1. Reconstruction: Andrew Johnson

2. To what extent were President Johnson’s actions towards the former Confederate States the Cause of deep divisions?

3. What powers do the President and Congress have according to the Constitution?
Right to pardon
Veto Congress
Super majority – need 2/3 to pass bills etc.
Can change amendments to the Constitution if they have 2/3 majority
Right to impeach the President
Veto over the President’s veto
CONSTITUTION DOES NOT SAY MUCH ABOUT THE ISSUES FACED IN RECONSTRUCTION

4. Andrew Johnson: his background
Self-made man tailor’s apprentice  rich landowner  president
Only Senator from the Confederate States to remain loyal to the Union during the War
Ex-Democrat, Ex-slave owner
Radical Republican’s believed he would be harder on the rebels than Lincoln was going to be, as Johnson had called rebel leaders ‘Traitors’ in 1864.

5. Johnson’s aims for Reconstruction
Continue Lincoln’s policy, Reconstruction as executive rather than a legislative action.
Restore southern states to the Union by December 1865
Get the USA back to functioning as normal as soon as possible, which would involve working with ex-Confederates
Believed suffrage, social and economic policy were the responsibility of States not Federal Government.
He did not see Black people as equal whites and did not want to them to receive the vote.

6. May 1865 – Amnesty (1)
Immediate amnesty to Confederates who own less than $20,000 worth of property
Ex-Confederates could petition for presidential pardons, which he freely grants
Says for Confederate states to be re-admitted they must disavow acts of secession, and abolish slavery
Would this cause tension between the President and Congress?
Who is causing the tension?

7. November 1865 – Black Codes
Ex-Confederate states adopt Black Codes (legal codes) which deny African Americans the right to purchase or even rent land.
Some also denied the right to bear arms, meet after sunset, marry whites
Could arrest for ‘insulting gestures’ and ‘malicious mischief’
Began with Mississippi
Is this an action towards a Confederate state by Congress or the President?

8. December 1865 – Union restored
Johnson appointed provisional state governors.
These governors tried their best to cooperate with white southerners.
Governors organised elections for state conventions (white only voters)
The conventions drew up new constitutions that accepted slavery was illegal.
The state was then allowed back into the Union.
In December 1865 he declares the Union Restored
Congress refuse to seat former Congress representatives from former Confederate states
Committee of 6 senators and 9 Representatives declare that the Confederate states had fortified their statehood and returned to the status of territories, and therefore Congress could be the only branch to readmit them.
Would this cause tension between the President and Congress?
Who is causing the tension?

9. 1866 – Congress extends power of the Freedman’s Bureau
Give the Freedman’s Bureau to try people who deprived freedmen from civil rights.
Bill passes over Johnson’s veto
Would this cause tension between the President and Congress?
Who is causing the tension?

10. 1866 – Civil Rights Act
Outlined the rights of citizens, including rights to make contracts, sue, give evidence in court, purchase and sell property.
Passed over Johnson’s veto
Political warefare
Would this cause tension between the President and Congress?
Who is causing the tension?

11. 1866 – 14th Amendment proposed
Guarantees citizenship for Americans (would overturn Dred Scott)
Proposed because Congress are scared that the SC might rule the Civil Rights Act unconstitutional
DOES NOT GUARENTEE THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Johnson urges the southern legislatures to reject the amendment
Would this cause tension between the President and Congress?
Who is causing the tension?

12. 1866 – Republicans capture 2/3
Fall elections 1866 Republicans capture 2/3 of both houses of Congress (House of Representatives and the Senate)
Can override any Presidential veto
Is this an action towards a Confederate state by Congress or the President?

13. 1867 – Congress divides the South into military districts
New programme for reconstruction
First Reconstruction Act: divides Confederate states into 5 districts (martial law)
Have to ratify the 14th Amendment
Adopt new state constitutions and guarantee black men the vote
703,000 blacks register to vote – in 5 states they make up the majority
Would this cause tension between the President and Congress?
Who is causing the tension?

14. 1867 – Congress divides the South into military districts
New programme for reconstruction
First Reconstruction Act: divides Confederate states into 5 districts (martial law)
Have to ratify the 14th Amendment
Adopt new state constitutions and guarantee black men the vote
703,000 blacks register to vote – in 5 states they make up the majority
Would this cause tension between the President and Congress?
Who is causing the tension?

15. 1867 – Amnesty (2)
Reduced the expected classes to those who held high rank in the Confederacy, mistreated prisoners or were under indictment
Wealthy former planters were now readmitted to their rights
Would this cause tension between the President and Congress?
Who is causing the tension?

16. 1868 – Impeachment of Johnson
Congress pass several laws to restrict Presidential powers
Cannot appoint a Supreme court justice
Restrict authority over the army
Tenure of Office Act banned him from removing office holders that had been appointed by the Senate (without their approval anyway!)
August 1867 Johnson sacks Edwin Stanton… House vote to impeach
Senate vote (one short of being able to convict Johnson)
Is this an action towards a Confederate state by Congress or the President?

17. 1868 – Amnesty (3)
Extended clemency to those high-ranking official who had been excluded from earlier proclamations
People under indictment are still excluded
Would this cause tension between the President and Congress?
Who is causing the tension?

18. 1868 – Christmas day amnesty
Amnesty was extended “unconditionally and without reservation” to all who had participated in the rebellion.
Grant had been elected in November
Would this cause tension between the President and Congress?
Who is causing the tension?

19. To what extent were President Johnson’s actions towards the former Confederate States the Cause of deep divisions?

20. Understanding the question
Did President being lenient in his treatment of the ex-Confederate States cause the deep divisions that existed ?
It depends…
With Congress- arguably yes, as they wanted them to be punished and wanted to bring about a Radical Reconstruction with ex-slaves getting land, education, work and the vote and Johnson tried to stop several of these.
Between the North and the South arguably no, as he wanted to forget the old divide and unite the nation, hence pardons, declaring the Union restored, not demanding too much change from the South.

21. Potential structure
Introduction Define – Johnson, deep division Criteria – what would need to happen for Johnson to be the cause? Judgement – between Congress (yes), North and South (no)
P1: Amnesties – bringing Union together, but annoying Congress
P2: Presidential vetoes – not demanding much from South, annoying Congress
P3 BALANCE: Congress and military state districts (Johnson annoyed)
P3 BALANCE: Freedman’s Bureau (Johnson annoyed)
Conclusion

22. Potential structure
Introduction Define – Johnson, deep division Criteria – what would need to happen for Johnson to be the cause? Judgement – Constitution is the cause
P1: Amnesties – divides but constitution says so
P2: Presidential vetoes – divides but constitution says so
P3: Impeachment – did but constitution says so
P4: Amendments & bills – division but constitution says so (2/3)
Conclusion

23. Understanding the question
Did President being lenient in his treatment of the ex-Confederate States cause the deep divisions that existed ?
No…
Root of the problem is the American political system (particularly the US constitution)