Reconstruction of the South Begins

Section Vocabulary amnesty Andrew Johnson Thirteenth Amendment Black Codes Fourteenth Amendment

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Rebuilding in the South After the Civil War the South had economic, political and social problems. Destroyed/damaged railroads Food shortages Confederate money now worthless = people broke Lives of freedmen (former slaves) were unstable Many migrated (North & West) Many tried to find family members

Lincoln’s Ten Percent Plan  created 2 years before the war ended Southern amnesty (pardon) Swear an oath, agree slavery was illegal Once 10% of people made the pledge, the state would be readmitted into the Union. Louisiana was first Some politicians thought the Union should be stricter. They thought Confederate generals and politicians should be convicted of treason against the United States.

Reconstruction became HIS responsibility. Johnson’s Plan: When Lincoln was killed (April 1865), Vice-President Andrew Johnson became president. Reconstruction became HIS responsibility. Johnson’s Plan: Pardoned 7,000 He personally appointed a temporary governor in each Southern state. States had to declare secession illegal & create a new state constitution. Had to ratify the 13th Amendment Johnson

The Thirteenth Amendment legally ended slavery in the United States and its territories.

Georgia’s Reconstruction James Johnson from Columbus, GA was appointed the state’s provisional governor. 21 of the 22 delegates to Georgia’s convention had opposed secession pre-Civil War, but they wanted to preserve white supremacy. 2 former Confederates were chosen as the state’s Senators in Congress. Northerners thought this was an act of defiance.

Although slavery was illegal Southern leaders found ways to control former slaves. Black Codes restricted freedman’s rights including: racial segregation, blocking African-Americans from serving on juries, and prevented them from testifying against whites. Authorities could also arrest any African- American without a job (vagrancy). Northern Republicans were furious.

Congress Responds Congress decided to take action to protect rights of freedmen. The Fourteenth Amendment was passed in 1866.

Congress required Southern states to ratify the amendment. This amendment guaranteed political participation for African Americans and excluded former Confederates from doing the same. Made all people born in the United States automatic citizens. (except Native Americans) Congress required Southern states to ratify the amendment. President Johnson told them to reject it (and many did!), but it was ratified anyway in 1868.