1. Warm-up:
What did Presidents Lincoln and Johnson both want in reconstructing the South?

2. Reconstruction Politics

3. Political Parties in Congress
Most Republicans in Congress were moderates
Wanted to restore Southern states to the Union
Keep former Confederates out of government
Give southern African Americans some civil equalities but not the vote (which many Northerners agreed with)
Race riots in Memphis and New Orleans pulled congressional republicans together
1866 elections saw many Northerners voting in “radical” republicans
Radical Republicans believed Presidential Reconstruction was a threat to Congressional authority
Wanted African Americans to have full citizens’ rights
Wanted harsher reorganization of the South
Wanted supremacy of federal laws over states’ laws
Northern voters sympathized with the radicals

4. Tenure of Office Act
Congress passed act to protect Reconstruction policies and Republican office holders
Required Senate approval of a replacement before the President could remove an appointed official
Johnson believed it unconstitutional and put it to the test by removing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton (an ally of Radicals) from office
House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson because he violated the Tenure of Office act, making “scandalous” speeches and bringing Congress “into disgrace”

5. Impeachment
To impeach a President, House of Reps bring charges and Senate hold hearings
Congress brought 11 charges against Johnson, none with any substance
Real Congressional grievances against Johnson:
1) Johnson was unfair
2) Johnson governed poorly
3) Johnson tried to halt Congress’s plan for Reconstruction
Trial lasted 8 weeks and Johnson escaped conviction by 1 vote short of 2/3 majority needed

6. Southern Reconstruction Governments
Carpetbaggers-Northern Republicans (white and African American) moved to the South to participate in state conventions
Scalawags-southern whites who supported the Union cause
Used political leverage to draft new state constitutions
Republican party became strong in the South because millions of African Americans men started voting

7. Re-admittance to the Union
Once Congress approved the new state constitutions, state legislators
Raised taxes to finance new roads, bridges and railroads---rebuild infrastructure
Giving all men the right to vote found many African Americans voting for the first time and holding government office positions for the first time

8. Election of 1868
Radical Republicans nominated Ulysses S. Grant for president
Lacked political experience but was a war hero
Democrats ran a campaign strategy based on white supremacy
Diminishing democratic win
Southern Democrats relied on economic threats to keep African Americans from voting
Grant won because of African Americans voting
Grant’s administration would be filled with corruption but Grant would still get things done

9. Whiskey Ring Rebellion & Credit Mobilier
Activity:
Research:
Whiskey Ring Rebellion & Credit Mobilier
Two major scandals in Grant’s administration
Read about the scandals and write a 3-4 sentence summary about each one