Reconstruction (1865-1877)

1. Reconstruction (1865-1877) The time period following the Civil War where the US began to rebuild and reunite with the former Confederate States of America

2. Wartime Reconstruction

3. Lincoln’s Plan • He wanted a Moderate Policy • Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction • Offered a general amnesty or Pardon to all southerners who took an oath of loyalty – I except those accused of war crimes and high ranking officials • Had to accept the 13th amendment • Only 10% of the population had to meet the requirements • Once they met requirements they form a new state government and reenter the union

4. President Lincoln’s Plan • 10% Plan • Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (December 8, 1863) • Replace majority rule with “loyal rule” in the South. • He didn’t consult Congress regarding Reconstruction. • Pardon to all but the highest ranking military and civilian Confederate officers. • When 10% of the voting population in the 1860 election had taken an oath of loyalty and established a government, it would be recognized.

5. President Lincoln’s Plan • 1864  “Lincoln Governments” formed in LA, TN, AR • “loyal assemblies” • They were weak and dependent on the Northern army for their survival.

6. Opposition - RADICALS • Radical Republicans led by Thaddeus Stephens and Charles Sumner – plan was too weak • They had 3 goals • Prevent leaders from the former CSA from returning to power • Wanted Rep. party to become a powerful institution in the south • Help African Americans achieve equality

7. Issues of the House (1865) • Since former slaves were no freedmen the number of citizens in the south increased causing them to gain 15 more seats or representatives in the HOUSE – north feared the south would regain power and control the House of Reps

8. MODERATE REPUBLICANS • Those who were caught between Lincoln’s Plan and the Radicals • Thought Lincoln’s Plan was too weak – compromised with the Radicals – created the WADE DAVIS BILL

9. WADE DAVIS BILL • This bill required majority of whites in southern states to swear allegiance to the UNION • Create a new State Government • Ratify the 13 amendment • Reject all debts gained as a member of the CSADeprive all former CSA military officials and high ranking officials full citizenship • **** pocket vetoed by LINCOLN

10. Wade-Davis Bill (1864) • Required 50% of the number of 1860 voters to take an “iron clad” oath of allegiance (swearing they had never voluntarily aided the rebellion ). • Required a state constitutional convention before the election of state officials. • Enacted specific safeguards of freedmen’s liberties. SenatorBenjaminWade(R-OH) CongressmanHenryW. Davis(R-MD)

11. Wade-Davis Bill (1864) • “Iron-Clad” Oath. • “State Suicide” Theory [MA Senator Charles Sumner] • “Conquered Provinces” Position[PA Congressman Thaddeus Stevens] PocketVeto PresidentLincoln Wade-DavisBill

12. Jeff Davis Under Arrest

13. 13th Amendment • Ratified in December, 1865. • Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction. • Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

14. Freedmen’s Bureau • Was created by Congress to assist newly emancipated slaves • TASKS • Feed and cloth former slaves • Find and occupation • Work out contracts/ labor relations • 40 acres and a mule (idea) • Education – schools/ housing for teachers/ pay • Established vocational colleges

15. Freedmen’s Bureau (1865) • Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. • Many former northern abolitionists risked their lives to help southern freedmen. • Called “carpetbaggers” by white southern Democrats.

16. Freedmen’s Bureau Seen Through Southern Eyes Plenty to eat and nothing to do.

17. Freedmen’s Bureau School

18. Lincoln Assassinated • April 14th 1865- after beginning his second term in office- he was shot at Ford’s Theatre by John Wilkes booth – (Our American Cousin) • Successor – VP Andrew Johnson believed in a moderate plan for Reconstruction

19. Presidential Reconstruction

20. Johnson’s Plan • Pardon all former citizens who took an oath of allegiance to the UNION except military officers and high ranking officials and confederates with a property value of more than $20,000 • Each former CSA state had to call a constitutional convention • Denounce secession • Ratify the 13th amendment • Reject all debts *** all former CSA states agreed except TEXAS

21. President Andrew Johnson • Jacksonian Democrat. • Anti-Aristocrat. • White Supremacist. • Agreed with Lincolnthat states had neverlegally left the Union. Damn the negroes! I am fighting these traitorous aristocrats, their masters!

22. President Johnson’s Plan (10%+) • Offered amnesty upon simple oath to all except Confederate civil and military officers and those with property over $20,000 (they could apply directly to Johnson) • In new constitutions, they must accept minimumconditions repudiating slavery, secession and state debts. • Named provisional governors in Confederate states and called them to oversee elections for constitutional conventions. 1. Disenfranchised certain leading Confederates. 2. Pardoned planter aristocrats brought them back to political power to control state organizations. EFFECTS? 3. Republicans were outraged that planter elite were back in power in the South!

