The Civil War Ends: Reconstruction Begins

April 9, 1865 Lee and Grant meet at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. Lee surrenders. The surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia allowed the Federal Government to bring increased pressure in other parts of the south. Resulted in the surrender of the remaining armies of the Confederacy over the next few months. The Terms Grant wrote the terms for the surrender of the Confederate States Army of Northern Virginia in the form of a letter from himself to General Lee. The terms of the letter were generous and would allow the former Confederates to return home feeling that they had been treated with respect and dignity.

Appomattox Court House

Lee Surrenders

Robert E. Lee He was a born winner, this Robert E. Lee. Except for once. In the greatest contest of his life, in the war between the South and the North, Robert E. Lee lost. Now there were men who came with smoldering eyes up to Lee and said: “Let’s not accept this result as final. Let’s keep our anger alive. Let’s be grim and unconvinced, and wear our bitterness like a medal. You can be our leader in this.” But Lee shook his head at those men. “Abandon your animosities,” he said “and make your sons Americans.”

What does this quote say about the man Robert E. Lee? How could Lee’s message be seen as a form of nationalism? If people throughout the nation (Southerners especially) listen to Lee’s message, how would it impact the post-war period?

Consequences of the Civil War Political Federal government assumed supreme national authority. Power of the federal government had increased over the war. Taxed people, conscription.

Consequences of the Civil War Economic $2.7 billion in debt for the Union. $1.8 billion in debt for the Confederacy. North Economy boomed during the war. Entrepreneurs had grown rich selling war supplies to the government. Result: Had money to start new business after the war. South Economy devastated. Livestock wiped out, destroyed farm equipment and railroads, land left infertile.

Consequences of the Civil War Social 360,000 Union deaths. 260,000 Confederate deaths. Total: Nearly as many in all other U.S. wars combined. 10% of the population had fought. Disrupted education, careers, and families.

What is Reconstruction? The period after the American Civil War when the southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union; (aspects of Reconstruction began before the war actually ended though). Involved a complex and rapidly changing series of federal and state policies.

After The War Northern victory in the Civil War decided the fate of the Union, but posed numerous questions leading to disagreements among the nation’s people. How should the Southern states be reintegrated into the Union? What system of labor should replace slavery? What would be the status of the former slaves? What degree of federal control should be imposed on the South?

Competing Proposals for Reconstruction Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction Wade-Davis Bill Presidential Reconstruction Congressional Reconstruction

Two Proposals for Reconstruction Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (10 Percent Plan) Abraham Lincoln Wade-Davis Bill Senator Benjamin F. Wade and Representative Henry Winter Davis (Radical Republicans) Were a minority in Congress but swayed moderate Republicans in their direction and came to dominate Congress.

1. Does Lincoln propose a lenient or strict policy in terms of allowing the South to reenter the Union? Lenient Pardon people and restore all rights of property (excluding slaves). Believed that the South had never legally seceded from the Union so he based his plan on forgiveness. Remember what Lincoln said he his Second Inaugural Address: oWith malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. 1. What type of attitude do Wade and Davis have toward the South? Negative attitude Believed that Lincoln’s plan was not harsh enough. South needs to be punished for starting the war.

2. Who does Lincoln believe has the constitutional right to oversee a Reconstruction policy? Explain your answer. President WHEREAS, in and by the Constitution of the United States, it is provided that the President “shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States.” 2. Who do Wade and Davis believe has the constitutional right to oversee a Reconstruction policy? Explain your answer. Congress President needs the advice and the consent of Congress.

3. In Lincoln’s plan, how many people must take an oath of loyalty in order for the state to propose a new constitution and gain re-admittance to the Union? 10% of voters must take an oath of allegiance to the Union. 10 Percent Plan 3. In the Wade-Davis Bill, how many people must take an oath of loyalty in order for the state to propose a new constitution and gain re-admittance to the Union? 50% of voters have to swear an “ironclad oath” of allegiance to the Union.

4. In this plan (Lincoln), what will happen to slavery in the states that wish to re-enter the Union? Had to obey all federal laws pertaining to slavery. 4. In this plan (Wade-Davis), what will happen to slavery in the states that wish to re-enter the Union? Each state’s constitution had to include the abolition of slavery. Slaves are “hereby emancipated” and “forever free.”

5. This plan (Lincoln) states that there are some people who are not allowed to take the oath of allegiance. What people does this documents exclude ? All people except high ranking Confederate army officials and government officials would be granted pardons (and these people were only temporarily excluded). 5. This plan (Wade-Davis) states that there are some people who are not allowed to take the oath of allegiance. What people does this documents exclude? Excludes all Confederate officials.

6. In this document, Lincoln refers to the “so-called” Confederate government. Is this important? Why or why not? Yes Confederates formed a government, but gained no recognition from the Union. In Lincoln’s eyes they had not formed a legitimate government because they had never legally seceded from the Union. The people that Lincoln excludes from the provisions of this document are those who held high positions in the “so-called” government. 6. According to this document (Wade-Davis), what did secession do to the status of Southern state governments and their relationship to the Union? Made the Southern state governments illegitimate. Disobeyed the Constitution and laws of the U.S. Appoints provisional (temporary) governors in these states who are in charge until each state meets certain conditions.

Additional Information The Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction Political maneuver (just as his Emancipation Proclamation had been). Goal: End the war quickly. Feared that the North and South would never be reunited if fighting continued much longer. Entice the South to surrender. Wade-Davis Bill was passed near the end of a session of Congress. Lincoln pocket-vetoed the bill. Refused to sign it before Congress went into recess which stopped the bill from continuing any further.