• Lincoln• Johnson• Grant• Hayes

PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES DURING THE RECONSTRUCTION, 1865 - 1877

He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 15, 1865 – just six days after Lee’s surrender to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.

Lincoln’s “Ten Percent Plan” was the most lenient of all Reconstruction Plans – he would have allowed Southerners to create their own state governments if 10% of the population swore loyalty and the state approved the 13 t h Amendment.

Lincoln’s death further embittered Northerners eager to punish the CSA.

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Andrew Johnson was both a Southerner and a Democrat, and is considered the “poster boy” for accidental Presidents.

Johnson’s “Restoration” plan would have banned slavery, but not given African-Americans full citizenship or suff rage.

Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Freedman’s Bureau Extension Act – but both were passed into law by Congressional override.

Johnson was impeached by Congress because they hated him so. He came within one vote of being removed from offi ce, but he was not removed!

PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON

Grant is often remembered as a poor President for his inabil ity to control corruption in his government – especially with regards to the railroad companies.

He was, however, a true believer in the cause of civil rights for African-Americans – and thought that the Civil War would have been in vain if voting rights were not upheld.

Grant passed laws controll ing Ku Klux Klan activity and hate groups, maintaining the Freedman’s Bureau, and continuing eff orts to end black codes.

Grant was President when the 15 t h Amendment was added to the Constitution.

PRESIDENT ULYSSES S. GRANT

Samuel Tilden won more votes than he did in the Election of 1876.

He became President of the United States as a result of the Compromise of 1877.

He promised to end the Reconstruction of the American South by removing soldiers from southern states and ending the Freedman’s Bureau.

While he was President, southern states passed laws (literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses) which made it very diffi cult for African-Americans to vote.

PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD B. HAYES