John Picture background info

What are the issues that must be dealt with? And how should they be addressed?

•4 million newly freed slaves?•Assimilate into society? Voting rights? Equality?

•Destruction of south?•Letting Southern states back into the union?•Punishment for Confederates?•What should the powers of Federal and State Governments be now?

Lincoln was prophetic at Gettysburg when he said the war was about a “new birth of freedom”

South after war 1

Human toll of the Civil War: The North lost 364,000 soldiers. The South lost 260,000

soldiers. Between 1865 and 1877, the federal

government carried out a program to repair the damage to the South and restore the

southern states to the Union. This program was known as ReconstructionReconstruction.

FreedmenFreedmen (freed slaves) were starting out their new lives in a poor region with slow

economic activity. Plantation owners lost slave labor worth $3

billion. Poor white Southerners could not find work

because of new job competition from FreedmenFreedmen.

The war had destroyed two thirds of the South’s shipping industry and about 9,000

miles of railroad.

wounds….to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with

all nations.”

Lincoln was assassinated before we would ever know what his full reconstruction plan would be

Lincoln’s speech

“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in

the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish

the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s

What we know- in 1863 he made a reference to his 10% reconstruction plan which included:

•10% of people who could vote in 1860 had to swear allegiance to the union to become a state•States had to create a new state government which had to approved at the Federal level•States had to obey all emancipation laws

Of course, this is only a shell of a plan but we know Lincoln would have shown mercy on the South

Lincoln’s speech

Republicans were upset about the leniency he proposed, so congress passed the Wade-Davis Bill (1864):

•50% of people who could vote in 1860 had to swear allegiance to the union to become a state•States had to create a new state government which had to approved at the Federal level- only people who had never served or aided the Confederacy could be in politics•States had to obey all emancipation laws with stronger safeguards to protect this

Lincoln’s speech

Republicans subscribed to the “state suicide theory”- when south seceded, they essentially committed suicide and were not a part of the Union, therefore they should be treated as a conquered province

Lincoln disagreed and said they had never actually left the Union and he vetoed the Wade-Davis bill

Republicans responded by refusing to seat delegate from Louisiana who had met Lincoln’s 10% requirement

The war over reconstruction was already on!

Lincoln’s speech

•Supported Lincoln’s plan for leniency towards

the South

•Even before Lincoln died, a group of

congressmen called the Radical Republicans

were pushing for punishment of the South

•Engaged in a power struggle with Congress

over who would lead the country through Reconstruction.

•Would be impeached but not removed from

office.

•Supported Lincoln’s plan for leniency towards

the South

•Even before Lincoln died, a group of

congressmen called the Radical Republicans

were pushing for punishment of the South

•Engaged in a power struggle with Congress

over who would lead the country through Reconstruction.

•Would be impeached but not removed from

office.

John Picture background info

Johnson’s plan to readmit the South:

Amnesty:Amnesty: pardoned many ex-confederatespardoned many ex-confederates•Rebels sign an oath of allegianceRebels sign an oath of allegiance

•Once 10% of the population signs, state can be readmittedOnce 10% of the population signs, state can be readmitted•Even some high ranking Confederate officials, provided they weren’t Even some high ranking Confederate officials, provided they weren’t

worth more than $20,000worth more than $20,000

Write new state ConstitutionsWrite new state Constitutions•approve the approve the 13th Amendment 13th Amendment (Banned slavery)

•reject secession and state’s rightsreject secession and state’s rights•submit to U.S. Government authoritysubmit to U.S. Government authority

•The South was clearly going to be run by middle and lower class whitesThe South was clearly going to be run by middle and lower class whites

““Neither slavery nor involuntary slavery nor involuntary servitudeservitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall shall

exist within the United Statesexist within the United States, or any place subject to their

jurisdiction.”

The CongressCongress shall have power to enforceenforce by appropriate

legislation, the provisions of this article.

