Reconstruction and the Changing South Chapter 18

Early steps to Reunion Section 1

I. Post war problems North 1. 800,000 soldiers returning and would need work. 2. US govt. was canceling its war orders and factory workers were laying off workers 3. Very few battles took place in the North (very little destruction) B. South 1. Major cities had been leveled, 2/3 of our railroad track had been destroyed 2. War wrecked the South’s financial system. Confederate money worthless, many southern banks closed and people lost their savings 3. New class of 4 million freedmen

II. Steps toward Reconstruction Reconstruction -The rebuilding of the South after being destroyed by the North. Bringing South back into the Union (wanted it to be easy) -there were 3 plans on how to do this B. Lincoln’s plan 1. 10% plan-southern state could form a new govt. if 10% of its voters swore an oath of loyalty to the US. 2. state had to abolish slavery 3. state could then elect members of Congress and take part in National govt. 4. offered amnesty (govt. pardon) to those who swore allegiance to the Confederacy. Did not apply to leaders of Confederacy

C. Republican Plan: Wade–Davis Bill 1. required a majority of white men in each southern state to swear loyalty to the Union. 2. denied the right to vote, or hold office to anyone who had volunteered to fight for the Confederacy 3. Lincoln refused to sign-too harsh Plan for the newly freed 1. Congress and Lincoln agreed to the development of the Freedman’s Bureau. a. Govt. Agency to help newly freed- provide food, clothing and helped to find jobs, Also helped poor whites. Provided medical care. b. Set up schools for freedman. Laid foundation for public schools in the south and created colleges for African Americans

III. Lincoln’s Assassination April 14, 1865- Lincoln attended a play at Ford’s Theater In Washington DC 1. John Wilkes Booth, an actor, crept into the President’s box and shot Lincoln in the head. ("Thus always to tyrants,“) 2. Booth was a supporter of slavery and many think he shot Lincoln to avenge the South. Believed by doing this he would be a hero in the eyes of Southerners. (Nope) - Union soldiers track him to a farm in Virginia and 12 days later he was killed after refusing to surrender- B. 5 days after Robert E Lee surrendered. Americans went from celebrating the end of the war to mourning the loss of our President.

IV. New President Lincoln was replaced by Andrew Johnson of TN. (loyal to Union when his state seceded) Congress thought he would be harsh in his plan-it was not -Majority of Southerners had to pledge loyalty to Union and must approve the 13th amendment (banned slavery) C. Southerners quickly met the conditions. They elected men to Congress, many of whom had served in the Confederacy. -Republicans in Congress were not happy with this. Also, no southern state allowed African Americans to vote D. Republicans didn’t allow Southern Reps to take their seat when the new Congress met -Instead created a joint congressional committee to form a new plan for the South