CH. 12-2 CONGRESSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION

1. CH. 12-2 CONGRESSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION AMERICAN HISTORY

2. RECONSTRUCTION UNDER PRESIDENT JOHNSON Most white southerners liked Johnson’s approach They were relieved there would be no punishment for the rebellion After the war, deep-rooted PREJUDICE against African-Americans did not simply vanish Johnson said African-Americans had rights but those rights DID NOT include a role in government STATE GOVERNMENTS President Johnson pardoned nearly every planter and former Confederate Leader that applied

3. Southern states restored most of their former leaders to power 9 Confederate Generals, 2 Confederate cabinet members, Confederate Vice-President Alexander Stephens were sent to Washington as Congressmen Congress refused to seat these people THE BLACK CODES Laws designed to keep freedmen in a slavelike condition and to give planters a supply of cheap labor

4. Former slaves, and sometime their families, were forced to sign contract to for his employer for a year If the freedman quit before the year was up, he forfeited his wages It was illegal for one employer to higher a freedman that was under contract to another employer Freedman could not rent property in cities or towns to prevent them from starting their own businesses Any freedman refusing to sign a contract or who left his job early could be arrested for being jobless The punishment was fine or a year of forced labor

5. In some states freedman could not own guns In other states guns and dogs were taxes This prevented freedman from hunting as a source for food. SOUTHERN DEFIANCE Local sheriffs and Civil War veterans enforced Black Codes because it was a similar way of life they were used to The invaded African American homes, seized guns, and abused African Americans

6. These activities inspired whites to form their own private groups—among these were the Ku Klux Klan KKK—began as a social club in TN in 1866 but soon began terrorizing African Americans and whites who were loyal to the US government Local officials rarely prosecuted whites who committed violence against blacks

7. CONGRESS TAKES CONTROL OF RECONSTRUCTION At first most southerners supported Johnson’s reconstruction plan NORTHERN OPPOSITION GROWS They did not like former Confederates returning to power Black Codes were also troubling If the south was allowed to abuse freedman, the northern victory would be diminished

8. CONGRESS FIGHTS BACK Group of senators and representatives wanted a more thorough reconstruction plan This group was known as RADICIAL REPUBLICANS They wanted freed slaves to have economic opportunity and political equality after the war December 1865—Congress reconvenes Johnson says the reconstruction is complete Congress decides to improve on Johnson’s plan

9. JOHNSON VS. CONGRESS Moderates did not share the Radicals’ desire for social revolution in the south Moderates proposed two bills in January 1866 1) Extend the life of the Freedman’s Bureau The Bureau could continue to build schools, finding land, and providing aid to freedmen The Bureau had legal authority in disputes between whites and freedmen

10. 2) THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT—African Americans given citizenship and “equal benefits of all laws and proceedings for the security of person and property Anyone who denied freedman these rights could be tried in federal court Both bills easily passed Congress Johnson vetoed both bills, saying that they were unnecessary and unconstitutional Congress modified the Freedman’s Bureau bill but Johnson vetoed it again Congress voted to override both bills and they became law

11. RADICAL RECONSTRUCTION XIVth Amendment (1866)—requires states to grant citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States” It promised citizens equal protection under the law Barred states from depriving anyone of life, liberty, or property without due process of law THE ELECTION OF 1866 Johnson campaigned for candidates (mostly democrats) that favored his policies Republicans won overwhelming victories

12. THE RECONSTRUCTION ACTS First of four laws passed over Johnson’s veto in March 1867 Divided the south into five military districtsunder control of the US Army --required states to approve XIVth Amendment --write state constitutions that guaranteed freedman the right to vote --form new governments elected by all male citizens, including freedmen

13. A state could not be readmitted until these three conditions were met. The Congress passed 3 more reconstruction acts in 1867 & 1868 Authorized US Army to register African Americans to vote Since the Army was in charge, Congress worried that Johnson would use his power as commander-in-chief to interrupt reconstruction

14. Congress pass the TENURE OF OFFICE ACT (March 1867 This law required Senate permission to remove any official whose appointment had required Senate approval PRESIDENT JOHNSON’S IMPEACHMENT Final battle between Johnson and the Republicans Centered around Secretary of War Edwin Stanton

15. Johnson fired Stanton without getting Senate approval February 1868—US House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson for violating the Tenure of Office Act Johnson would be tried in the Senate and could be removed from office by a 2/3 vote Trial lasted two months Johnson escaped conviction by 1 vote so he stayed in office

16. He lost the battle of reconstruction but continued to issue pardons End of 1868, almost all confederate leaders had been restored THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT Nov. 1868—Ulysses Grant elected President XVth Amendment (March 1870)—People could not be denied the right to vote because of their race.

17. Women criticized the amendment because it didn’t give them the right to vote XVth Amendment brought millions of potential new voters to the Republican party It aimed to protect freedman from the growing political power of pardoned former Confederates This protection was temporary because the amendment did not ban denial of suffrage for reasons other than race. THE END