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Reconstruction – South after the War Many cities were destroyed. Countryside had been devastated. African Americans – now free
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Property Loss After – farms could only harvest half of what they did in 1860. Many farms suffered neglect. 1/5 of the South’s population died in the war. Plantations suffered from lack of work Railroad lines were destroyed.
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Challenges for African Americans 4 million A.A’s – had no money or education. South’s economy – no jobs. Plantations could not afford the work. Needed a labor system that: 1. replace slavery 2. put people to work 3. make south productive again
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How to treat the south Needed to answer many legal and political questions. What place would A.A’s have in politics in the south and north? What was the status of the Confederate states? Should the south be forgiven?
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Wartime Reconstruction Era (1865 – 1877) March 1865 – Freedmen’s Bureau Provide help to many black and white southerners uprooted by the fighting North disagreed on how the south should be treated.
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Reconstruction Experiments Union army would capture a plantation. Would hire free A.A’s t work the plantation. This way A.A.’s could make money and save to buy land. Lincoln’s Loyalty Oath – signed contract to work for a year. Planter would give housing, pay, and food. Pay was low – A.A.’s could not leave the farm after contract was over.
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Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan 1862 – military governors to rule parts of the south that were in union hands. Offered forgiveness to all southerners who pledge loyalty to the Union Support the Emancipation Proclamation When 10% of state’s voters had taken oath a new state gov. would be put in place. The new gov. would ban slavery This procedure of recognize seceded states was called the Ten Percent Plan.
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Opposition to Lincoln’s Plan Congress debate – who will control Reconstruction Admitting states to the Union was a Congress power. Lincoln supporters – Confed left illegally – Congress does not have to admit them in. Charles Sumner – south gave up their status as a state when they left. They were conquered territories and congress would decide to their admission.
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Opposition Some thought 10% Plan was too easy Allowing 10% of the people to form a new government violated nation principles. Congress would not allow reps from states that Lincoln’s plan allowed in to take their seats. Congress plans for reconstruction: Wade-Davis Bill: majority of a state’s white male citizens to pledge loyalty before elections could be held. Lincoln thought that his would make it tougher for the south and would make the south even more committed to the war. Killed the bill with a pocket veto –prevent a bill passed in the last 10 days of a legislative session from becoming a law by ignoring it.
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Lincoln’s Assassination John Wilkes Booth – shot Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in 1865. Wanted to kidnap the president and exchange him for prisoners. Others wanted to kill Sec. of State and V.P. Andrew Johnson This would create chaos in gov and help confed win the war. Many southerners feared what would happen to them because of the death of Lincoln. Andrew Johnson was a southerner that sided with the Union – now he’s president!
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Johnson and Congress differ over reconstruction Johnson was a Democrat – held no ill will towards the south. He hated the wealthy planter class Always supported states rights He was not going to give Congress control over affairs of rebel states.
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Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan Took office when Congress was not in session. Important to have plan before they meet in Dec. Restored rights of white southerners who took an oath of loyalty to the U.S. Southerners that owned more than 20,000 dollars worth of land would have to apply for a pardon. This would allow the punishment of the planter class directly to the president. Did not set a percentage of loyal voters Had to call a convention to repeal secession, amend the state constitution to ban slavery And refuse to pay the debts of the Confed. gov
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Concerns Many Republicans were troubled by this plan. No provisions for giving freedmen a role in the south’s gov. Once a state was accepted could hold own elections. Johnson told Congress in Dec. that every state had met his demands except TX and these states are back in the Union. This would start a battle for control of Reconstruction.
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