Congressional Reconstruction Chapter 12 section 2 Congressional Reconstruction

To review… What was Lincoln’s plan for reconstruction? Appointed military governors Didn’t want to punish the South for treason Plan was moderate Offered amnesty for taking an oath of loyalty 10% of the 1860 voting population required to organize a new state government What did the Radical Republicans want? Led by Thaddeus Stevens & Charles Sumner Prevent Southern leaders from returning to power Make the Republican Party powerful in the South Have the federal government help African Americans Economically (Freedmen’s Bureau) Protect voting rights Moderate Republicans supported the Wade- Davis Bill To review…

Johnson Takes Office Had been Lincoln’s vice president Was a senator from Tennessee, but was loyal to the Union. Made military governor of TN when it came under Union control during the Civil War Had been a Democrat, so Lincoln picked him as a running mate hoping for some Democratic support when he was up for re- election in 1864. Also a moderate Johnson Takes Office

What was Johnson’s Plan for Reconstruction? He called it his restoration program Very similar to Lincoln’s Issued a Proclamation of Amnesty Returned seized property Could be pardoned once a loyalty oath was taken Excluded some from the pardon: All former Confederate officers Those who owned more than $20,000 worth of property (rich planter elite) Had to apply individually to the president for a pardon Issued a proclamation for North Carolina Was his model for how he wanted Reconstruction to work Each former Confederate state would call a state constitutional convention Revoke its ordinance of secession Ratify the 13th amendment Reject all Civil War debts Plan goes into effect over the summer of 1865 while Congress is in recess Come back in the fall horrified that many Confederate leaders are back in Congress Radical and moderate Republicans vote to reject these members of Congress (the House and Senate make their own rules for their members) What was Johnson’s Plan for Reconstruction?

While the Southern states were busy electing new members to Congress, they were also busy in their state legislatures passing laws to limit the rights of the newly freed slaves (freedmen) Laws varied from state to state General purpose was to create as close a system to slavery as possible Annual labor contracts Apprenticeships for children Could be beaten Set work hours and required licenses for non-agricultural work Black Codes

Radical Republicans React “The entire South seem to be stupid and vindictive, know not their friends, and are pursuing just the course wich their opponents, the Radicals, desire.” Moderates and Radicals join forces and create the Joint Committee on Reconstruction Demonstrates a shift in political power away from the president and back to the legislative branch President can’t pass legislation! Radical Republicans React

Congress Takes Action Passes the Civil Rights Act of 1866 Grants citizenship to everyone born in the US except Native Americans African Americans allowed to own property Are to be treated equally in court Pass the proposal for the 14th Amendment Citizenship Equal protection clause Due process clause: No state can deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law. Supported by Radical Republicans and moderates (in response to increasing violence against African Americans in the South) Congress Takes Action

Election of 1866 Johnson doesn’t support the 14th amendment Thinks it’s too radical Makes it a campaign issue in hopes that Northern voters will favor more moderate candidates and he will get a new majority in Congress that supports his plan for Reconstruction instead of what the Radicals want This is against a backdrop of more violence in the South against African Americans Outcome of the election is a 3:1 Republican majority in Congress Election of 1866

Military Reconstruction With the Republicans in control, Congress passes the Military Reconstruction Act Cancels out Johnson’s plans By the end of 1866, 6 former Confederate states had met the requirements: NC, SC, FL, AL, LA, AR (and TN) Sets up 5 military districts (TN is excluded) Each former Confederate state has to rewrite its state constitution and have Congress approve it All males have to have the right to vote regardless of race State as to ratify the 14th amendment Military Reconstruction

Can the Republicans get rid of Johnson? Congress has a huge majority, so they can easily pass the laws they want and override a presidential veto But the president executes (puts into effect) the laws Don’t trust Johnson so look for ways to get rid of him Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act Requires the president to get approval of Congress before firing top government officials that require confirmation of the president’s nominee Johnson decides to test the law Fires the Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton Stanton locks himself in his office and refuses to leave House votes to impeach Johnson for violating the Tenure of Office law Senate held a trial Lasts two months Vote is 35-19 to find guilty One vote short of 2/3 needed for impeachment! Those who voted against it thought it would set a dangerous precedent Can the Republicans get rid of Johnson?

Johnson is still in office, but has no support or real power left (lame duck) Decides not to run for re-election Republicans chose General Ulysses S. Grant, the big war hero Was nominated as their candidate unanimously Election of 1868

Federal troops still in place in the South, so African American men can vote Grant wins in 6 Southern States & most Northern states. Election of 1868 continued

Republicans still have a huge majority in Congress and now also control the White House (with a president they like and who generally goes along with what they want Grant didn’t have any political experience Thought Congress should develop policy, not the president Congress passes the 15th amendment, making the right to vote not subject to race “shall not be denied on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude” (former slaves) 15th Amendment