The Politics of Reconstruction

1. The Politics of Reconstruction Chapter 12 Section 1

2. I Lincoln’s Plan for ReconstructionA. Lincoln’s Ten-Percent Plan • Reconstruction= time period & process after the civil war in which the federal gov’t readmits defeated confederate states into the union • Before his death Lincoln makes it clear that he favored a lenient Reconstruction policy • Believed Confed. states never left the Union because it was Const. impossible • The ppl not states rebelled and the Const. gave Pres. Power to pardon indiv.

3. Lincoln’s Proclamation of Amnesty & Reconstruction AKA 10 Pt. Plan • Pardon all Confederates except high ranking confed. officials & those accused of crimes against POWs IF they pledges allegiance to the Union • After 10% of those on the voting lists took the oath Confed. state could form new state gov’t & send members to congress • Goal of 10pt plan= quick and easy return for south into the Union • Plan angered Radical Republicans • Led abolition efforts before war now proposed laws to ensure Af. Am. Rights • Idea to give former slaves the right to vote was radical (no other country gave former slaves the right to vote)

4. B. Radical Reaction • Pass the Wade-Davis Bill in reaction to the 10% Plan • Proposed that Congress, NOT THE PRES., be responsible for reconstruction • A MAJORITY not 10% would have to take vote before state is reinstated • Lincoln Pocket Vetoes the bill • If pres ignores/doesn’t sign a bill passed less than 10 days before end of a congressional session then it does not become law

5. II Johnson’s Plan for ReconstructionA. Johnson Continues Lincoln’s Policies • John Wilkes Booth’s assassination of Lincoln in 1865 left Democrat Andrew Johnson as pres. • Johnson announces his own reconstruction plan= Presidential Reconstruction • Confed. states readmitted under 3 conditions • Declare their secession illegal • Pledge allegiance to the Union • Ratify the 13th Amendment- Abolished slavery

6. Radicals upset that his plan did not address need of land, voting rights, & protection under the law for former slaves • Johnson’s plans made most southern whites happy as he thought that whites should manage the south and Af. Am. Should not gain the vote • Southern legislatures included high ranking officials fomr the confed. who fought against the Union who were pardoned by Johnson

7. B. Presidential Reconstruction comes to a Standstill • Radical Republican legislators dispute claim that Reconstruction was complete • Believes southern states were just the same as before the Civil War • Moderate Rep. call for small changes to Johnson’s plan like expanding Freedman’s Bureau • Freedman’s Bureau= established last month of war assisted former slaves and poor whites in S by distributing clothing/food/& setting up pub. Schools

8. C. Civil Rights Act of 1866 • Congress passes Civil Rights Act of 1866gave Af. Am. Citizenship and forbade states from passing discriminatory laws • Southern states quickly pass Black codes • laws that severely restricted Af. Am.’s lives • No weapons/serving on juries/marrying whites/having businesses • Resentful whites used violence to keep blacks from improving their position in society • ALL THIS EVIDENCE THAT SOUTH HAD NOT GIVEN UP ON THE IDEA OF KEEPING AF. AM. IN BONDAGE

9. JOHNSON VETOED Freedman’s Bureau & the Civil Rights Act • By vetoing bills he alienated the moderate rep. who were trying to improve his Reconstruction plan • Also angered Radicals by appearing to support S who denied AfAmer their full rights • After a yr. in office, Reconstruction ground to a halt

10. II Congressional ReconstructionA. Moderates and Radicals Join Forces • Angered by Johnson’s vetoes, radical and moderate Republicans work together to shift control of Recon to control of congress • Begins the period known as congressional reconstruction • Civil Rights Act1st major leg. To be enacted over a presidential veto • Congress drafts the 14thamendmentprivides constitutional basis for Civil Rights Act • Made all people born or naturalized in the US CITIZENS of the country who were entitled to full protection under the law

11. Didn’t specify Af. Amer but did state if any group denied right to votelose % of congressional seats • Confederate leaders couldn’t hold office unless 2/3 vote from congress • Johnson believed it was unfairrecommends S states to reject the amendment • Not ratified until 1868

12. B. 1866 Congressional Elections • Question of who should control reconstruction became main issue in 1866 Congressional elections • Race riots occurmanyAf. Amer. Deaths • Moderate and Radical Republicans win a landslide victory over Democrats • Rep. gain 2/3 majority in Congress assuring them the votes needed to override any pres. veto

13. C. Reconstruction Act of 1867 • Rad. & Mod. Join to pass the Reconstruction Act of 1867 • Did not recognize gov’ts formed under the Lincoln and Johnson plans • Divided former confed. states into 5 military districts headed by a Union general (except tenn. Who passed the 14th amendment) • Voters of the dist. Would vote for delegates to write to new state constitutions • Required new constitutions to grant Af. Amer. The right to vote • Required new states to ratify the 14th amendment • Once these were met they could rejoin the union • Johnson vetoes but Congress overrides

14. D. Johnson Impeached • Radicals turn attention to getting rid of Pres. Johnson • Believed he was doing his constitutional duty of enforcing the Reconstruction Actlooking for reasons to impeach him • Impeach= formally charge hi with misconduct in office • Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act= pres. Couldn’t remove cabinet officers during term of president who appointed them • This was meant to protect Stanton who was a radical ally

15. Johnson believed it was unconstitutional but it had to be tested in courtJohnson firing Stanton to test the law • Only the House of Representatives could impeach pres. And the Senate hollds the trial • H of R brings charges on the violation of the Tenure of Office Act • Despite the disagreements between congress and the pres, the Senate fell 1 vote short of impeaching Pres. Johnson

16. E. U.S. Grant Elected • Democrats knew they could not win pres. Election w/ Johnson so they nominate Seymour • Republicans nominate Ulysses S. Grant • Grants wins the presidency thanks to the overwhelming number of African American votes • Radicals introduce the 15th amendment out of fear that pro confed. S whites will try to placelimits on Black suffrage

17. 15th Amendment= no one can be kept from voting due to “race, color, or previous condition of servitude” • Also affected N states who at this time also prevented Af. Amer. From voting • 15th Amend important victory for Radicals • Reconstruction didn’t only bring political changes to the south but also SOCIAL & ECONOMIC