Download Causes and Beginning of the Civil War

Reconstruction after the war. Rights of black people after the war.
Topic 11 (9 May)
1863, 8 Dec. Lincoln’s Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction
The proclamation addressed three main areas of concern.
First, it allowed for a full pardon for and restoration of property to all engaged in the rebellion
with the exception of the highest Confederate officials and military leaders.
Second, it allowed for a new state government to be formed when 10 percent of the eligible
voters had taken an oath of allegiance to the United States.
Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas construct „Lincoln governments”.
1864 Wade-Davis Bill
A bill put forth two Radical Republicans, Senator Benjamin Wade of Ohio and Representative
Henry Winter Davis of Maryland for the Reconstruction of the South.
Unlike Lincoln's more lenient Ten Percent Plan, the bill made re-admittance to the Union for
former Confederate states contingent on a majority in each Southern state to take the Ironclad
oath to the effect they had never in the past supported the Confederacy.
The Congress passed the bill on July 2, 1864, but was vetoed by Lincoln and never took
effect.
1865 General Sherman’s Special Field Order No. 15
This special field order was issued by Union general William T. Sherman on January
16,1865.
According to it land was confiscated as Union property in the south east. According to it a
strip of coastline stretching from Charleston, South Carolina, to the St. John's River in
Florida, including Georgia's Sea Islands and the mainland thirty miles in from the coast was to
become Union property and was next redistributed the roughly 400,000 acres of land to newly
freed black families in forty-acre segments.
1865, 3 March - Freedmen’s Bureau established
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (Freedmen's Bureau), was
authorized to give legal title for forty-acre plots of land to freedmen (freed blacks)and white
Southern Unionists.
In four years of existance it supplied food and medical service, built several thousand schools
and colleges and negotiated freedmen’s contracts.
(The meaning of freedom!; families; work; education; religion)
1865, 4 March - Lincoln’s second inauguration
1865, 14 April - Lincoln assassinated
Andrew Johnson becomes president
„With the Assassination of Lincoln, the Presidency fell upon an old-fashioned southern
Jacksonian Democrat of pronounced states' rights views. Although an honest and honorable
man, Andrew Johnson was one of the most unfortunate of Presidents. Arrayed against him
were the Radical Republicans in Congress, brilliantly led and ruthless in their tactics. Johnson
was no match for them.”
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/andrewjohnson
1865, 28 July - General Howard’s Circular
During the summer and fall of 1865, President Johnson issued special pardons, returning the
property to the ex-Confederates. Howard issued Circular 13, giving 40 acres as quickly as
possible. Upon his knowledge, Johnson ordered Howard to issue Circular 15, returning the
land to the ex-Confederates. Because of this, the phrase has come to represent the failure of
Reconstruction and the general public to assist African Americans.
Johnson begins rapid and lenient reconstruction (yes for the union and constitution; no for
equal rights for black people)
Johnson orders the Freedmen’s Bureau to return confiscated land to former owners
Confederate leaders regain power; white southern governments pass restrictive black codes
Former slaves were to carry passes, observe curfuw, live in landowners housing, not be
admitted to many occupations.
Congress refuses to seat southern representatives
Joint Committee on Reconstruction established by Congress
Thirteenth Amendment ratified
1866
Congress renews Freedmen’s Bureau; Johnson vetoes renewal bill
Congress passes Civil Rights Act (to counter the black codes); vetoed by Johnson Congress
presses through overriding presidential veto
Congress approves Fourteenth Amendment (most southern states reject it)
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction
thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall
make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due
process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their
respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians
not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President
and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and
Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the
male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United
States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis
of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male
citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.
Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President
and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any
State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the
United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of
any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection
or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress
may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including
debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection
or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume
or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United
States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations
and claims shall be held illegal and void.
Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the
provisions of this article
Congress renews Freedmen’s Bureau over presidential veto
In congressional elections, Republicans win more than two-thirds majority
Renunciation of Johnson’s plan of reconstruction
Birth of Ku Klux Klan in Tennessee
1867
Congress passes First, Second, Third and Fourth Reconstruction Acts (March 1967 – March
1868)
Secretary of State William Seward arranges purchase of Alaska
1868 Johnson fires Secretary of War Stanton
House of Representatives impeaches Johnson; Senate acquits him on charges of violation of
„Tenure of Office Act” (In the end Johnson remains in office, but politically weakened).
Most southern states gain readmission to the Union
Fourteenth Amendment ratified
Ulysses S. Grant elected president over Horatio Seymour – a New York Democrat
1869 Congress approves Fifteenth Amendment (ratified in 1870)
Amendment XV
Section 1.
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.
Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
1870 Congress passes first Enforcement Act
1871 Congress passes Ku Klux Klan Act (this and the enforcement act make actions by
individuals against civil and political rights an offence). They had limited influence.
1872 Amnesty Act frees almost all remaining Confederates from restrictions on holding
office. Grant re-elected
1873 Fourteenth Amendment weakened
1874 Democrats win majority in House of Representatives
1875 “Mississippi Plan” succeeds
Congress passes a weak Civil Rights Act
Congress requires that after 1878 greenbacks (Civil War money) be convertible to gold
Democratic Party continues to control much of southern states with white supremacy
campaign
1876 Further weakening of Fourteenth Amendment
1877 Congress elects Hayes president over disputed elections
Reconstruction over