Lincoln’s Plans for Reconstruction President Lincoln had been making plans for reconstruction of the South before the war was over. Lincoln’s plans treated the South very generously. He did not want to punish the southern states. He wanted to forgive them. He wanted to help them rejoin the Union

Lincoln’s Plans for Reconstruction Not everyone agreed with Lincoln. There was a group of Congressmen who were known as Radical Republicans. They though Lincoln was too easy on the South. They wanted stricter rules for the states that were rejoining the Union. They wanted more rights for blacks. Most southern states weren’t willing to let blacks have their rights.

Freedmen’s Bureau In March, 1865, just before the war ended, Congress passed a new law. It set up a Freedmen’s Bureau. The Bureau gave food, clothing, and medicine to freed blacks and poor whites. It set up schools and helped people find jobs. The Freedmen’s Bureau was the first federal organization set up to help people in need.

Andrews Johnson Becomes President Lincoln did not live to see his Reconstruction plans carried out. Five days after the war ended, he was assassinated. Andrew Johnson, the vice president, took over as President of the United States. This was in keeping with Constitutional law. Rebuilding the South became the new president’s job.

Andrew Johnson Become President Johnson planned to follow Lincoln’s reconstruction ideas. He wanted to make it as easy as possible for the southern states to rejoin the Union. The Radical Republicans found even more fault with Johnson than they had with Lincoln. Johnson was a southern Democrat himself. He had even owned slaves at one time.

Andrew Johnson Becomes President The Radical Republicans accused Johnson of favoring the southern states.

Black Codes Under President Johnson’s plans, men who had been Confederate leaders could still hold high government jobs. The 13 th Amendment had outlawed slavery in But these men passed state laws known as the Black Codes. The Black Codes were like the old slave laws. In many ways, it was simply as if the word “Black” had replaced the word “slave.”

Black Codes The Black codes took away many of the rights of the free blacks. Among other things, they kept blacks out of schools and off juries. Black codes also kept former slaves out of good jobs. In South Carolina, for example, a law required African Americans to pay $10 to $100 for a license to hold any job other than that of servant or farmer.

The Radical Republicans vs. Andrew Johnson The Radical Republicans were in an uproar during the next session of Congress. They felt Johnson was too easy on the South. They said the Black Codes were hardly better than slavery. They said that former confederate leaders had no right in government jobs.

The Radical Republicans vs. Andrew Johnson Congress set up its own plans for Reconstruction. It was different from the president’s. In 1866, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act. It said that black people should have the same rights as whites. President Johnson refused to sign it. He vetoed the Civil Rights Act.

The Radical Republicans vs. Andrew Johnson The Constitution said that Congress cold pass the bill over the president’s veto. Two-thirds of Congress would have ot vote in favor of the bill. A vote was taken. The Civil Rights Act became law.

The 14 th Amendment Republicans in Congress wanted something stronger than the Civil Rights Act. They wrote a 14 th Amendment to the Constitution. The 14 th Amendment gave former slaves citizenship. It also said that former Confederate leaders could not hold office or vote.

The 14 th Amendment President Johnson was against the amendment. But, by 1868, it was approved by most states. Southern states had to approve it before they could come back into the Union. Federal troops were sent into the South to make sure the states followed Congress’s rules.

Reconstruction Acts In 1867 Radical Republicans passed these acts over President Johnson’s veto. 1. Federal troops would maintain law and order in the South. 2. Former Confederate soldiers and leaders could not vote or hold office. 3. Freed slaves had the right to vote and hold office.

Reconstruction Acts 4. New state constitutions must be written and approved by Congress. 5. To rejoin the Union, southern states must approve the 14 th Amendment.