Reconstruction(1865-1877)

Lincoln’s 10% Plan:•Lincoln favored a lenient Reconstruction policy. He wanted to make the South’s return to the Union as quick and easy as possible

•The Government would pardon all Confederates-except high-ranking Confederate officials and those accused of crimes against prisoners of war who would swear allegiance to the Union

•After 10% of those on voting lists took this oath of allegiance, a Confederate state could form a new government and re-gain representation in Congress

(Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee & Virginia made it in under this plan)

Outrage of the 10% plan = the Wade-Davis Bill

•Proposed that Congress and not the President be in charge of Reconstruction. Also, that a majority of voters must take an oath in support of the Constitution, not just 10%

Johnson’s Plan:•The Remaining states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas) could be readmitted if they withdrew their secession, annul Confederate war debts, and ratify the 13th Amendment.

•Differences from Lincoln? Johnson wanted to prevent wealthy landowners and confederates from taking the oath needed for voting privileges.

•The remaining Confederate states quickly agreed (except for Texas) despite not following all of the stipulations (Mississippi never ratified the 13th Amendment)

Problems:•Although Johnson favored abolition, he did not believe in former slaves gaining the right to vote.

•Time came for Congress to convene and Johnson pardoned all southern members (58 sat in Congress in the Confederacy, 6 served in the Confederate Cabinet, 4 fought for the South as Generals)

•Johnson proclaims Reconstruction to be over!

Reactions:•Freedmen’s Bureau- Bureau created to assist former slaves and poor whites in the South•Civil Rights Act of 1866-

Gave African Americans citizenship and forbid states from passing BLACK CODES

(see example)

Congressional Reconstruction:•14th Amendment: “all persons born or naturalized in the US are citizens of the country”. (All states rejected it under Johnson's advisement, except for Tennessee who finally ratified in 1868)•Reconstruction Act of 1867: Congress did not recognize the state governments that rejoined the Union under Lincoln and Johnson’s plans (except Tennessee).

-Divided the other 10 former Confederate states into 5 military districts headed by a Union general.

-Voters had to elect new delegates, and draft a new constitution.-In order for re-entry, the Constitution had to include

the right or African-American men to vote.

Congressional Reconstruction cont.•Johnson vetoed the Act and Congress overrode the veto!

•Johnson was charged for violating the Tenure of Office Act but fell one vote shy of being impeached

•Ulysses S. Grant is elected President in a landslide

•15th Amendment- No one can be prevented from voting due to “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

The End