The Question of Reconstruction How to Rebuild the South?

Reconstruction Period in which the South was rebuilt U.S. had chance to remake the South but failed

3 Different Plans Lincoln’s Plan Johnson’s Plan Congressional Plan

Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan Believed states had never seceded people had rebelled 10 Percent Plan – Readmission after 10% took oath of loyalty to U.S. Pardon all but High Ranking Confederates

Radical Republican Reaction Wanted to Punish former slaveholders Introduced Wade-Davis Bill (1864) – said that Congress should be responsible for Reconstruction Lincoln vetoes Bill Sets the stage for battle over Reconstruction

Andrew Johnson’s Plan Democrat Similar to Lincoln’s Plan 1. Withdraw Secession 2. Swear Allegiance 3. Ratify 13 th Amendment Did not want blacks to vote, did not provide economic assistance, pardoned 13,000 Southerners

Congressional Reconstruction Republican controlled Congress wanted – –Rights & suffrage for blacks –To Punish Confederates –To take power from former slaveholders

Reconstruction Act of 1867 Military Districts

Johnson Continues to Anger Congress Vetoed Civil Rights Bill (called for providing citizenship to African Americans & outlawing Black Codes) Vetoed Freedmen Bureau Act (would continue and strengthen movement to clothe, feed and educate blacks and poor whites)

Republican Congress Hits Back Overrode vetoes Drafted 14 th Amendment – Gives citizenship to African Americans Achieved 2/3 majority in 1866 Passed Reconstruction Act (1867) – declared that states could not reenter U.S. without guaranteeing rights to blacks

Impeachment

Andrew Johnson Impeached Refused to carry out Constitutional obligation to enforce Reconstruction Act Violated Tenure of Office Act by firing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton Republicans failed to get 2/3 majority to remove Johnson

15 th Amendment (1868) Gives African Americans the right to vote Southern states soon find was to “get around” this Amendment

High Points of Reconstruction Blacks vote in southern states Blacks elect state officials, Representatives and Senators Families reunited

The New South -Slavery is over but the cotton picking still needed to get done! SHARECROPPING!!! The New Slavery!!!

Sharecropping Slavery

Failure of Reconstruction No provisions for black economic self-sufficiency > sharecropping > loss of power Ku Klux Klan – Southern terrorist organization Former slaveholders regain power in south, create poll taxes and literacy tests

Secret Societies Use terror against blacks to keep them from using new constitutional rights. Ku Klux Klan and the White League. Formed from mainly ex Confederate soldiers that were displeased that African Americans had rights and liberties. The KKK was formed in Pulaski, Tennessee in Nathaniel Bedford Forrest, former General in the Confederate army is said to have been the first “Grand Wizard” of the KKK.

Obstacles to Voting Poll Taxes – Fee charged to voters Literacy Tests – voters required to take complicated exams Grandfather Clause – those who voted before the war were exempted

Jim Crow Laws ’s Laws established in Southern States to racially segregate African Americans from White Americans in society.

Spring 1896 Homer Plessy (1/8 Black) bought a train ticket and sat in an all white train car. Challenged that Jim Crow laws were in violation with the 13 th and 14 th amendments. Segregation was legal as long as African Americans had access to “separate but equal” facilities. Reinforced segregation in the south. Segregation would spread to nearly all aspects of Southern Society.