Ratification of South Carolina’s Constitution

Lincoln’s Plan Known as the 10 percent plan Did not want to punish the South When 10 percent of the voters of a state took the oath of allegiance to the United States, the state could form a new government without slavery Lincoln was assassinated

Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan Similar to Lincoln’s Plan States had to call conventions to revoke the ordinances of secession Write a new state constitution Approve the 13 th Amendment States would then be allowed to reenter the Union

Presidential Reconstruction New state governments were mostly all whites Many elected former Confederates to office Very much like the Southern governments before the Civil War Freedmen were not allowed to participate in government (voting or to hold office) Black Codes were passed during this time period Northerners felt that Southerners were trying to undo the results of the war

Congressional Reconstruction Congress stepped in with their own plan for Reconstruction Passed a series of Reconstruction Acts Wiped out the new state governments already set up Divided former Confederate states in military zones and placed them under military control Forced the southern states to adopt a new constitution that gave blacks the right to vote Also had to approve the 14 th Amendment

SC Constitutional Convention 1868 Many white Southerners refused to vote for convention delegates Over half of the delegates were African Americans (46 white-76 African American) State government came under the control of the Radical Republicans (sided w/ fed. Gov’t) Wanted equal rights for all people Many radical republicans were carpet baggers and scalawags

Major Provisions SC’s Constitution African Americans could be elected to the House of Representatives Free public education for both races All citizens would have equal common, public, legal, and political privileges (14 th Amd.) Black Codes were banned Government could not limit the choice of work for African Americans nor be physically punished Gave voting rights to all men Divorce became legal

Reaction to the new constitution Few white Southerners had taken the convention seriously After the new constitution was written it had to be approved by a vote Whites tried to keep African Americans from voting by threatening them (KKK) Election Day: voters turned out in record numbers Most white voters did not vote New SC Constitution became law

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