POLITICS OF RECONSTRUCTIONCh 12 Sect 1Pg 376

Lincoln’s Plan for Reconstruction Reconstruction – the period during

which the U.S. began to rebuild after the Civil War, lasting from 1865-1877.

Lenient Reconstruction Policy Lincoln believed that it was individuals

not states that seceded from the Union.

Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (Ten-Percent Plan)

Gov. would pardon all Confederates – except high ranking Confederate officials.

Swear allegiance to the Union. After 10% of the population swore

allegiance, a Confederate state could form a new state gov.

Given representation in Congress Radical Republicans disagreed w/ plan.

Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (Ten-Percent Plan)

Charles Sumner & Thaddeus Stevens led the Radical Republicans.

Radical Republicans Wanted voting rights for blacks Wanted to destroy the political power of

slaveholding states. Proposed the Wade Davis Bill – Congress

not the president would control reconstruction.

Lincoln vetoed the bill

Andrew Johnson

After Lincoln’s assassination, Andrew Johnson became president.

Johnson’s plan for Reconstruction… Confederate states could be readmitted to

the Union if it would meet several conditions.

Withdraw secession, swear allegiance to the Union, annul Confederate war debts, ratify the 13th amendment.

Prevented most high ranking confederates from swearing allegiance.

Presidential Reconstruction

Congress refused to admit southern legislatures.

Continued and enlarged Freedman’s Bureau. Assisted former slaves and poor whites in

the South by distributing clothing and food. Set up more that 40 hospitals, 4,000

schools, ect.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Gave African Americans citizenship and forbade states from passing discriminatory laws.

Black Codes – severely restricted African American lives.

Johnson shocked everyone when he vetoed both the Freedman’s Bureau Act and the Civil Rights Act.

Congressional Reconstruction Moderate and Radical Republicans came

together to override the president’s veto.

Civil Rights Act became law Passed the 14th amendment – all people

were entitled to equal protection of the law, and no state could deprive any person of life, liberty, or property w/o due process.

Reconstruction Act of 1867

Did not recognize state gov. under the Johnson & Lincoln plans.

Divided 10 former Confederate states into 5 military districts head by Union generals.

Elect delegates to conventions where new state constitutions would be drafted.

Constitutions must allow African Americans to vote & state must ratify 14th amendment.

Major Reconstruction Legislation, 1865-1870

Legislation Provisions

Freedmen's Bureau Acts (1865-1866) Offered assistance, such as medical aid & education to freed slaves & war refugees.

Civil Rights Act of 1866 Granted citizenship & equal protection under the law to African Americans.

Fourteenth Amendment 1868 Makes all persons “born or naturalized in the U.S.” citizens; barred most Confederate leaders from holding political office

Reconstruction Act of 1867 Abolished governments formed in the former Confederate states; divided those states into five military districts; set up requirements for readmission to the Union

Fifteenth Amendment 1870 States that no ne can be kept from voting because of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

Enforcement Act of 1870 Protected the voting rights of African Americans & gave the federal government power to enforce the 15th amendment.

Johnson Impeached

Radical leaders felt Johnson was not carrying out his constitutional duties to enforce the Reconstruction Act.

Impeach – to formally charge him w/ misconduct in office.

Passed the Tenure of Office Act – stated that the president could not remove cabinet members.

Johnson fired Secretary of War, Stanton. Congress then brought impeachment

charges against Johnson. “Not Guilty”

Ulysses S. Grant

Grant won the presidency Passed the 15th amendment

States had no right to keep anyone from voting b/c of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Answer the following questions1. What was Lincoln’s Ten Percent Plan?2. Who proposed the Wade-Davis Bill? Why?3. How did Lincoln deal with the passage of the

Wade-Davis Bill?4. How did Johnson’s plan follow and differ from

Lincoln’s?5. How did the Radical republicans kill presidential

reconstruction?6. What did the Freedmen’s Bureau accomplish?7. What legislation did moderates and radicals

pass in 1866?8. What was the Reconstruction Act of 1867?9. Why was Johnson impeached?10. Why was the Fifteenth Amendment passed?