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Reconstruction. The Lost Cause. Lincoln’s Plan. 10% of state’s voters took oath pledging loyalty to Union and emancipation No vengeance Pardoned all Southerners, except high ranking Confederates. Wade-Davis Bill. Radical Republicans dissatisfied Two Republican leaders constructed own plan
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Reconstruction The Lost Cause
Lincoln’s Plan • 10% of state’s voters took oath pledging loyalty to Union and emancipation • No vengeance • Pardoned all Southerners, except high ranking Confederates
Wade-Davis Bill • Radical Republicans dissatisfied • Two Republican leaders constructed own plan • Goal: punish Confederate leaders, permanently destroy the South's slave society • Stricter expectations to re-enter the Union • High ranking officers stripped of citizenship • Unsuccessful, but placed wedge within party
13th Amendment • Abolishes slavery • No compensation for former slave holders • Leads to establishment of Freemen’s Bureau • All-purpose agency • Emergency services to south • 40 acres and a mule; program of land distribution • Education improved, literacy jumps from 10% to 30% in 5 years
Andrew Johnson, No Lincoln • Selected as VP because a Southern Democrat loyal to Union • Self made man • Initially spoke of “punishing” ex-confederates • Only Rhetoric • Racist views overpowered all • Lenient policy implemented
Cont… • After all 11 states accepted plan, announced Reconstruction was over • Outraged Republican party • Three Glaring Issues: • Many had failed to accept 13th Amendment • Dozens of ex-Confederates were being elected to state offices • Creation of Black Codes • Vagrancy
Ending the Slavocracy • If Reconstruction was slowed, opportunities for roots to take hold in south • 14th Amendment, federal government key in individual civil rights • Complex amendment • Natural born citizens given civil rights, equal protection, states denying rights to vote penalized • Johnson on the attack
Cont…. • March 1867, Republicans ready to go • South divided in five military districts • New state constitutions drawn up, allowing universal male suffrage • Took two full years after Civil War, but a clear Reconstruction plan in place • Time for Southerners to recover and fight
Johnson Impeached • Johnson dismisses Secretary of War Stanton • Door opened for opponents • Violated the Tenure of Office Act • Proceedings began, but saved by moderate Republicans
Changes in the South • Carpetbaggers: looking for opportunities in the south • Scalawags: southerners who joined Republican party for political gains, viewed as traitors by some • Former slaves made up most of the population • Distinct role in society increasing • Engaged in politics, growing churches, businesses, politics
Reconstruction Under Fire • Charges of mismanagement and corruption flying • Increased taxes bothersome • In reality the charges and tax increases were minimal, enough to create controversy • Grant wins presidency in 1868, tense situation
White Resistance • 15th Amendment, black suffrage required “explicit” constitutional guarantee • Women wanted in on the action, rejected, one thing at a time • KKK on the rise • Use of violence and intimidation • Discouraged African Americans from voting • Grant’s Enforcement Acts in 1870 tries have impact • Mississippi plan: campaign of terror, Grant does not send support
Reconstruction’s End • Panic of 1873, rejection of the Civil Rights Act of 1875, and the election of Rutherford B. Hayes • 1877 last federal troops on way out of south