Political Reconstruction

Chapter 12Section 1

SSUSH10 The student will identify legal, political, and social dimensions of Reconstruction.

a. Compare and contrast Presidential Reconstruction with Radical Republican Reconstruction. b. Explain efforts to redistribute land in the South among the former slaves and provide advanced education (e.g., Morehouse College) and describe the role of the Freedmen’s Bureau. c. Describe the significance of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. d. Explain Black Codes, the Ku Klux Klan, and other forms of resistance to racial equality during Reconstruction. e. Explain the impeachment of Andrew Johnson in relationship to Reconstruction.

Main Idea and Key Terms

• Congress opposed Lincoln’s and Johnson’s plans for Reconstruction and instead implemented its own plan to rebuild the South

• Andrew Johnson• Reconstruction• Radical Republicans• Thaddeus Stevens• Wade-Davis Bill• Freedmen’s Bureau• Black codes• 14th Amendment• Impeach• 15th Amendment

Key QuestionsKey Questions

1. How do we1. How do webring the Southbring the Southback into the back into the

Union?Union?

1. How do we1. How do webring the Southbring the Southback into the back into the

Union?Union?

2. How do we 2. How do we rebuild the rebuild the

South after itsSouth after itsdestruction destruction

during the war?during the war?

2. How do we 2. How do we rebuild the rebuild the

South after itsSouth after itsdestruction destruction

during the war?during the war?

3. How do we3. How do weintegrate andintegrate andprotect newly-protect newly-emancipatedemancipated

black freedmen?black freedmen?

3. How do we3. How do weintegrate andintegrate andprotect newly-protect newly-emancipatedemancipated

black freedmen?black freedmen?

4. What branch4. What branchof governmentof governmentshould controlshould controlthe process ofthe process of

Reconstruction?Reconstruction?

4. What branch4. What branchof governmentof governmentshould controlshould controlthe process ofthe process of

Reconstruction?Reconstruction?

Presidential Reconstruction

10 Percent Plan

• Lincoln proposed the 10% plan• It was a lenient Reconstruction

policy• Lincoln believed secession wasn’t

possible, and that the Confederate States had therefore never seceded

• Wanted to make re-entry as easy as possible

10 Percent Plan

• Pardon all Confederates, except high ranking officials and those accused of crimes against prisoners of war, who would swear allegiance to the U.S.

• After 10% took this oath, a Confederate state could form a new state government and gain representation in Congress

• A few Republicans in Congress did not like the plan

• These were the Radical Republicans led by Thaddeus Stevens of PN

• They wanted to destroy southern political power and give former slaves full citizenship and the right to vote

• They pass the Wade-Davis Bill

Wade-Davis Bill (1864)Wade-Davis Bill (1864) Required 50% of the

number of 1860 voters to take an “iron clad” oath of allegiance (swearing they had never voluntarily aided the rebellion ).

Required a state constitutional convention before the election of state officials.

Enacted specific safeguards of freedmen’s liberties.

SenatorBenjamin

Wade(R-OH)

Congr.Henry

W. Davis(R-MD)

Wade-Davis Bill (1864)Wade-Davis Bill (1864)

“Iron-Clad” Oath.

“State Suicide” Theory.

“Conquered Provinces” Position.

PresidentPresidentLincolnLincoln

PresidentPresidentLincolnLincoln

Wade-DavisWade-DavisBillBill

Wade-DavisWade-DavisBillBill

PocketPocketVetoVeto

PocketPocketVetoVeto

Freedmen’s Bureau (1865)

Freedmen’s Bureau (1865)

Many former northern abolitionists risked their lives to help southern freedmen. Called “carpetbaggers” by white southern Democrats.

Freedmen’s Bureau Seen Freedmen’s Bureau Seen Through Through Southern Southern EyesEyes

Freedmen’s Bureau Seen Freedmen’s Bureau Seen Through Through Southern Southern EyesEyes

Plenty to Plenty to eat and eat and nothing nothing to do.to do.

13th Amendment13th Amendment Ratified in December, 1865.

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Johnson’s Plan

• Johnson took over as President after Lincoln’s assassination

• Johnson’s plan for reconstruction varied little from Lincoln’s

• He tried to prevent high-ranking Confederate leaders from being able to swear allegiance and receive the right to vote

Shortcomings of Johnson’s Plan

• His plan failed to address the needs of former slaves in three areas:– Land– Voting Rights– And protection under the law

Effects of Johnson’s Plan

EFFECTS?

1. Disenfranchised certain leading Confederates.

2. Pardoned planter aristocrats brought them back to political power to control state organizations.

3. Republicans were outraged that planter elite were back in power in the South!

• The South is reassured by Johnson’s actions– He does not want to

give former slaves the right to vote

– Pardons 13,000 white southerners to help manage the south

– Believes in State’s Rights

• Johnson readmits every state, even though some had not complied with all requirements

Congress

• When Congress convenes in Dec. of 1865, the new southern legislatures took their seats– 58 served in the Confederate Congress– 6 served in the Confederate cabinet– 4 had been Generals who had fought

against the Union– Johnson pardons them all

• This infuriated Republicans and African-Americans

Presidential Reconstruction no more

• Johnson claimed that Reconstruction was complete

• The Radical Republicans disagreed, and refused to admit the new southern legislators

• They enlarge the Freedman’s Bureau• They pass the Civil Rights Act of 1866• Johnson vetoes both• Reconstruction grinds to a halt

Congressional Reconstruction

Reaction to Johnson

• Moderate and Radical Republicans join forces against Johnson

• The House and Senate override the Presidential vetoes

• This is the first time in history

• The Congress also drafted the 14th Amendment

14th Amendment14th Amendment Ratified in July, 1868.

* Provide a constitutional guarantee of the rights and security of freed people.

* Insure against neo-Confederate political power.

* Enshrine the national debt while repudiating that of the Confederacy.

Southern states would be punished for denying the right to vote to black citizens!

• Johnson convinces almost the entire south to reject the 14th amendment – b/c they had no part in drafting in

• During the Congressional elections of 1866, Johnson and Grant appealed to people to vote for similar candidates

• The People voted for Grant’s suggestions, not Johnson, who offended many in the audiences with his rough language and manner

• The speeches combined with violence in the south convinced voters to elect moderate and radical republicans, giving Congress the power to override any veto by the President

• They immediately pass the Reconstruction Act of 1867

Reconstruction Act of 1867

• Did not recognize any southern state government except for Tennessee

• Divided the South into five military districts, each headed by a Union General

• In order to reenter the Union, the state constitution had to ensure African-American men the vote, and the state had to ratify the 14th amendment

• Johnson vetoed it• Congress overrode his veto

The Impeachment of Johnson

• Johnson refused to enforce the Act• Removed Union officials in power for

trying to enforce it• Congress passes the Tenure of Office

Act to protect their allies in the Cabinet

• Johnson fires Sec. of War Stanton• The House votes to impeach Johnson• Senate falls one vote short of

conviction

Grant is elected

• In November of 1868, Ulysses S. Grant is elected President of the United States

• Radical Republicans introduce the 15th Amendment– States no one can be kept from

voting because of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”

– Ratified in 1870