford’s Theater in D.C. John Wilkes Booth Andrew Johnson becomes president

President Johnson Tennessee Democrat Presidential Reconstruction Resented planters Rejected racial equality Presidential Reconstruction Lenient in practice Amnesty for oath $20,000 taxable property Provisional governor Constitutional Convention Revoke ordinance of secession Ratify 13th amendment Repudiate debts

Presidential Reconstruction in Practice All seceded states “reconstructed” under Lincoln & Johnson’s plans by 1865 “Restoration” during congressional recess! Congress refuses to recognize Johnson governments due to: Reluctance to abolish slavery Deny blacks the vote Elected prominent Confederates Alexander Stephens VP of Confederacy elected to Senate

Black Codes 1865-1866 Designed to regulate the newly freed blacks in the South Vagrancy laws Apprehend unemployed blacks Fine them for vagrancy Hired out to private employers to satisfy the fines Back to the plantation Certain states Blacks cannot own/lease land Blacks cannot be employed outside of plantation work Could not serve on a jury

Black Codes Students need to complete the following after being assigned a partner: Annotate the laws (summarize in as few words as possible). Complete the questions under O(rigin) and P(urpose) on the OPVL handout.

Federal Government’s Response Congress Extends the life of the Freedman’s Bureau Widens their powers Passed the First Civil Rights Act (1866) Black citizenship—strikes at Black Codes Johnson resists Vetoes (twice) Congress overrides Midterm Elections—1866 Campaigns for candidates

The Fourteenth Amendment 1866 Defines American citizenship Equal protection of the laws Imposed penalties on states that denied male suffrage Imposed a 2/3s pardon on former confederates/sympathizers State readmission contingent on ratification

The Congressional Plan (Radical Reconstruction) Led by Thaddeus Stevens (PA) and Charles Sumner (MA) Congress passes Reconstruction Acts (1867) Details 5 military districts Register qualified voters Constitutions—black suffrage (voting rights) Adopt 14th amendment 1868—6 states readmitted VA, TX, & MS—1869-70 Also had to ratify 15th Amendment Could not deny the vote based on “race, color, or…condition of servitude” Black votes give 1868 election to U.S. Grant

Johnson’s Impeachment Johnson was an impediment to Reconstruction Refused to implement Congressional Plan Radicals wanted him removed Tenure of Office Act Dismissal of Stanton=impeachment Impeachment trial Spring 1868 35-19 (one short of 2/3s)