The Politics of Reconstruction

Assassination of LincolnAndrew JohnsonReconstruction - 10 % planRadical RepublicansThaddeus StevensWade-Davis BillFreedman’s Bureau

Assassination of Lincoln

April 14, 1865 Lincoln went to Ford’s Theater to relax John Wilkes Booth

Southern sympathizer Shot Lincoln in the head Part of a conspiracy

Lincoln died the next day Booth was tracked down and killed 12 days

later

Andrew Johnson

VP for LincolnDemocrat from Tenn.Former slave owner, but later favored

abolitionismWanted harsh treatment for the leaders

of the rebellion in early ’65

Why the South lost the War

Lack of resourcesLoss of Stonewall JacksonManpower

Reconstruction

1863-1877 Reconstruction PeriodThe war ended in Tenn. in ’63Lincoln proposed a reconstruction plan

known as the 10 % planWhen 10% of those who voted in the 1860

election-except high Confederate officers or criminals-swore an oath of allegiance to the Union, a new state gov’t could be set up

Reverse order of succession

Radical Republicans

Opposed Lincoln’s planLed by Sen. Charles Sumner (Mass.)

and Rep. Thaddeus Stevens (Penn.)Wanted to destroy the political power of

former slave owners and they wanted to give African-Americans the right to voteNo other country had freed its slaves and

given them the right to vote.

Wade Davis Bill

Idea created in ‘64Response to Lincoln’s 10% planProposed Congress be in charge of

ReconstructionA majority of state’s population had to swear

allegiance to the union in order for a state government to be set up.

Lincoln pocket vetoed the billRepublicans were angry

Johnson’s plan

Johnson announced his own plan and implemented itPlaced the President in charge of Recon.

Renounce secessionSwear allegiance to the UnionAnnul Confederate war debtsRatify the 13th amendment

Johnson’s Plan cont.

Failed to address the needs of slavesLandVoting rightsProtection under the law

Most states complied with Johnson by Dec. ’65

Johnson considered Reconstruction finished

Freedmans Bureau

Established in the last months of the war to help freed slaves and poor whites with food and clothingHospitalsSchools Industrial InstitutesTeacher training centers

Program expanded in 1866