Transcript 3.3
3.3 • Analyze the effects of Reconstruction on the southern states and the role of the federal government, including the impact of the Thirteenth, Fourteen, and Fifteenth Amendments on opportunities for African-Americans. “Next to the defeat of the Confederacy, the heaviest blow that fell upon the South was the assassination of Lincoln.” - Jefferson Davis • Why did Jefferson Davis former President of the Confederacy make this statement? Lincoln’s Plan • Before the War ended Lincoln developed a plan for ***Reconstruction- a plan to bring the Confederate States back in the Union. *1. Offered a pardon, to any Confederate who would take an oath of allegiance. 2. It denied pardons to all Confederate military and government officials and to southerners who had killed African-American Prisoners of War *3. Each state would hold a convention to create a new state after %10 of the voters had sworn allegiance to the Union 4. States could then hold elections and resume full participation in the Union and federal Government *5. The states must ratify the newly adopted 13th Amendment. ****Many thought Lincoln’s plan was too easy. Lincoln’s Plan not adopted • On April 14th, 1865 just five days after the surrender at Appomattox a Confederate sympathizer named John Wilkes Booth shot and killed Lincoln. Andrew Johnson becomes President Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan is similar to Lincoln’s Plan - Pardoned Southerners who swore allegiance to the • • • • • • Union Each state would hold a Constitutional Convention (no %10 rule) States would void secession, abolish slavery, and repudiate the Confederate debt States could then hold election and rejoin the Union However, high ranking men in the Confederate Army and government would have to personally ask Johnson for a pardon. This plan was proposed when Congress was out of session. Johnson wants to run reconstruction and let Congress help. Radical Republicans • ***Radical Republicans- Members of the Republican Party who believed the Presidential Plan was too lenient. • They favored a much tougher stance toward Reconstruction. • ***Wanted to give African-Americans full citizenship rights. • Congress not the President should oversee Reconstruction. • Instead of 10% signing oath, they wanted 50% • They dominated the state and federal governments during Reconstruction • They split the Confederacy into 5 military districts. The Civil War Amendments and Legislation. • Prior to Lincoln’s death and the end of the war Congress passed the ***13th Amendment which outlawed Slavery in the United States. Recognition of the 13th Amendment was required before a state could re-enter the Union. • Civil Rights Act of 1866- passed with the intent of enforcing civil rights for blacks. • ***14th Amendment- passed because Congress would find the CRA unconstitutional they passed this Amendment, which defined citizenship and gave citizens two important protections. • The Due Process Clause • Equal Protection of the Laws Clause. The Civil War Amendments and Legislation • ***15th Amendment- guaranteed the right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The Freedman’s Bureau • Designed to protect former slaves from their former masters and give them help with provisions after emancipation. • The Bureau helped to negotiate labor contracts for former slaves and provided a system of courts to protect the rights of the freedmen from the Black Codes. • Blacks were hungry for education and the Bureau It’s big success was establishing schools. • Creation of the Freedman’s Bureau in 1865- the first federal relief agency, it provide food, clothing, medical attention, meals, education and some land to the newly free blacks. However, when the southern landowners returned they were given their land back. Johnson’s impeachment • President Andrew Johnson did not believe in punishing the South. He continually vetoed Radical Republican legislation intended to do just that. • Republicans in Congress led by Thaddeus Stevens began to get angry with Johnson. It would be easier to enforce their idea of Reconstruction with Johnson gone. • The House actually impeaches him, but the Senate trial falls one vote short. • Johnson has very little power afterward and Grant becomes the next President.