* Reconstruction was the period during which the US began to rebuild after the Civil War * It lasts from ] * The term also applies to the process in which the federal government used to readmit the Confederate states. * A. Lincoln’s Ten Percent Plan * Lincoln wanted a lenient Reconstruction plan. * December 1863,during the war, Lincoln announced a Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction * The government would pardon all but the highest ranking Confederates. After 10% of the state’s population took an oath of allegiance to the country their state would get representation in Congress. * Under this plan Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Virginia moved towards readmission

* Radical Republicans were Republicans who wanted to destroy the power of former slaveholders, give African Americans voting rights and full citizenship. * They were led by Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens * B. Radical Reaction * Radicals responded to the 10% plan by passing the Wade-Davis Bill which proposed that the Congress, not the president is responsible for guiding reconstruction * Lincoln used a pocket veto (when a bill passes less than 10 days before the end of a session, the president can prevent it from coming law by simply ignoring it) to kill the bill.

* After Lincoln’s Assassination, Johnson was left to deal with Reconstruction. * He was a Southerner who was a staunch Unionist. He was often seen as a traitor to the South. * A. Johnson Continues Lincoln’s Policies * Johnson declared that all remaining confederate states could be readmitted to the union if they swore allegiance, withdrew its secession, annul confederate war debts and ratify the 13 th amendment. * He angered both Radical Republicans AND Southerners by this plan. * The states agreed to the terms, but they did not fully comply with all of it (Miss. Never ratified the 13 th Amendment).

* B. Presidential Reconstruction comes to a standstill * Radical Republicans disputed Johnson’s claim that Reconstruction was complete. * Congress refused to admit Southern Legislators * Moderate Republicans started to create and enlarge the Freedman’s Bureau which assisted former slaves and poor whites by distributing clothing and food, hospitals, and teacher training centers. * C. Civil Rights Act of 1866 * Gave African Americans citizenship and forbade states from passing discriminatory laws-black codes * Johnson shocked everyone by vetoing these acts. He said Congress has gone way past its power in the Constitution. By rejecting these acts however he alienated all moderate republicans who were trying to improve his reconstruction plan. He also angered Radicals because he denied former slaves their full rights.

* A. Moderates and Radicals Join Forces * In 1866, the Civil Rights Act becomes the first major legislation to override a president’s veto * Congress than drafted the 14 th Amendment (Equal Rights Amendment) * This amendment was not ratified until 1868 because Johnson blocked it. * B Congressional Elections * Moderate and Radical Republicans win 2/3 majority in the house allowing them to override any presidential veto

* C. Reconstruction Act of 1867 * Radicals passed the Reconstruction Act which did not recognize state governments formed under Lincoln’s plan. * The Act divided the states into 5 military districts. * All voters (including Free slaves) would elect delegates to conventions in which state constitutions will be ratified. * They would also have to ratify the 14 th amendment * Johnson vetoes it, but it’s overridden

* D. Johnson Impeached * Radical leaders felt Johnson wasn’t doing his job. So they looked for ways to impeach- charge him with misconduct in office him. * Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act in 1867 which said the president “could not remove cabinet officers during the term of the president by whom they may have been appointed” * In other words Johnson couldn’t fire Lincoln’s cabinet. * Johnson promptly fires Edwin Stanton. * The house brought forth the Impeachment of Johnson * Johnson is saved from being impeached by one vote.

* E. Ulysses S. Grant is Elected * Grant runs for election in Grant wins the presidency by the Electoral College. * Most African Americans voted for him in this election. * After the election they feared that pro- confederate southern whites would try to limit suffrage, so they passed the 15 th Amendment which gave everyone the right to vote. * Now Politics were an important factor, but there were major economic and social changes for the Southerners.