Reconstruction

Two New Constitutional Amendments 13th Amendment- Officially freed all slaves, Made slavery illegal in all United States Territories 14th Amendment- Ex-slaves given citizenship When slaves denied vote their representation will be reduced Southerners denied public office Debts incurred in south due to war are void

Freedman’s Bureau Primitive welfare agency for freed blacks and white refugees Food, clothing, medical care and education given to blacks and white refugees They were authorized to give blacks forty acres taken from the confederates This did not often actually take place, blacks were sometimes forced out of towns or forced to sign labor contracts with their former masters Now President, Johnson was a white supremacist that tried to get rid of the Bureau, it finally expired in 1872

Lincoln’s Reconstruction plan The South had not legally withdrawn from the Union so their restoration would be simple. 10% plan- 10% of votes in the 1860 election took on oath of allegiance to the Union Pledged to abide by emancipation Creation of a state government The state would then be recognized Wade David Bill Passed by congress in 1864 in reaction to Lincoln’s plan 50% of voters must take the oath of allegiance Lincoln pocket vetoed the bill

Johnson’s reconstruction plan Same as Lincoln with a few twists that didn’t favor white planter aristocracy Both Lincoln and Johnson provided for a generous amnesty to allow Southerners to retain their property and reacquire their political rights. Johnson supported the 13th Amendment that abolished slavery but was reluctant to support Black suffrage believing this was an issue for states.

Failures of the Lincolns and Johnsons plan Black Codes: Many states passed laws restricting the rights of freedmen Little attempt was made to address the economic hardships facing freedmen Southern States admitted under Lincoln/Johnson plan refused to ratify 14th Amendment These failures contributed to growing support for Radical Republicans

Radical Republican Plan Believed the South should be punished for starting the war and hoped to protect the rights of Freedmen (former slaves). Extended the Freedmen's Bureau (Over Johnson's Veto) to provide food, clothing, shelter, and education to freedmen and war refugees. Civil Rights Act of 1866 (Passed over Johnson's Veto) designed to grant freedmen full legal equality, undercutting the Black Codes Reconstruction Act of 1867 (Passed over Johnson's Veto) Divided the South into 5 districts and placed them under military rule (disbanded governments readmitted under Lincoln/Johnson plans Required S. States to ratify the 14th Amendment Guaranteed freedmen the right to vote in conventions to write new state constitutions Fifteenth Amendment- Black males given right to vote

Ku Klux Klan Invisible Empire of the South Founded in 1866 Early terrorist society Meant to keep blacks in their place, away from the polls and in servitude Those that didn’t comply were brutally beaten, flogged, mutilated and sometimes murdered In one day 1868, KKK members killed or wounded 200 victims

Johnson and Impeachment Tenure of office Act, passed over Johnson’s veto The president must get the consent of congress before removing anyone from office that had been approved When Johnson removed Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, the House voted 126 to 47 to impeach Johnson for “high crimes and misdemeanors” Senate failed by just one vote to legally impeach Johnson