14th 13th: Slavery Abolished

Johnson’s plan to readmit the South:No mention ofNo mention of

•Education for freedmenEducation for freedmen•Citizenship and voting rights for freedmenCitizenship and voting rights for freedmen

•Radicals were not happy- saw Johnson as a Southerner and aRadicals were not happy- saw Johnson as a Southerner and a confederate (he had owned slaves at one time)confederate (he had owned slaves at one time)

•Many former confederates return to power (old power structure Many former confederates return to power (old power structure returning?)returning?)

•Alexander Stephens (VP of Confederacy) elected senator from GAAlexander Stephens (VP of Confederacy) elected senator from GA•Black codes (see next slides) passed to establish white authorityBlack codes (see next slides) passed to establish white authority

•Violence against blacks in South (KKK formed)Violence against blacks in South (KKK formed)

As southern states were restored to the Union under President Johnson’s plan, they began to enact black codes, laws that restricted freedmen’s

rights. The black codes established virtual slavery with provisions such as

these: Curfews: Generally, black people could not gather after sunset. Vagrancy laws: Freedmen convicted of vagrancy– that is, not working–

could be fined, whipped, or sold for a year’s labor. Labor contracts: Freedmen had to sign agreements in January for a

year of work. Those who quit in the middle of a contract often lost all the wages they had earned.

Land restrictions: Freed people could rent land or homes only in rural areas. This restriction forced them to live on plantations. Most became sharecroppers

Couldn’t serve on juries or testify against whites; only real change was marital rights were granted

Mississippi Governor, 1866: Mississippi Governor, 1866: “The Negro is free”“The Negro is free”

“Whether we like it or not; we must realize that fact now and forever.

To be free, however, does not make him a citizen or entitle him to

social or political equality with the white man.”

Gov of Miss

St. Landry’s Parish, St. Landry’s Parish, Louisiana, 1865Louisiana, 1865

Section 1: Be it ordainedSection 1: Be it ordained by the by the police jury of parish of St. Landry, police jury of parish of St. Landry, That no negro shall be allowed to That no negro shall be allowed to

pass within the limits of said pass within the limits of said parish without a special permit in parish without a special permit in

writing from his employer. writing from his employer. Whoever shall violate this Whoever shall violate this

provision shall pay a fine of $2.50, provision shall pay a fine of $2.50, or in default thereof shall be or in default thereof shall be

forced to work four days on the forced to work four days on the public road or suffer corporeal public road or suffer corporeal

punishment.punishment.

St. Landry’s Parish, St. Landry’s Parish, Louisiana, 1865Louisiana, 1865

Section 2: Be it ordained:Section 2: Be it ordained: That That every Negro who shall be found every Negro who shall be found absent from the residence of his absent from the residence of his

employer after 10 o’clock at employer after 10 o’clock at night, without a written permit night, without a written permit from him employer, shall pay a from him employer, shall pay a

fine of $5.00, or in default fine of $5.00, or in default thereof, shall be compelled to thereof, shall be compelled to

work 5 days on the public road or work 5 days on the public road or suffer corporeal punishment.suffer corporeal punishment.

St. Landry’s Parish, St. Landry’s Parish, Louisiana, 1865Louisiana, 1865

Section 3: Be it further ordainedSection 3: Be it further ordained, , That no Negro shall be be That no Negro shall be be

permitted to rent or keep a house permitted to rent or keep a house within said parish. Any Negro within said parish. Any Negro

violating this provision shall be violating this provision shall be immediately ejected and immediately ejected and

compelled to find an employer; compelled to find an employer; and any who shall rent, or give and any who shall rent, or give the use of the any house to any the use of the any house to any

Negro, in violation of this section, Negro, in violation of this section, shall pay a fine of $5.00 for each shall pay a fine of $5.00 for each

offence.offence.

