ReconstructionThe Lost Cause
Lincoln’s Plan
10% of state’s voters took oath pledging loyalty to Union and emancipation
No vengeance
Pardoned all Southerners, except high ranking Confederates
Wade-Davis Bill
Radical Republicans dissatisfied
Two Republican leaders constructed own plan
Goal: punish Confederate leaders, permanently destroy the South's slave society
Stricter expectations to re-enter the Union
High ranking officers stripped of citizenship
Unsuccessful, but placed wedge within party
13th Amendment
Abolishes slavery
No compensation for former slave holders
Leads to establishment of Freemen’s Bureau All-purpose agency Emergency services to south 40 acres and a mule; program of land
distribution Education improved, literacy jumps from 10%
to 30% in 5 years
Andrew Johnson, No Lincoln
Selected as VP because a Southern Democrat loyal to Union
Self made man
Initially spoke of “punishing” ex-confederates
Only Rhetoric
Racist views overpowered all
Lenient policy implemented
Cont…
After all 11 states accepted plan, announced Reconstruction was over
Outraged Republican party
Three Glaring Issues: Many had failed to accept 13th Amendment Dozens of ex-Confederates were being
elected to state offices Creation of Black Codes
Vagrancy
Ending the Slavocracy
If Reconstruction was slowed, opportunities for roots to take hold in south
14th Amendment, federal government key in individual civil rights
Complex amendment Natural born citizens given civil rights, equal
protection, states denying rights to vote penalized
Johnson on the attack
Cont….
March 1867, Republicans ready to go
South divided in five military districts
New state constitutions drawn up, allowing universal male suffrage
Took two full years after Civil War, but a clear Reconstruction plan in place Time for Southerners to recover and fight
Johnson Impeached
Johnson dismisses Secretary of War Stanton
Door opened for opponents
Violated the Tenure of Office Act
Proceedings began, but saved by moderate Republicans
Changes in the South
Carpetbaggers: looking for opportunities in the south
Scalawags: southerners who joined Republican party for political gains, viewed as traitors by some
Former slaves made up most of the population Distinct role in society increasing Engaged in politics, growing churches,
businesses, politics
Reconstruction Under Fire
Charges of mismanagement and corruption flying
Increased taxes bothersome
In reality the charges and tax increases were minimal, enough to create controversy
Grant wins presidency in 1868, tense situation
White Resistance
15th Amendment, black suffrage required “explicit” constitutional guarantee
Women wanted in on the action, rejected, one thing at a time
KKK on the rise Use of violence and intimidation Discouraged African Americans from voting Grant’s Enforcement Acts in 1870 tries have
impact Mississippi plan: campaign of terror, Grant does
not send support
Reconstruction’s End
Panic of 1873, rejection of the Civil Rights Act of 1875, and the election of Rutherford B. Hayes
1877 last federal troops on way out of south