Rebuilding... Reconstruction

I. The War is Over Now what do we do about... Rebuilding the South Slaves Confederate Leaders Punishing the South States wanting to rejoin the Union

A. Lincoln’s Plan He wanted to reunite the Nation as soon as possible Ten Percent Plan Amnesty was offered to any one that took a loyalty oath and accepted a ban on slavery Once 10% of the voters made the oath a new state government could be formed The state could then be re-admitted into the Union

B. Johnson’s Plan A Temporary Governor was appointed for each state Southerners that took a loyalty oath elected delegates to a constitutional convention to make revisions Voters elected new officials to Congress Each state was required to declare that secession was illegal They also refused to pay Confederate debts

C. Consider this... What happens if a punishment is too soft? What happens if a punishment is too harsh?

II. Changes to the Constitution

A. 13th Amendment Ended Slavery

B. The 14th Amendment Made African Americans Citizens

C. 15th Amendment Gave African Americans the right to vote

III. The Impeachment of Johnson

A. Why? Congress was controlled by the North, and tried to pass laws reforming the South Johnson vetoed most of these bills – He said laws about the South should not be passed until the South had representation Congress passed Tenure of Office Act – President could not fire a cabinet member with out Congress’ approval

B. The Result Johnson fired Stanton Congress impeached Johnson Acquitted by one vote

IV. Opposition to Civil Rights Reform

The Ku Klux Klan – Used violence to keep African Americans for voting Poll Tax – payment to vote Literacy Tests – had to pass a test to vote Jim Crow Laws – Limited rights Segregation – legal separation of the races Sharecroppers – Former slaves worked on their old plantations

V. The End of Reconstruction General Amnesty Act – Allowed former Confederates to hold office Civil Rights Act of 1873 – Granted African Americans equal rights in public places Compromise of 1877 – In exchange for making Hayes President Federal troops were removed from the South