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RECONSTRUCTION
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After the Civil War, the
South was defeated
militarily, devastated
economically, and many
were just trying to rebuild
their lives.
Reconstructionrebuilding the nation after
war
Congress and the
President had to decide
how to reunite the nation
– how to deal with former
Confederates and former
slaves and their
admittance into the Union.
The Beginning
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Lincoln’s Plan –
Proclamation of Amnesty
and Reconstruction.
He wanted to reconcile with
the South instead of
punishing them.
Lincoln offered to pardon all
southerners who took the
loyalty oath.
When 10% of the voters
had taken the oath, a new
state government would be
organized.
Confederate government
officials, military officers,
judges and members of
Congress would not be
pardoned.
Lincoln’s Plan for Reconstruction
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Radical Republicans
did not want to
reconcile with the
South.
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These were led by
Thaddeus Stevens
and Charles
Sumner.
Radical Republicans
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They had three goals:
◦ 1. Prevent Confederate leaders from returning
to power
◦ 2. Wanted the Republican Party to be powerful
in the South
◦ 3. Wanted the federal govt. to help African
Americans achieve political equality by
guaranteeing the right to vote.
Radical Republicans Cont.
Moderates were caught
in the middle of these
plans and created;
 The Wade-Davis Bill
(1864)- majority of adult
white men in the
Confederacy had to take
an oath of allegiance
before a new state govt.
could be formed.
 Each state would have to
abolish slavery, reject all
Confederate debts and
deny all former
Confederate govt.
officials and military
officers the right to vote.
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Wade-Davis Bill
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Congress passed the
Wade-Davis Bill, but
Lincoln blocked it with
a pocket veto. He did
not want a harsh
peace agreement with
the South. He feared
it would alienate
southerners when the
South was already
devastated and
thousands of
freedmen were
following Union troops
seeking help.
Wade-Davis Cont.
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March, 1865 –
Freedmen’s Bureau
was established to
feed and clothe war
refugees. It also
helped former
slaves find work
and get educated.
Freedman’s Bureau
Johnson’s plan – in the
summer of 1865, with
Congress in recess,
Johnson began
implementing his plan
which resembled
Lincoln’s.
 He would accept a
loyalty oath from
southerners, except for
Confederate officers and
officials. Southern
states had to ratify the
13th Amendment to
abolish slavery.
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Johnson’s Plan for Recon
President Andrew Johnson's Radical Republicans' Plan
Plan
(Congress)
To reenter the Union, states
Supported the Freedman's
had to:
Bureau
- swear allegiance to the Union - Created schools
- ratify the 13th amendment
- Created hospitals
Was willing to pardon high- Created Industrial Institutes
ranking Confederate officers
- Created teacher-training
Favored states' rights on issues centers
such as giving African
- Distributed food and clothing
Americans the right to vote
Supported Civil Rights Act of
Did not support the Freedman's 1866, which outlawed Black
Bureau
Codes
Took a conciliatory approach
Passage of 13th, 14th, and 15th
amendments required to
reenter Union
Divided the South into five
military districts
Supported equal rights for
African Americans
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By the time Congress
returned in December, the
process was well
underway.
Many were displeased
that southern voters had
elected many Confederate
leaders to Congress.
Southern states had also
passed new laws, called
black codes, to restrict
the rights of freedmen.
These included things like
curfews, restrictions on
property ownership and
employment.
Black Codes
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Congress formed a
Joint Committee on
Reconstruction to
develop their own
program.
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They proposed the 14th
Amendment which
granted citizenship to
former slaves – this
would guarantee
property rights and
provide “equal
protection under the
law”.
14th Amendment
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1867 – Congress passed the Military
Reconstruction Act. This divided the former
Confederacy into 5 districts.
A Union general was placed in charge of each
district to maintain peace and protection.
Each state had to hold new constitutional
conventions to design constitutions
acceptable to Congress. They had to give
the right to vote to all males and ratify the
14th Amendment.
Military Reconstruction Act
Military Reconstruction Act
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Johnson had shown the
willingness to veto bills
passed by Congress. To
avoid this, Congress
passed the Command of
the Army Act and the
Tenure of Office Act.
The Command of the
Army Act required all
orders from the president
to go through General
Grant first.
Tenure of Office Act –
required the Senate to
approve the president’s
removal of any govt.
official that had been
approved by the Senate.
Offices created by the President
Johnson retaliated by
firing Secretary of State
Stanton.
 Within a week, the House
of Representatives voted
to impeach Johnson.
 He was charged with
“high crimes and
misdemeanors”. He had
broken the law when he
refused to uphold the
Tenure of Office Act.
 Johnson’s impeachment
vote was one short of
removing him from
office.
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Impeachment of Pres. Johnson
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Johnson did not run
for re-election.
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U.S. Grant would be
the next president.
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Congress passed
the 15th
Amendment – gave
former slaves the
right to vote.
15th amendment and Grant
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Immediately after
the war ended –
during
Reconstruction –
African Americans
were allowed to
vote and some were
elected to Congress
and state offices.
Africans during Reconstruction