St. Landry’s Parish, St. Landry’s Parish, Louisiana, 1865Louisiana, 1865

Section 4: Be it further ordainedSection 4: Be it further ordained, ,

No Negroes shall be allowed to No Negroes shall be allowed to congregate in public meetings congregate in public meetings between the hours of sunset to between the hours of sunset to

sunrise and by special permission sunrise and by special permission of the police chief may a public of the police chief may a public

meeting of Negroes occur. meeting of Negroes occur. However, church services are not However, church services are not included in this law. Pay a fine of included in this law. Pay a fine of

$5.00, work 5 days on the road $5.00, work 5 days on the road crew or receive corporeal crew or receive corporeal

punishmentpunishment

St. Landry’s Parish, St. Landry’s Parish, Louisiana, 1865Louisiana, 1865

Section 5: Be it ordainedSection 5: Be it ordained, No , No Negro who is not in the military Negro who is not in the military service shall be allowed to carry service shall be allowed to carry

firearms, or any kind of weapons, firearms, or any kind of weapons, within said parish, without the within said parish, without the

special written permission of his special written permission of his employers. Subject to $5.00 fine, employers. Subject to $5.00 fine,

road work or corporeal road work or corporeal punishment.punishment.

St. Landry’s Parish, St. Landry’s Parish, Louisiana, 1865Louisiana, 1865

Section 6: Be it ordainedSection 6: Be it ordained, That it , That it shall be the duty of every citizen shall be the duty of every citizen to act as a police officer for the to act as a police officer for the detection of offences and the detection of offences and the

apprehension of offenders, who apprehension of offenders, who shall be immediately handed over shall be immediately handed over

to the proper police officer or to the proper police officer or captain.captain.

Thaddeus Stevens Charles Summner

•Radical republicanism was a reaction to white supremacy- not necessarily to punish

the South

•Advocated political, social and economic equality for the Freedmen.

•Would go after President Johnson through the impeachment process after he vetoes

the Civil Rights Act of 1866.Radical Republicans

Thaddeus Stevens Charles Summner

•Blocked Southerners from entering congress in Dec. 1865

•Free black population would increase southern representation by 12- too much power

•Feared southerners and Northern Democrats would unite and control Government

•Federal black codes?

•President Johnson vetoed the Civil

Rights Act of 1866

•Gave $$$$ to Freedmen’s Bureau

for schools and granted citizenship to the Freedmen

•Congress believed Johnson was working

against Reconstruction and overrode his veto.

•Congress would override his veto

often and basically took over the Govt.

•Led to the 14th Amendment

•President Johnson vetoed the Civil

Rights Act of 1866

•Gave $$$$ to Freedmen’s Bureau

for schools and granted citizenship to the Freedmen

•Congress believed Johnson was working

against Reconstruction and overrode his veto.

•Congress would override his veto

often and basically took over the Govt.

•Led to the 14th AmendmentJohnson’s Veto

An inflexible President, 1866: Republican cartoon shows Johnson knocking Blacks of the Freedmen’s

Bureau by his veto.

An inflexible President, 1866: Republican cartoon shows Johnson knocking Blacks of the Freedmen’s

Bureau by his veto.

““All persons born in the U.S. are citizens of this country and the state they reside in. No state No state shall make or enforce any law shall make or enforce any law

which deprives any person of life, which deprives any person of life, liberty, or property, without due liberty, or property, without due process of lawprocess of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction to

the equal protection of the lawsequal protection of the laws.”

The CongressCongress shall have power to enforceenforce by appropriate

legislation, the provisions of this article.

14th 14th: Rights of Citizens

•Also included were clauses that reduced the number of representatives and electoral votes from a state if they deny citizenship and voting rights

•Disqualified all former confederate officeholders from holding federal or state office

•Johnson campaigned against it and all southern states rejected it- temporarily put on hold

14th 14th: Rights of Citizens

•Women rights supporters refused to support the 14th Amendment giving African American Men citizenship unless women were added to it.

•Abolitionists would not support women’s rights

Abolitionists vs Women’s rights

Impeachment:Impeachment: Bringing charges against the President. Two steps

involved……

1st Step: U. S. House of Representatives hold hearings to decide if there are crimes committed. They then vote on the charges

and if there is a majority, then, charges are brought against the President.

