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Reconstruction

Reconstruction. Political Reconstruction. Organizing Principle.

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Reconstruction

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  1. Reconstruction Political Reconstruction

  2. Organizing Principle The period of Reconstruction was extremely controversial for both the North and South. Many historians call the period “The Second Civil War,” as the regions remained bitter as their wounds from the Civil War healed. Many questions loomed about who would direct the process of Reconstruction. There were many more questions about what was to be done with the emancipated slaves. Though lofty in its ideals, Reconstruction did little to ameliorate the plight of African Americans, or bring the North and South to agreeable terms. It did however push the nation into the direction of equality.

  3. WWLD? • Lincoln’s wartime conundrum: • Treaty? • Recognizes South • Readmission? • Strict vs. lenient

  4. Lincoln’s Plan (the 10% Plan) • Lenient • General amnesty • Oath • 10%=statehood • Officials of the Confederacy • Nucleus of Southern Unionists (“traitors”) would make up gov’t. • Suffrage (voting rights) for blacks? • Touchy subject • Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee • Readmitted under Lincoln • Radicals in Congress resist • Wade-Davis Bill • “pocket” veto

  5. R.I.P. Lincoln • Lincoln Assassinated: • April 14, 1865 • Ford’s Theater in D.C. • John Wilkes Booth • Andrew Johnson becomes president

  6. President Johnson • Tennessee Democrat • Resented planters • Rejected racial equality • Presidential Reconstruction • Lenient in practice • Amnesty for oath • $20,000 taxable property • Provisional governor • Constitutional Convention • Revoke ordinance of secession • Ratify 13th amendment • Repudiate debts

  7. Presidential Reconstruction in Practice • All seceded states “reconstructed” under Lincoln & Johnson’s plans by 1865 • “Restoration” during congressional recess! • Congress refuses to recognize Johnson governments due to: • Reluctance to abolish slavery • Deny blacks the vote • Elected prominent Confederates • Alexander Stephens VP of Confederacy elected to Senate

  8. Black Codes 1865-1866 • Designed to regulate the newly freed blacks in the South • Vagrancy laws • Apprehend unemployed blacks • Fine them for vagrancy • Hired out to private employers to satisfy the fines • Back to the plantation • Certain states • Blacks cannot own/lease land • Blacks cannot be employed outside of plantation work • Could not serve on a jury

  9. Black Codes Students need to complete the following after being assigned a partner: • Annotate the laws (summarize in as few words as possible). • Complete the questions under O(rigin) and P(urpose) on the OPVL handout.

  10. Federal Government’s Response • Congress • Extends the life of the Freedman’s Bureau • Widens their powers • Passed the First Civil Rights Act (1866) • Black citizenship—strikes at Black Codes • Johnson resists • Vetoes (twice) • Congress overrides • Midterm Elections—1866 • Campaigns for candidates

  11. The Fourteenth Amendment 1866 • Defines American citizenship • Equal protection of the laws • Imposed penalties on states that denied male suffrage • Imposed a 2/3s pardon on former confederates/sympathizers • State readmission contingent on ratification

  12. The Congressional Plan (Radical Reconstruction) • Led by Thaddeus Stevens (PA) and Charles Sumner (MA) • Congress passes Reconstruction Acts (1867) • Details • 5 military districts • Register qualified voters • Constitutions—black suffrage (voting rights) • Adopt 14th amendment • 1868—6 states readmitted • VA, TX, & MS—1869-70 • Also had to ratify 15th Amendment • Could not deny the vote based on “race, color, or…condition of servitude” • Black votes give 1868 election to U.S. Grant

  13. Johnson’s Impeachment • Johnson was an impediment to Reconstruction • Refused to implement Congressional Plan • Radicals wanted him removed • Tenure of Office Act • Dismissal of Stanton=impeachment • Impeachment trial • Spring 1868 • 35-19 (one short of 2/3s)

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