RECONSTRUCTION CH 4 Section 4

Reconstruction 1865 - 1877 Period of rebuilding the United States after the Civil War How to bring Confederate states back into the Union? What to do with former slaves? Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Congress all had different ideas

Lincoln’s Plan Lenient policy Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction Gov’t pardon for all Confederates Except high ranking officials and those accused of war crimes against prisoners Pardoned only if allegiance sworn to Union 10% Plan 10% of voters in 1860 election swear allegiance Confederate state could be readmitted and set up new state gov’t Then could send reps to Congress AR, LA, TN, VA readmitted

Radical Republicans angered Sen. Charles Sumner (MA) and Rep. Thaddeus Stevens (PA) Wanted to destroy political power of former slaveholders Wanted to give full citizenship and voting rights to African Americans

Johnson’s Plan Lincoln assassinated at Ford’s Theater by John Wilkes Booth Differed little from Lincoln’s plan Major difference: Excluded high ranking Confederates and wealthy Southern landowners from taking the 10% oath Pardoned 13,000 Confederates b/c “white men alone must manage the South” Seven remaining states quickly agreed, except TX Elected reps and sent to Congress

Congress refused new S. reps when they arrived to take seats Moderate Republicans pushed new laws to combat Johnson’s weak plan Enlarge Freedman’s Bureau Civil Rights Act of 1866 Granted citizenship forbade “black codes” Johnson vetoed acts “beyond anything “contemplated by the authors of the Constitution”

Congressional Reconstruction Johnson’s vetoes overridden by Congress Drafted 14th Amendment Prevented states from denying rights/privileges to U.S. citizens “all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.” Republicans gained control of Congress Reconstruction Act of 1867 passed Divided confederate states into 5 military districts States required to grant A.A. voting rights / ratify 14th Amendment Then they could reenter the Union Johnson vetoed legislation – veto overridden

Johnson’s Impeachment Radicals thought Johnson was blocking Reconstruction legislation Looking to impeach him Johnson removed Sec. of War, Edwin Stanton Grounds for impeachment under Tenure of Office Act House impeached but Senate did not convict Grant elected in 1868

Politics in Postwar South Republican gov’ts in South conflicted Scalawags – white Southerners who joined the Rep. party. Few committed to civil rights for blacks. Carpetbaggers – northerners who moved to the South after the war African Americans – wanted to exercise their voting rights but couldn’t read or write Differing goals led to lack of unity

Why It Didn’t Work… Southerners frustrated Ku Klux Klan (KKK) Some refused to register to vote Vigilante groups created Ku Klux Klan (KKK) Goals destroy Republican Party Throw out Reconstruction governments Aid planter class Prevent African Americans from exercising political rights Killed 20,000 people

Other national crisis’ drew federal gov’t attention Hayes elected Pres. In 1876 Federal troops withdrawn from South 14th and 15th Amendment remained 14th – granted citizenship to all people 15th – cannot prevent voting rights based on color