2nd Step: U.S. Senate becomes a courtroom. The President is tried for the charges brought against him. The Chief

Justice of the Supreme Court is the judge. Once trial is completed, Senators must

vote to remove President with a 2/3’s vote.

Impeachment process

Brought up on 11 charges of high

crimes and misdemeanors.

Tenure in Office Tenure in Office Act:Act: Law Congress passed. President can’t fire any of his cabinet members

without consulting Congress.

Passed to provoke Johnson

fired Edwin Stanton

Missed being removed from office

by 1 vote

Presidency would suffer as a result of this failed

impeachment. President would be more

of a figure-head. Saved the separation of

powers of 3 branches govt.

Who was the only other president to be

impeached?

Once Johnson is impeached,

Congress passes Reconstruction

Act of 1867.

The South would be reconstructed under the Radical Republicans plan.

Republicans would elect Grant as their President

and he would carry out the

Radical Reconstruction.“The Strong

Government”, 1869-1877. Grant

enforcing the Reconstruction Act of 1867 and

“forcing” the South to change.

Plans compared

•oath of allegiance---50% •No high ranking Confederate officials

•lose voting rights if you don’t sign oath

•Write new state Constitutions with full suffrage•Ratify: 13, 14 & 15 Amendments•reject secession and state’s rights

•submit to U.S. Government authority•Freedmen’s Bureau to be paid for by states

•Divide the South into 5 military districts- policed by Union army

Reconstruction Acts of 1867-Reconstruction Acts of 1867--76 (Harsh)(Harsh)

““The The right of citizensright of citizens of the of the United States to United States to votevote shall not be shall not be denied or abridged by the United denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account States or by any State on account

of race, color, or previous of race, color, or previous condition of servitude”.condition of servitude”.

The The Congress Congress shall have shall have power to power to enforceenforce this article by appropriate this article by appropriate

legislation.legislation.14th

15th: Voting Rights

The Taste of FreedomFreedom of movement: Enslaved people often walked away

from plantations upon hearing that the Union army was near. Exodusters: moved to Kansas and Texas

Freedom to own land: Proposals to give white-owned land to freed people got little support from the government. Unofficial land redistribution did take place, however.

Freedom to worship: African Americans formed their own churches and started mutual aid societies, debating clubs, drama societies, and trade associations.

Freedom to learn: Between 1865 and 1870, black educators founded 30 African American colleges.

Black Congressmen

First Black Senators and

representatives in the 42st and 42nd Congress.

Senator Hiram Revels, on the

left was elected in 1870 to

replace the seat vacated by

Jefferson Davis.

First Black Senators and

representatives in the 42st and 42nd Congress.

Senator Hiram Revels, on the

left was elected in 1870 to

replace the seat vacated by

Jefferson Davis.

1865, Congress created the Freedman’s Bureau to help former

slaves get a new start in life. This was the first major relief agency in United

States history.

Bureau’s AccomplishmentsBuilt thousands of schools to educate

Blacks. Former slaves rushed to get an education

for themselves and their children. Education was difficult and dangerous to

gain. Southerners hated the idea that Freedmen would go to school.

Freedmen’s Bureau 2

Freedmen’s Bureau 3

Freedmen’s Bureau 4

Funding ReconstructionRebuilding the South’s infrastructure, the public property and

services that a society uses, was one giant business opportunity.

Roads, bridges, canals, railroads, and telegraph lines had to be rebuilt.

Funds were also needed to expand services to southern citizens. Following the North’s example, all southern states created public school systems by 1872.

Congress, private investors, and heavy taxes paid for Reconstruction. Spending by Reconstruction legislatures added another $130 million to southern debt.

New South

New South•Becomes

industrialized

•Cities rebuilt

•Railroads

•Schools, over a thousand

•Hospitals, 45 in 14 states

•Diversify economy.

Military Reconstructio

n

Each number indicates the Military Districts