Reconstruction

Three Phases Lincoln’s 10% Plan-Proposed toward the end of the war (1864-1865) Presidential Reconstruction under President Andrew Johnson Radical Reconstruction

Special Field Order No. 15 “Forty Acres and a Mule” South Carolina, Georgia, Sea Islands

Issued by General William Sherman 40 acre plots of land to black families Land confiscated by the Union army Mules army could no longer use Revoked in the same year by President Johnson

10% Plan If 10% (based on 10% of the voters in the 1860 election) of white southerners took an oath affirming loyalty to the Union and supported emancipation then those states could elect a new state government Oath did not apply to Confederate government officials and high ranking military leaders New government would have to abolish slavery Amnesty and full rights for white southerners Property rights for slaves

Lincoln’s plan offered leniency to southern whites. Why? Lincoln’s idea is opposed by certain members of Congress Wade-Davis Bill (1864) (Benjamin Wade, Ohio and Henry Winter Davis, Maryland) Required a majority of southern whites to pledge support to the Union before Reconstruction could begin Blacks-equality before the law but not the right to vote Lincoln refuses to sign it

The 13th Amendment Signed by James Buchanan "ARTICLE THIRTEEN, No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere, within any State, with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State." Signed by President Buchanan on March 2, 1861

13th Amendment January 1865 13th Amendment abolished slavery throughout the entire Union Introduced the word slavery in the Constitution for the first time

The Freedman’s Bureau (1865-1870) Established by Congress in 1865 Purpose was to provide practical aid and assistance to 4,000,000 freed blacks Examples-schools, aid, settle disputes between white and blacks, equal treatment before the court Best accomplishments were the formation of schools and medical aid

Presidential Reconstruction (1865-1867) Summer 1865-Gave all federally owned land back to their white owners Pardon all white southerners who took an oath of allegiance Provisional governors who would organize a state convention (white only) New governments-free hand in local affairs Johnson declares Reconstruction done by December 1865 Black Codes turn Republican North against the President

Sharecropping and Tenant Farming After President Johnson’s decision, a large number of former slaves return to white owned plantations for work Poor Discrimination “Crop Lien” Poor White Yeomen Farmers (Thomas Jefferson)

Making of Radical Reconstruction President Andrew Johnson Former governor of Tennessee Strong defender of the Union As a senator, stayed in post when Civil War began Named military governor by Lincoln in 1864 **Racist**-no blacks had a role in Reconstruction Believed states never left Union

Congressional (Radical) Reconstruction Leaders are Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens Free labor for all men Advancement through economic opportunity New state governments without former Confederate leaders Right to vote for blacks

Civil Rights Bill of 1866 First major piece of legislation during Reconstruction All persons born in US were citizens Equality before the law State could no longer enact Black Codes Johnson vetoed this bill Congress overrides veto

14th Amendment June 1866 Due process Equal protection under the law Birthright citizenship to former slaves or slaves born in this country

Reconstruction Act (1867) South divided in five military districts New state governments Blacks given right to vote Leads to poll taxes and literacy tests

“The Tocsin of Freedom” Former slaves and blacks serving in public office By 1870, 2,000 blacks in elected office New state constitutions State funded public education Institutions for the mentally ill Equality before the law

Impeachment March 1867-Congress passes Tenure of Office Act States that President couldn’t remove certain office holders, including cabinet members w/o Senate approval Johnson removes Edward M. Stanton (Secretary of War) Johnson impeached/Trial in Senate Falls one vote short of being removed from office 1868-Republicans nominate Ulysses S. Grant for President

15th Amendment Prohibited federal and/or state governments from denying anyone the right to vote based on race Amendment ratified in 1870

“The Redeemers” Democrats in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Texas in the 1870 “Redeemed” South from northern and black control of south Public was “tired” of Reconstruction

End of Reconstruction Election of 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes (R-Ohio) Samuel Tilden (D-NY) Tilden-more popular votes Electoral College-Hayes 184, Tilden 183 Both parties claim to have won S.C., Florida, and Louisiana Winner of these states would be next President

Outcome 15 Member Electoral Commission decides election Republicans hold an 8-7 majority Behind the scenes, the following compromise is reached Hayes becomes President Troops pull out of South Southerner becomes Post Master General Hayes agrees to pay for Internal Improvements in the South

“Solid South”-South votes exclusively Democratic until the election of Ronald Reagan as President in 1980 “New South”-Southerners who did well economically-railroads, industry, business