Political Turmoil

• Andrew Johnson becomes President in April, 1865 when Lincoln is assassinated– Only senator from a Confederate state to remain loyal to Union– Lincoln chose Johnson as VP to help w/ reunite Nation after war

• Lincoln had devised a plan for “Reconstruction” of the US after the war

• Some Republicans were angry with Lincoln’s plan– These become known as Radical Republicans– Radicals Republicans wanted to punish the south & give full

rights to African Americans– Thaddeus Stevens is leader of Radical Republicans

• Johnson takes office with Republicans thinking he would submit to their ideas for Reconstruction

President Andrew Johnson Radical Republican Leader Thaddeus Stevens

Lincoln’s Plan• Known as 10% Plan

– Wanted to be lenient on the South– Included pardon of most Confederates (excluded high ranking

officials) if they would swear loyalty to Union– After 10% of those on the 1860 voting list swore loyalty, a state

could form a new gov’t and gain representation in Congress– States must ratify 13th Amendment (freed ALL slaves)– Lincoln also set up the Freedmen’s Bureau to help freed slaves

& poor whites– 4 states return under Lincoln’s plan: Ark, Tenn, Virg, Louis.

• Radical Republicans didn’t like Lincoln’s plan– RR argue that it’s too weak; also thought Congress should

determine Reconstruction– They pass the Wade-Davis Bill, saying a majority (not 10% would

have to swear loyalty)– Lincoln vetoed the bill

Johnson’s Plan

• Known as Presidential Reconstruction– Very similar to Lincoln’s plan

– Remaining Southern states would have to withdraw secession, swear loyalty to union, annul war debts, ratify 13th Amendment

– Didn’t want high ranking Confederates & wealthy to be allowed to swear loyalty (regain rights)

– Plan didn’t address needs of former slaves

– South will enact Black Codes to keep former slaves from gaining rights/power

• Southern states quickly comply & elect congressmen

• When Congress started in Dec.1865, Radical Republicans refuse to admit new Southern Reps.– Thought Johnson’s plan wasn’t enough

– Congress enlarges Freedmen’s Bureau in 1866

– Congress passes Civil Rights Act of 1866 – gives citizenship to blacks

Johnson’s Response & Congressional Plan

• Johnson vetoed both Freedmen’s Bureau Act & Civil Rights Act

• Republicans banded together to override Johnson’s veto• Congress also adds 14th Amendment to give

Constitutional basis for Civil Rights Act– Amendment guarantees “equal protection under the law”– Johnson advises South to reject amendment– All southern states but Tennessee reject it

• In 1867 Congress passes Reconstruction Act of 1867– Didn’t recognize state gov’ts under Lincoln or Johnson’s plan– Southern states divided into 5 military districts– To re-enter union, states had to accept 14th Amend & allow black

males the right to vote

• Johnson vetoes; Congress overrides the veto

RECONSTRUCTION ACT – MILITARY DISTRICTS

Impeachment

• President Johnson was impeached for violating the Tenure of Office Act– Congress had passed TOA to protect Sec. of War Edwin

Stanton– Johnson fired Stanton to protest TOA; Congress impeaches

Johnson on 11 counts

• Trial took place in the Senate between Mar-May, 1868• Senate needed 2/3 majority to remove Johnson• Final vote was 35 to 19 (1 short of 2/3 majority needed)• Johnson finished his term with no legitimate power• After the election, Congress passed the 15th

Amendment which gave African Americans males the right to vote

Southern Society

• New Southern Politics– Dominated by 3 groups– Scalawags – Southerners who sided w/ Northern Republicans – Carpetbaggers – Northerners who came south for profit– “Black Republicans” – newly freed African Americans who got

involved in politics (usually on the local or state levels)– Hiram Revels – 1st African American congressman

Southern Society (cont.)

• Economy– Much of the land had been damaged or neglected during the war– Also, plantation system collapsed once slaves were freed– Most farmers (both former slaves & poor whites) resorted to

sharecropping or tenant farming– Cotton was also no longer profitable; farmers turn to a variety of

crops– During the Civil War, Lincoln had made many changes in order

to make sure the North had ample funds• Greenbacks = paper money• National Bank Act – Regulations allowing the federal government to oversee

banking practices

Above: Southern view of a carpetbagger 1st African American Congressman Hiram Revels

Freed Slaves

• Former slaves were exposed to many new opportunities after the war (politics, education, land ownership, etc.)

• Many moved away from plantations into cities• Family reunification was common, due to many families

being split during slavery• Many former slaves learned to read and write

– Even a few colleges begin for blacks (Hampton Institute & Howard University)

• African Americans fought black codes early during Reconstruction & still faced persecution later on– The Ku Klux Klan began to terrorize blacks

• Most African Americans continued farming as sharecroppers or tenant farmers

Different Views of Reconstruction:

Left: early KKK members circa 1871

Top Right: Graduating law class of Howard University

Bottom Right: sharecropper

End to Reconstruction

• Ulysses S. Grant won election in 1868 & again in 1872– He served 2 terms with little accomplishment/lots of scandal

• Election of 1876 was closely contested between Rutherford B. Hayes (R) & Samuel Tilden (D)

• Tilden won the popular vote, but was 1 electoral vote short of a majority (20 electoral votes disputed)– Election was given to Hayes, but the House of Reps had to approve– Dems would approve IF military reconstruction was ended & a

Southerner was appointed to the cabinet– Compromise of 1877

• The South finally achieved “home rule” – no federal interference in state affairs

Election of 1876 Results