Rebuilding after the Civil War Reconstruction Rebuilding after the Civil War

Southern Destruction

Freedmen Bureau March 1865- Lincoln and Congress former slaves adjust to their new lives. It provided clothes, food, and medical care. It opened up schools and helped former slvaes get their own land and fair paying jobs.

Lincoln’s Post War Plans Lincoln’s 10% plan- meant 10% of a state’s voters had to take an oath of allegiance- they can create a new state government that didn’t have slavery. He offered amnesty to all swore loyalty. Lincoln didn’t believe in punishing the South Lincoln was opposed by the Radical Republicans

President Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan Johnson was a Southerner who remained loyal to the Union He opposed equal rights for former slaves He (like Lincoln) offered easy terms- swear loyalty and pass the 13th amendment banning slavery. All the South did this, they elected their own leaders and sent them to congress, except the Republican congress wouldn’t accept them- they wanted to make readmission difficult.

Black Codes By 1866 the South had passed Black Codes to control the newly freed African Americans. They could arrest them when they didn’t work and they couldn’t own land in some cases. Congress expanded the Freedmen Bureau and allowed them to set up courts with AA juries to judge Southerners who denied AA rights.

Radical Republicans Versus Johnson/South Johnson campaigned against 14th amendment 10 Southern states failed to ratify 14th amendment Republicans respond with Reconstruction Acts (1867) Divided the 10 states into 5 military districts Confederate leaders banned from the government State Constitutions approved by Congress AA given right to vote in state elections Army conducted voting and registered voters Republicans gained majorities in the South

14th Amendment Passed by Republicans in fear of African American rights Protected the rights of former slaves and gave them citizenship rights and equal protection under the law.

Radical reconstruction President Johnson is commander of the military and he opposed the reconstruction acts of congress Congress stripped him of some of his military powers and appointment powers When he fired Sec. War Stanton and placed his own military governors without Congress’s approval- they impeached him (high crimes) The senate hears the case and then votes- they didn’t get the required 2/3 vote and he remained in office- but he stopped opposing reconstruction

Presidential Impeachment

15th Amendment 1870- Gave the right for all citizens regardless of race to be able to vote in state elections Congress believed they had done their job to protect AA their right to be citizens and to their ability to participate in our republic.

President Ulysses S Grant 1868 and 1872- Grant a republican was elected by a large majority AA were voting and taking office in the South Former slave holders were unhappy- called Northeners who moved south carpet baggers and pro-republican southerners scalawags

South during reconstruction Reconstruction built schools for both races Northerners set up academies for AA for higher ed. Share cropping replaced the slave system

Sharecropping

Ku Klux klan Secret society (former Confederates) dedicated to resisting reconstruction Used fear and violence to suppress AA from improving their economic or political freedom They lynched, burned down homes, and beat AA and their white supporters Congress passed laws trying to fight the Klan, but white jurors wouldn’t convict them

End of reconstruction Corruption and scandals plagued Grant’s presidency A bad depression and bank bankruptcy soured voters on Republicans To stay in power Republicans bargained with Democrats (Hayes Election in 1876) and in 1877 troops were removed from the South KKK bullied AA from office and a new South emerged that looked to reverse all the gains for equality for AA

Jim crow laws, segregation and Voting restrictions lasted until the 1960’s