RECONSTRUCTION The End of the War and the Beginning of the After the War

What is reconstruction?  After the war there is a period called Reconstruction where the Northern government basically looks to “rebuild” the South  this is not a physical rebuilding it is more a societal rebuilding  What is the focus of Reconstruction?  rebuilding southern governments  the old governments in the South were seen as the ones responsible for the war  rebuilding Southern economy  rebuilding Southern society (how will they incorporate all of the new Freedmen)

Division in the Republican Party  Republicans controlled US govt  Democrats were still there but were marginalized due to their support for South before and during the Civil War  There are two factions of the Republican Party after the war  Radical Republicans  their focus is on punishing the South for the war  those Southerner’s responsible for the war (gov’t and military) will not be allowed to vote or hold office  Moderates/Lincolnites  their focus is on rebuilding country with as little difficulty as possible  do not want to punish the South  South will not be allowed to be as it was before the war just without slavery and hopefully the discrimination  The major question is who should run Reconstruction: President or Congress

Presidential Reconstruction  This was the plan that was crafted by Lincoln and then carried out by President Johnson  The 10% Plan to re-admit southern states for political purposes  10% of a southern states population in 1860 needed to pledge allegiance to the Union  state would need to abolish slavery within the state  Southern leaders (except for the top leaders) could regain citizenship and property if they took a loyalty oath

Wade Davis Bill  Radicals had a plan to counter 10% plan called the Wade Davis Bill to re-admit states  50% of a states population had to pledge allegiance to the Union  state needed to abolish slavery  no former Confederate official could vote or hold office  Southerners needed to pledge that they never supported the Confederacy in order to regain their right to vote/hold office  Lincoln pocket vetoes this so it never officially goes into effect

Johnson oversteps Power  Dec President Johnson said he believed southern states were all re-admitted  This angered the Radicals and some moderates  Johnson also pardoned many Confederate leaders giving them full rights to vote and hold political office  Congressional leaders refused to allow Southerners elected to Congress to be seated (can’t serve if not seated)  The Radicals in Congress began to impose their own view on what should be done  they soon had votes to override a Johnson veto

Radical (Congressional) Reconstruction  Radicals in Congress worked to minimize Pres. Johnson’s power in Reconstruction  passed several laws to take his power away  they would override Johnson’s vetoes (he could not stop this)  1867 Congress divided south into 5 military districts  these would be governed by military governors who answered to Radicals in Congress  1867 Congress passed law giving black men right to vote in South  blacks began to serve in state government and in Congress

Impeachment  Radicals in Congress want Pres. Johnson out of way  they began passing laws to minimize his power  they pass the Tenure of Office Act to protect Radicals in his Cabinet  Johnson challenges Radicals firing Sec War Stanton  Feb. 24, 1868 House of Reps votes to impeach Johnson  in the trial part Senate does not vote to remove Johnson (misses this by 1 vote – needed 2/3 of Senators to vote to remove him)  While Johnson survives impeachment he is a lame duck with no power to do anything of meaning