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Explore the key plans and challenges faced during the Reconstruction era (1865-1876) in America post-Civil War, including Lincoln's and Johnson's approaches, Congressional debates, and the complexities of reunifying the nation.
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Reconstruction (1865-1876)
RECONSTRUCTION • ‘The adaptation of American society without __________ and the ______________ of American society after the_________ ______.’
What would your plan for Reconstruction be? • How would the South be treated? • Any stipulations or sanctions placed on them to ensure they don’t rebel again? • What about for the freed slaves? How would they be treated? • Jot down your thoughts into your notebook
KEY QUESTIONS • Would Reconstruction have been different if Lincoln finished his second term? • Why was Andrew Johnson’s impeachment historically significant? • Was Reconstruction a success? Why? Why not? • Create your own!
Two theories on Reconstruction Work together with the South to bring about peace and reunification Be stern and hard on the ex-Confederate states in order to prevent another uprising
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.
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.
Congress’ Plan • Radical Republicans, led by Charles Sumner of Massachusetts and Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania, stressed any Reconstruction Plan must “revolutionize Southern institutions, habits, and manners.”
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)
Wade-Davis Bill (1864) • “Iron-Clad” Oath. • “State Suicide” Theory [MA Senator Charles Sumner] • “Conquered Provinces” Position[PA Congressman Thaddeus Stevens] • Lincoln vetoed the bill because he was not ready to “be inflexibly committed to any single plan of restoration.” PocketVeto PresidentLincoln Wade-DavisBill
"Our country owed all her troubles to him, and God simply made me the instrument of his punishment” – JOHN WILKES BOOTH
Lincoln’s Assassination • National grief & panic • VP Andrew Johnson becomes president • Had been Tennessee congressman • His state seceded • He remains loyal to the Union http://www.history.com/videos/lincoln-the-diary-of-john-wilkes-booth#lincoln-after-the-assassination
Lincoln Assassinated • The country would never know how Reconstruction would have gone with Lincoln as President. • On April 14, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated. • The assassin, John Wilkes Booth, shot Lincoln as he and his wife watched a play at the Ford Theatre in Washington. • Americans mourned his death, especially Southerners…why?
September 13, 2016 Do Now: Have out the primary document sheet from last week
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.
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!
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!
For readmission into the Union, rebelling states would need to nullify their acts of secession, abolish slavery, and refuse to pay Confederate debts • New state governments were elected and ex-Confederates dominated them • What kind of laws do you think were passed regarding newly freed slaves? • Johnson was too lenient towards these newly formed governments even overlooking Mississippi’s refusal to ratify the 13th Amendment • 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the U.S.
Growing Northern Alarm! • Many Southern state constitutions fell short of minimum requirements. • Johnson granted 13,500 special pardons. • Revival of southern defiance. BLACK CODES
Black Codes • Black codes were laws passed in Southern states during Reconstruction that greatly limited the freedom of former slaves. • Examples of Black Codes: • Promoted racial segregation in some places • Prohibited interracial marriage • Jury service by blacks • Court testimony by blacks against whites • All codes had provisions in them which basically barred former slaves from leaving the plantation
Quotes regarding Black Codes • Of the Black Codes, one African American veteran demanded, “If you call this Freedom, what do you call Slavery” • The Chicago Tribune proclaimed, “The men of the North will convert the State of Mississippi into a frog pond before they will allow such laws to disgrace one foot of soil in which the bones of our soldiers sleep and over which the flag of freedom waves.”
Violence in the South • Race Riots were becoming widespread across the South. • Johnson’s call for leniency towards the ex-Confederate states were becoming absurd in the wake of such violence.
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!!
Congress vs. Johnson • Freedmen’s Bureau • What was it? • An organization that helped millions of southern freedmen left homeless and hungry after the war. • It distributed food and clothing, as well as, set up hospitals and schools. • What did Johnson do? • He vetoed an attempt to extend the organization’s life.
Congress vs. Johnson • The Civil Rights Act of 1866 • What was it? • First civil rights law in U.S. history; it declared everyone born in the U.S. was a citizen with full civil rights. • What did Johnson do and what happened as a result? • Johnson vetoed the bill; however, Congress voted and passed it over his veto.
Radical (Congressional) Reconstruction
Do Now: What do you think of when you see this flag? How does it make you feel? What does it represent? Should individuals be allowed to fly this flag in the United States?
Who were the Radical Republicans? • Radical Republicans, led by Charles Sumner of Massachusetts and Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania, stressed any Reconstruction Plan must “revolutionize Southern institutions, habits, and manners.”
“ Hi…..I’m Charles Sumner.
“ Hi…..I’m Thaddeus Stevens.
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.
Elections of 1866 • Citizens grew tired of Johnson’s calls for leniency with such violence in the South. • As a result, the Radical Republicans won an overwhelming victory in the elections of 1866 “Yo Radical Republicans!! We did it!!”
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.
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.
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
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!
The Senate Trial • 11 week trial. • Johnson acquitted 35 to 19 (one short of required 2/3s vote).
“If… the President must step down…the office of President would be degraded….It would have revolutionized our splendid political fabric into a partisan Congressional autocracy….If Andrew Johnson were acquitted by a non partisan vote…America would pass the danger point of partisan rule and that intolerance which so characterizes the sway of great majorities and makes them dangerous.” - SENATOR EDMUND ROSS WHY DID ROSS VOTE NOT GUILTY?