Download Reconstruction Notes

Ch. 12.1
The Politics of Reconstruction
Notes
Main Idea: Congress rejected the Lincoln and Johnson’s plan for reconstruction, and
instead implemented their own.
What was reconstruction?
A period following the war in which the U.S. began to rebuild the Union
-1865-1877
What were the parts of reconstruction?
-readmit the Confederate States
-rebuild the destroyed South’s infrastructure
-rebuild the decimated economy of the South
What was Lincoln’s plan for reconstruction?
-he favored a lenient reconstruction policy
-pardon individuals
-quick and easy return to the Union
-Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (Ten-Percent Plan)
-pardon all Confederates except high ranking officers and those
who committed crimes against prisoners of war
-Must swear allegiance to the union
-after ten percent of those in a state did so they could form
a state government and be represented in Congress
How did Republicans in Congress react to Lincoln’s Plan?
-Radical Republicans were in a minority, but very vocal
-wanted to destroy the power of former slave holders (rich plantation owners)
-wanted African Americans to be granted full citizenship and voting rights
-Pass the Wade-Davis Bill in reaction to the Ten Percent Plan
-Congress should be in charge of Reconstruction
-a majority, NOT ten percent for representation in Congress
What was Lincoln’s reaction to the Radical Republicans?
-He asserts his authority over reconstruction and the Radical Republicans
-Lincoln “pocketed” the bill (ignored it at the end of a Congressional session)
-this stops the bill from becoming law without vetoing it
-Radicals are outraged
-assert that they have the power over reconstruction
-Presidential-Congressional showdown results
-Lincoln is assassinated before plan and showdown
Who is Andrew Johnson?
-Lincoln’s compromise Vice-President
-added as Lincoln’s running-mate to secure Southern votes in 1864
-strong believer in state’s rights NOT strong central government
-not in favor of former slaves right to vote
-“White men alone must manage the South.”
-Johnson was a staunch unionist- believed in the preservation of the Union
-he had spoken of harshly punishing the Confederates
-this made the Tennessee native appear as a traitor to the South
-this made Radical republicans think he was a radical
-Both groups were very wrong
What was Johnson’s Plan?
-differs very little from Lincoln’s Plan
-states could be readmitted in four steps: 1. withdraw secession
2. swear allegiance to the Union
3. annul Confederate war debts
4. ratify the 13th Amendment
Who made up the Southern representatives to Congress?
-58 former Confederate Congressmen
-6 Confederate cabinet members
-4 Confederate Generals
-all were pardoned under Johnson’s Plan
How did the newly freed African-Americans feel about Johnson’s Plan?
-felt betrayed
-“Already we see the fruits of this failure on the part of Government to mete out
full justice to the loyal blacks, and retribution to the disloyal whites.”
-referring to the failure to address three areas: 1. land
2. voting rights
3. protection under the law
How did Congress react to Johnson’s claim that reconstruction was complete?
-Radical republicans contend that nothing has changed in the South
-refuse to admit newly elected Southern legislators to the new Congress
-moderate Republicans look to remedy many of the failures of Johnson’s Plan
-Freedman’s Bureau-assisted former slaves and poor whites
-clothing, food, medical care (hospitals), education (tech schools,
teacher-training, and general education)
-Civil Rights Act of 1866- grants citizenship, forbids states from passing
discriminatory laws
-black Codes-prohibits the rights of blacks throughout the South
-both Acts were vetoed by Johnson
-congress overrides veto
th
-14 Amendment- grants citizenship to all born or naturalized in U.S.
-its intent was to grant blacks rights constitutionally
-allowed black males certain rights or risk losing seats
in Congress (voting)
-Reconstruction Act of 1867-division of all Confederate states into 5 military
districts (Tennessee exempt)
-each district was headed by a Union general
-each district would vote for delegates to a state convention
-state conventions would draft a new state constitution
-African American men had to be able to vote
-ratify the 14th Amendment
-Johnson vetoed Reconstruction Act
-Congress again overrides veto
What happened to Johnson as a result of his conflict with Congress?
-Congress impeaches Johnson- formally charge him with misconduct in office
-not carrying out his constitutional obligation to enforce Reconstruction Act
-Johnson fires Sec. of War Stanton to test Tenure of office Act
-not enforcing Tenure of Office Act
-stated cabinet members could not be fired without consent of Senate
-Johnson contends that Lincoln appointed Stanton
-Johnson found not guilty by a single vote (35-19)
What happens in the 1868 election?
-U.S. Grant elected
-Johnson was not nominated
What is the Grant administration widely known for?
-15th Amendment-voting rights can not be denied a person based on race, color, or
previous condition of servitude (slavery).
-some southern governments and white southerners refused
to enforce the 14th and 15th Amendments
-some resort to violence to prevent voting
-wide social and economic changes