23. Growing Northern Alarm! • Many Southern state constitutions fell short of minimum requirements. • Johnson granted 13,500 special pardons. • Revival of southern defiance. BLACK CODES

24. Slavery is Dead?

25. Congress of 1865 • When Congress met in 1865 the Radicals were displeased with the Reconstruction Plan • ATTENDANCE OF CONGRESS • 4 Generals from the CSA • 58 former members of the CSA Congress • 6 members from the CSA Congress including Alexander Stephens – VP • Congress rejects the new Southern members

26. New problem in the South • Black Codes – each former CSA state had passed a series of laws prohibiting freedom of blacks • Required free blacks to enter into annual labor contracts • Children had to accept apprenticeships • Set specific work hours 18/day • Free Blacks must attain a license for nonagricultural jobs • Allowed for whippings at the job place

27. Black Codes • Purpose: • Guarantee stable labor supply now that blacks were emancipated. • Restore pre-emancipationsystem of race relations. • Forced many blacks to become sharecroppers[tenant farmers].

28. Radical Republicans Take Control • Reasons • Elections of former confederates to office and introduction of Black Codes made many moderate republicans join the Radicals • 14th Amendment • March 1866 – Congress passes the Civil Rights Act granted citizenship to all born in the US save native Americans • - allowed African Americans to own property and be treated equally in court • Fearing this would get overturned in the Supreme Court Republicans made it the 14th Amendment -- ERA

29. Congress Breaks with the President • Congress bars SouthernCongressional delegates. • Joint Committee on Reconstruction created. • February, 1866  Presidentvetoed the Freedmen’sBureau bill. • March, 1866  Johnsonvetoed the 1866 Civil Rights Act. • Congress passed both bills over Johnson’s vetoes  1st in U. S. history!!

30. Johnson the Martyr / Samson If my blood is to be shed because I vindicate the Union and the preservation of this government in its original purity and character, let it be shed; let an altar to the Union be erected, and then, if it is necessary, take me and lay me upon it, and the blood that now warms and animates my existence shall be poured out as a fit libation to the Union. (February 1866)

31. Radical (Congressional) Reconstruction

32. 14th Amendment • Ratified in July, 1868. • Provide a constitutional guarantee of the rights and security of freed people. • Insure against neo-Confederate political power. • Enshrine the national debt while repudiating that of the Confederacy. • Southern states would be punished for denying the right to vote to black citizens!

33. Mid Elections of 1866 • Allowed for their to be a dominate edge of Republicans in CONGRESS (3-1) – no former CSA states yet

34. The Balance of Power in Congress

35. Johnson’s “Swing around the Circle” The 1866 Bi-Election • A referendum on Radical Reconstruction. • Johnson made an ill-conceived propaganda tour around the country to push his plan. • Republicanswon a 3-1majority in both houses and gained control of every northern state.

36. Radical Plan for Readmission • Civil authorities in the territories were subject to military supervision. • Required new state constitutions, includingblack suffrage and ratification of the 13th and 14th Amendments. • In March, 1867, Congress passed an act that authorized the military to enroll eligible black voters and begin the process of constitution making.

37. Reconstruction Acts of 1867 • Military Reconstruction Act • Restart Reconstruction in the 10 Southern states that refused to ratify the 14th Amendment. • Divide the 10 “unreconstructed states” into 5 military districts.

38. Reconstruction Acts of 1867 • Command of the Army Act • The President must issue all Reconstruction orders through the commander of the military. • Tenure of Office Act • The President could not remove any officials [esp. Cabinet members] without the Senate’s consent, if the position originally required Senate approval. • Designed to protect radicalmembers of Lincoln’s government. • A question of the constitutionality of this law. Edwin Stanton

39. President Johnson’s Impeachment • Johnson removed Stanton in February, 1868. • Johnson replaced generals in the field who were more sympathetic to Radical Reconstruction. • The House impeached him on February 24 before even drawing up the charges by a vote of 126 – 47!

40. The Senate Trial • 11 week trial. • Johnson acquitted 35 to 19 (one short of required 2/3s vote).

41. Republican Rule in the South Reconstruction Continues 1865-1877

42. Republican Rule • By 1870 all former confederate states had rejoined the UNION • During Reconstruction many northerners moved to the south- Carpetbaggers– they were viewed as intruders who wanted to profit off the south– teachers, businessmen • Living in the south were also Scalawags- people who supported Republicans

43. Scalawags • They were a diverse group • Former Whigs • Mostly they were small farmers – who did not want plantation owners to regain control in the South

44. Black "Adjustment" in the South

45. Colored Rulein the South?

46. African Americans • Thousands of former slaves took part in government • Delegates to state conventions • Local officials • State and federal legislatures • Hiram Revels- 1st African American elected to the Senate • Joseph Rainey – 1st African Am. Elected to the HOUSE

47. Black & White Political Participation

48. Black Senate & House Delegates

49. Blacks in Southern Politics • Core voters were black veterans. • Blacks were politically unprepared. • Blacks could register and vote in states since 1867. • The 15th Amendment guaranteedfederal voting.

50. 15th Amendment • Ratified in 1870. • The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. • The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. • Women’s rights groups were furious that they were not granted the vote!