THE SOUTH UNDER JOHNSON’S PLAN

Under Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan, the Southern States were quickly allowed to

set up new governments, and many of the people that were in power before the war

were back in power. Because of this, the new southern governments created many

laws that took away rights from the freed African Americans. These laws are called

the Black Codes.

The Black Codes restricted the freedom and opportunities of African Americans. The

Black Codes served three primary purposes. 1) The codes stated what rights the

newly freed slaves had, which includes the right to own property, the right to work,

and the right to marry BUT the laws denied blacks many civil rights, such as the right

to vote, and the right to serve on juries. 2) The codes required blacks to sign labor

contracts, and those who did not could be arrested and sent to jail or forced to work

for a planter. 3) The codes permitted blacks to only work on farms or in other unskilled

jobs, they were not permitted to rise economically or start their own business.

In essence, the black codes were meant to 1) limit the civil rights of blacks, 2) place

the newly freed slaves back on the farm through the labor contracts, and 3) deny

blacks opportunity for a better life.

Examples of Black Codes

1) South Carolina - No person of color could become an artisan, mechanic, or

shopkeeper unless he obtained a license from the judge of the district court.

2) Louisiana - Any Negro found on the streets of the town after ten o'clock in the

evening had to work for five days on the public streets or pay a $5 fine.

3) Louisiana - No negro or freedman shall be permitted to rent or keep a house

within the limits of the town under any circumstances. . . . No negro or freedman

shall reside within the limits of the town . . . who is not in the regular service of

some white person or former owner.

Black Codes: Research Assignment

Research in books or the internet for other examples of Black Codes. Find at least

three examples of Black Codes and paraphrase what each Code is saying in your

own words. Use the following chart for your research.

BLACK CODES CHARTState Black Code Paraphrased in your own words

Where did you find the most information? If it’s a website, what is the name of the

website?

CONGRESS TAKES CONTROL OF RECONSTRUCTION

Although the Thirteenth Amendment had been added to the Constitution freeing the

slaves, it became clear that the situation for black people in the South had changed

little. (See Page 25 for a list of laws passed during the Reconstruction Era) The same

white people remained in power and the Black Codes had denied blacks their civil

rights and effectively kept them as servants of their former masters.

When the Congress met at the end of 1865, they recognized that Johnson’s

Reconstruction Plan had failed and moved to take over the Reconstruction

process. The party in charge of Congress during this time were the

Republicans and they were given the nickname the Radical Republicans because of their strong views on Reconstruction.

The Radical Republicans ignored President Johnson’s declaration that

Reconstruction was complete. The Republican Congress in the beginning of 1866

passed two laws 1) extend the Freedman’s Bureau to provide more help to the newly

freed slaves improve their lives and 2) Civil Rights Act of 1866 which sought to

eliminate the Black Codes. However, President Johnson vetoed the laws.

(Remember the Congress makes the laws, but in order for the law to take effect the

President has to sign the law. If the President refuses to sign, then he vetoes

the law and the law is sent back to Congress.) The Congress can still pass

the law by overriding the veto by getting a 2/3 vote in both houses of

Congress. The Radical Republicans were able to get the 2/3 vote to override

President Johnson’s veto, as such, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the

Freedman’s Bureau Bill both passed and became law.

In addition to the Civil Rights Act, Congress would also pass the Reconstruction Acts which Outlined the process for admitting Southern States back into the Union and

placed the South under military rule.

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The conditions for the Southern States to rejoin the Union were that Election Boards

would be created in the South to register voters. Blacks and Southern whites who

were loyal to the Union would be registered, but Confederate supporters would not be

allowed to vote. States had to agree to grant blacks the right to vote. States had to

ratify the 14th Amendment. Only then would the Southern States be allowed to rejoin

the Union.

Congress also passed the Fourteenth Amendment and Fifteenth Amendment to the

Constitution. (Remember the process for adding an Amendment to the Constitution

requires 2/3 of both houses of Congress to vote for it.)

