reconstruction 1865-1877—the 12 years following the civil war during this time battles waged in...
TRANSCRIPT
Reconstruction: Laws
Congress vs. the President
Warm Up: In your lifetime, have you any examples of Congress being against the President? What are they if any? If none, who is the Congress
and how is the President elected?
Reconstruction
1865-1877—the 12 years following the Civil War
During this time battles waged in Congress over who should lead reconstruction policy.
13th Amendment
1863: Emancipation Proclamation
1865: 13th Amendment repeals slavery in ALL states.
Lincoln’s 10% Plan
Proposed in 1863: Forgiving to the South
Offered a pardon to any Confederate who would take an oath of allegiance to the Union
Denied ALL pardons to Confederate military and government officials
States could hold constitutional conventions after 10% had taken oath.
States could then hold elections and rejoin Union.
Radical Republicans
Thought Lincoln was too lenient and that the South should be punished for Civil War.
Wade-Davis Bill (1864): A majority of voters would have to
swear loyalty before statehood could be returned.
State constitutions had to abolish slavery
Confederate military leaders could not hold political office
Pocket veto: president neither signs nor outright vetoes a bill.
Presidential Reconstruction
President Johnson implemented his own plan when Congress was in recess in 1865.
Said he was upholding Lincoln’s vision buy it was more lenient on the South. Pardoned southerners who swore
allegiance It permitted states to hold a
constitutional convention States had to void secession, abolish
slavery and repudiate confederate debt. Then states could hold elections and
rejoin the Union
Black Codes
Many Southern states enacted black codes: laws that restricted freedmen’s rights: Curfews Vagrancy laws (not
working=punishment) Labor contracts Land restrictions (could only rent land in
rural areas, forcing them to live on plantations)
Could not testify against whites Could not own weapons
Congress outlaws black codes by passing a Civil Rights Act (1866)
Congress Acts
1st Reconstruction Act (1867): Set up military rule in the South All qualified male voters could vote Equal rights to all citizens Required states to ratify 14th
Amendment
2nd Reconstruction Act: Union military in charge of voter
registration.
Goal= more Republicans in office in South; protect freed slaves right to vote
Impeachment
Tenure of Office Act (1867): President could not fire Cabinet posts without the Senate’s approval.
1868: Johnson tries to fire Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. Congress find this unconstitutional House of Representatives impeaches Johnson Senate tries Johnson, he narrowly escapes conviction (1
vote)
1868: Ulysses S. Grant is elected President
Constitution
13th Amendment (1865): Prohibits slavery
14th Amendment (1868): former slaves citizens of U.S. and the state they came from
15th Amendment (1870): extended right to vote to black men.
Exit
WILT:
What I learned today: 3-5 sentence summary about Reconstruction using today’s work.