Reconstruction 1865-1877

What is Reconstruction? A federal program to rebuild the southern economy and infrastructure, and return the southern states to the Union Reconstruction was a huge task 2/3 of the shipping industry was destroyed Railroads, bridges, roads, farms, livestock, canals, cities, factories were all destroyed in the war 1/3 of all southern men were killed or wounded

Who was affected? Black southerners Plantation owners Newly freed slaves had no jobs or homes Some stayed at the plantations that they had lived on, and some traveled to the cities to find work Plantation owners Many lost everything including their plantations Captured and Abandoned Property Act of 1863 Poor White southerners Day laborers Now had to compete with freed slaves for jobs Many migrated west to find new opportunities

Questions How do we rebuild the south? What do we do about the government? What do we do about the people? What will their economy look like? How will we decide how to do all of this? Three Plans: Lincoln Plan Congressional Plan Johnson Plan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nowsS7pMApI

Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan Offered a pardon to any Confederate who would swear an oath of allegiance to the United States and accept federal policy on slavery Pardon: official forgiveness of a crime, or any wrongdoing Denied pardons to all Confederate military and government officials and to southerners who had killed African American war prisoners Permitted each state to hold a convention to create a new state constitution after only ten percent of the population had sworn allegiance to the United States States could hold elections and rejoin the Union

Congressional Reconstruction Favored and approved by Radical Republicans Radical Republicans felt the war was fought over the moral issue of slavery Placed the south under military rule 5 military districts Under the control of an American General Ordered the southern states to hold new elections for delegates to create new constitutions Required states to allow all qualified male voters (including freedmen) to vote in the elections Temporarily barred those who supported the Confederacy from voting Required southern states to guarantee equal rights to all citizens Required states to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment Enraged the Southerners Often referred to as an extension of the Civil War North imposing its will on the south

Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan Pardoned southerners who swore allegiance to the United States Permitted each state to hold a Constitutional Convention States were required to void secession, abolish slavery, and repudiate Confederate debt States could then hold the elections and rejoin the Union

Congress versus Johnson Johnson had no mandate as president Mandate: clear objective supported by the American people Johnson was not elected President Short time as Vice-President Johnson’s Plan allowed the White Democrats in the South to form governments that restricted the freedoms of the Freed slaves The Black Codes Curfews Vagrancy laws Labor Contracts Land Restrictions

Congress versus Johnson Attempts made to circumvent the power of Andrew Johnson, who had alienated Congress The Fourteenth Amendment At odds over Civil Rights Legislation The Freedmen’s Bureau – aid black southerners with their new freedom (jobs, living, education) Johnson opposed equal rights for the Freedmen Tried to convince the states not to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment Northern Americans, after hearing of atrocities in the south, responded angrily, voting more Radical Republicans into office Radicals favored harsher punishments for the south, and more liberties for the Freedmen

Congress versus Johnson (Rnd. 2) No Equal Rights!!! Andrew Johnson (D-TN) President of the United States Me too!!! I hate you!!! Rep. Thaddeus Stevens (R-PA) Sen. Charles Sumner (R-MA)

Johnson’s Impeachment Johnson fired Edwin Stanton in 1868 Stanton, and friend of the Radicals, would have overseen the military rule of the South Violation of the Tenure of Office Act of 1867 Created by Congress to prevent the President from firing…Stanton… Required Congressional approval for the hirings and firings of certain federal officials Congress, headed by Stevens, voted to impeach Johnson for the unconstitutional firing of Edwin Stanton Johnson was acquitted by 1 vote in the Senate, led by Sumner Johnson was ineffective after his impeachment, and Ulysses Grant was elected in 1868