Reconstruction 1865-1877

1. Reconstruction1865-1877

2. The Battle to Rebuild 2/3’s of the South was destroyed from the war agricultural systems, railroads, bridges, housing and the economy were ruined People in the South were unemployed, homeless and hungry

3. Reconstruction Problems How should the Southern states become part of the Union again? If you were President, what would you do to get the United States back together?

4. Before dying, Lincoln had a plan for Reconstruction He wanted to reconcile with the South. He did not want to punish them.

5. He felt harsh treatment would be counterproductive

6. Pocket Veto Congress passed the Wade Davis Bill but Lincoln stopped it with a pocket veto He refused to sign it and the Congress’s session expired so the bill “died” Why would Lincoln do this?

7. Lincoln’s Plan Any southerner that took an oath of loyalty to the Union would be pardoned When 10% of voters took the oath, the state could organize a new state government. The Radical Republicans opposed Lincoln’s plan

8. The Radical Republican Plan Do NOT allow Confederate leaders to regain power Give African Americans federal help and the right to vote Allow the Republican Party to take control of the south

9. Moderate Republicans Believed Lincoln was too lenient and the Radicals were too harsh!!!!

10. Solution! The Wade Davis Bill Majority of white men in Confederacy take an oath of loyalty to the Union State governments would be created The state governments would: abolish slavery and refuse former Confederate leaders and military officers the right to vote or hold office

11. Lincoln’s assassination changed Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan

12. Johnson’s Plan Offered pardons to all former Confederates who pledged loyalty to the Union- excluding former officers and officials Confederate states had to rewrite state constitutions, revoke secession & ratify the 13th amendment

13. Problem: many southerners elected former Confederate leaders to represent them in Congress

14. Republicans are angry Republicans rejected new southern members to Congress Southern legislatures passed black codes that limited the rights of African Americans in the South This also angered Republicans

15. Radical Republicans take control Passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 Granting citizenship to all person’s born in the U.S. except Native Americans

16. Republicans call for new laws The South erupts in violence between whites and blacks 14th amendment: granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the US and declared that no state could deprive a person of life liberty or property without due process of law States also had to give equal protection of the laws

17. Election of 1866 Congressional seats tilt in favor of the Republicans The Military Reconstruction Act is passed The South is split into 5 military districts, a Union general is placed in charge of each district

18. Stop Johnson from interfering How? Pass the Tenure of Office Act: required Senate approval to fire anyone whose appointment had required Senate consent This is unconstitutional!

19. Johnson’s Impeachment Johnson fires Sec. of War Stanton without approval from Congress This violates the Tenure of Office Act He was charged with “high crimes and misdemeanors” in office The Senate tried him and voted The outcome: NOT GUILTY- Johnson was 1 vote short of being convicted and removed from office

20. Election of 1868 General Ulysses S. Grant is nominated to run for the Presidency by the Republicans He wins The Republican congress passed the 15th amendment granting African American men the right to vote