Transcript Goal 3 - Reconstruction

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
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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
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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
• 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
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