Chapter 17 Section 1Reconstruction Plans

Post Civil War America• Because Southern states had

seceded from the Union, the federal government needed to establish a system by which they could be readmitted.

Post Civil War America

• The economy and society of the South was devastated and needed to be rebuilt.

Reconstruction

• Period of rebuilding from 1865-1896• Refers to the various plans for

readmitting Southern states to the Union.

Lincoln’s Plan• Before his assassination, President

Lincoln had been planning for re-admittance of states during the last few years of the Civil War.

Lincoln’s Plan

• Lincoln felt that punishing the South served no useful purpose and he wanted to offer amnesty-a pardon-to all white Southerners who took an oath of loyalty.

Ten Percent Plan

Plan involved:• When 10% of voters of a state took

an oath of loyalty to the Union, the state could form a new government

• Adopt a state constitution that banned slavery

Radical Plans

• Many Republicans in Congress considered Lincoln’s plan far too forgiving of the South.

Radical Republicans• Republicans in the House and

Senate that favored a radical, or extreme, approach to reconstruction.

• Congress was controlled by the radicals and they voted to deny any congressional seats to representatives from states readmitted under Lincoln’s plan.

Thaddeus Stevens

• Leader of the Radical Republicans in the House. He was adamant about punishing the South.

Wade Davis BillReconstruction plan passed by the Radical

Republicans in July 1864:• over 50% of the white males of a state

had to swear an oath of loyalty• only white males that swore they fought in

the Confederate army could play a role in writing new state constitutions

• states had to ban slavery• no former Confederate could hold any

public office

Wade Davis Bill

• Lincoln refused to the sign the bill and vetoed it.

Freedman’s Bureau

• In March 1865, Lincoln and Congress worked together to set up this government agency.

• The bureau helped freed slaves to adjust to freedom.

Freedman’s Bureau

• It provided food, clothing, medical services, and helped freed slaves acquire land or find work.

Andrew Johnson becomes President

• Upon Lincoln’s death on April 15, 1865, Vice-President Andrew Johnson assumed the powers of President.

Andrew Johnson becomes President

• Johnson was a Democrat from Tennessee that supported the Union during the war.

RestorationJohnson’s plan for reconstruction included:• granted amnesty to most Southerners that

swore loyalty• High-ranking Confederates could only be

pardoned by appealing to the President• only pardoned loyal whites could be play a role

in writing new state constitutions• states had to denounce secession and ban

slavery• states had to ratify the 13th Amendment-

passed in January of 1865 the amendment abolished slavery in the United States