JOHNSON’S IMPEACHMENT

It is clear that Johnson and the Congress controlled by the Radical Republicans did

not agree on the plan for Reconstruction in the south. Johnson believed that

Reconstruction was complete and the Union restored when the Southern States met

his requirements; however, the Congress believed that the South had to be punished

for leaving the Union and more needed to be done to make sure that the civil rights of

freedmen would be protected.

President Johnson vetoed many of the laws that Congress passed, forcing the

Congress to override the vetoes. One law that President Johnson opposed was the

Tenure of Office Act, which barred the President from firing certain federal officials

without the advice and consent of the Senate. To show his dislike for the law, Johnson

fired his Secretary of War (an advisor in his Cabinet) without the consent of the

Senate.

The Radical Republicans in Congress, led by Thaddeus Stevens, felt that Johnson

was standing in the way of their view of Reconstruction. Thaddeus Stevens was an

abolitionist, and supported many laws to improve the living situation for freedmen.

Stevens wanted to punish former plantation owners by giving their land to the freed

slaves.

On February 24, 1868, the House of Representatives voted to impeach President

Johnson for violating the Tenure of Office Act. If 2/3 of the Senate voted to find

Johnson guilty of the charge, then Johnson would be removed from office. After the

trial, the Senate voted 36 to 25 to remove Johnson, one vote short of the 2/3

requirement.

In the end, Johnson escaped being removed from office. However, he became the

first President to be impeached. After the trial, Johnson no longer challenged the

Congress and the Congress was able to move forward with their view of

Reconstruction.

THE NEW SOUTH

Under the Radical Republican’s Reconstruction Plan, the South looked very different

from before. There are different groups of people that emerged during this period.

Freedmen – Newly freed slaves. They numbered four million at the close of the Civil

War. Although given equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment and the right

to vote by the Fifteenth Amendment, Freedmen still faced great discrimination and

hardships economically, socially and politically.

Freedmen’s Bureau – A government agency, first created under President Lincoln to

help Freedmen in the South with basic necessities like food, clothing, education and

medical care, as well provide legal assistance and protection. However, President

Johnson prevented the Freedmen’s bureau from distributing land to the freedmen and

didn't agree with giving blacks extra protection so it loss much as of its power.

Scalawags – Southern whites who had opposed secession. Many of them were poor

farmers.

Carpetbaggers – White Northerners who came to the South after the War seeking

economic opportunity.

Ku Klux Klan (KKK) – Terrorist organization which was opposed to black equality,

social and political. They used violence to stop blacks from voting and exercising their

civil rights. Their actions include burning schools, Freedmen’s Bureau offices, and

murder.

Sharecroppers/ tenant farmers – Many freedmen ended up working on the same

land doing the same work that they did as slaves, except now they were called

sharecroppers, or tenant farmers. Under this system, the landowners would rent out

their land to the sharecroppers who would pay for the right to work on the land with

what they grew. Because the sharecroppers were mostly freed slaves they had no

money and had to borrow from the landowners to buy tools and supplies, they would

never be able to pay back their loans meaning they would work their entire lives and

still remain in debt. This form of paying off the debt with labor is called debt peonage

and is a form of economic slavery.

Redeemers – White supremacists who wanted to redeem or save the South by

returning it to White Man’s Rule. Redeemers passed laws in the South to limit the

ability of Blacks to vote. This included the Poll Tax (have to pay a tax to vote, which

black people could not afford) and Literacy Test (had to pass a test to vote, which

were made so difficult so nobody could pass). Whites did not have to take the literacy

test because of the Grandfather Clause, which permitted anybody whose ancestors

voted to vote. Because blacks used to be slaves their ancestors were also slaves and

cold not vote, and they had to take the tests. Redeemers also passed Jim Crow Laws, which called for segregation of Blacks and Whites.

MATCHING GAME Below are some pictures, political cartoons, descriptions and quotes. Which group of

people do each represent? Match each with the appropriate people of the New South

discussed before, and give evidence why you think so.

“The whole fabric of southern society must be changed, and never can it be done if this opportunity is lost. Without this, this government can never be, as it never has been, a true republic.”

MATCHING GAME Below are some pictures, political cartoons, descriptions and quotes. Which group of

people do each represent? Match each with the appropriate people of the New South

discussed before, and give evidence why you think so.

PEOPLE OF THE NEW SOUTH STUDY SHEETWrite a short description about each group in you own words and in ways you can

remember, using native language, pictures, flow charts etc. An example has been

provided.

1. FREEDMEN

2. FREEDMEN’S BUREAU

3. SCALAWAGS

4. CARPETBAGGERS

5. KU KLUX KLAN

6. SHARECROPPERS/ TENANT FARMERS

=

7. REDEEMERS

8. RADICAL REPUBLICANS

Borrow money & land to farm + Pay debt with what they grow

Economic Slavery

IMPORTANT LAWS DURING THE RECONSTRUCTION ERA

Thirteenth Amendment – (1865) Abolished slavery in the United States.

Civil Rights Act of 1866 – (1866) guaranteed citizenship to all Americans regardless

of race and secured former slaves the tight to own property, sue, testify in court, and

sign legal documents.

Reconstruction Acts – (1867) Outlined the process for admitting Southern States

back into the Union. South would be placed under military rule. Election Boards would

be created in the South to register voters. Blacks and Southern whites who were loyal

to the Union would be registered, but Confederate supporters would not be allowed to

vote. States had to agree to grant blacks the right to vote. States had to ratify the 14th

Amendment. Only then would the Southern States be allowed to rejoin the Union.

Tenure of Office Act – Prohibited the President the power to remove any executive

officer who had been appointed by the President, without the advice and consent of

the Senate.

Fourteenth Amendment – (1868) The Fourteenth Amendment overruled the Dred

Scot Decision and granted former slaves citizenship, stating all persons born or

naturalized in the United States are citizens. It also protected citizens from

unreasonable governmental interference. It also guaranteed due process protection

for citizens so that laws and the rules for enforcing them must be fair. Finally, it

guaranteed equal protection under the law for all citizens regardless of race or color.

Fifteenth Amendment – (1870) Prohibits each government in the United States from

denying a citizen the right to vote because of race, color, or previous condition of

servitude.

RESULTS OF THE RECONSTRUCTION ERA

1. Reunification of the Union – The Southern States were allowed to rejoin the Union

after satisfying the requirements of Congress’ Reconstruction Plan.

2. Economic Effect – A lot of money and investment was put into rebuilding the South.

New industry and trade helped to rebuild many Southern cities. However, even

though a lot of money was invested much of the money was stolen by corrupt

government officials, and a lot of the South remained very poor. (See Chart A)

3. Laws – The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendment provided equal protection and

due process protection to all citizens, and guaranteed civil rights to Blacks, such as

the right to vote. (Look at Laws of Reconstruction Era)

4. Sharecropping – Became widespread throughout the south. Many former slaves

found themselves economic slaves under this system of farming. (See Chart B)

5. Ku Klux Klan – Racist groups like the Ku Klux Klan terrorized Blacks through

murder and intimidation. (See Chart C)

6. Education for Blacks – Many colleges were created during the Reconstruction Era

to provide education for Blacks. Two great African American leaders had different

views of education for Blacks. Booker T. Washington preferred vocational training

for Blacks to learn a trade, such as farming. On the other hand, W.E. B. Du Bois

favored formal more broad education, such as literature and sciences. (See W.E.B

Dubois Article)

7. Segregation – Jim Crow laws were enacted in the Southern States requiring

separation for whites and blacks, in accommodations, in marriage, in education and in

much of everyday life. These laws were deemed constitutional by the Supreme Court

in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson. (See Jim Crow Laws)

FINAL ESSAY QUESTION

Was Reconstruction a success or a failure?

Instruction: Write a five-paragraph essay to explain your answer to the above

question. Use evidence from your notes to answer the question. Cite specific

examples. Complete the Outline Form before starting to write your essay.