POLITICS OF RECONSTRUCTION Ch 12 Sect 1 Pg 376

Lincoln’s Plan for Reconstruction  Reconstruction – the period during which the U.S. began to rebuild after the Civil War, lasting from  Lenient Reconstruction Policy  Lincoln believed that it was individuals not states that seceded from the Union.

Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (Ten-Percent Plan)  Gov. would pardon all Confederates – except high ranking Confederate officials.  Swear allegiance to the Union.  After 10% of the population swore allegiance, a Confederate state could form a new state gov.  Given representation in Congress  Radical Republicans disagreed w/ plan.

Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (Ten-Percent Plan)  Charles Sumner & Thaddeus Stevens led the Radical Republicans.  Radical Republicans  Wanted voting rights for blacks  Wanted to destroy the political power of slaveholding states.  Proposed the Wade Davis Bill – Congress not the president would control reconstruction.  Lincoln vetoed the bill

Andrew Johnson  After Lincoln’s assassination, Andrew Johnson became president.  Johnson’s plan for Reconstruction…  Confederate states could be readmitted to the Union if it would meet several conditions.  Withdraw secession, swear allegiance to the Union, annul Confederate war debts, ratify the 13 th amendment.  Prevented most high ranking confederates from swearing allegiance.

Presidential Reconstruction  Congress refused to admit southern legislatures.  Continued and enlarged Freedman’s Bureau.  Assisted former slaves and poor whites in the South by distributing clothing and food.  Set up more that 40 hospitals, 4,000 schools, ect.

Civil Rights Act of 1866  Gave African Americans citizenship and forbade states from passing discriminatory laws.  Black Codes – severely restricted African American lives.  Johnson shocked everyone when he vetoed both the Freedman’s Bureau Act and the Civil Rights Act.

Congressional Reconstruction  Moderate and Radical Republicans came together to override the president’s veto.  Civil Rights Act became law  Passed the 14 th amendment – all people were entitled to equal protection of the law, and no state could deprive any person of life, liberty, or property w/o due process.

Reconstruction Act of 1867  Did not recognize state gov. under the Johnson & Lincoln plans.  Divided 10 former Confederate states into 5 military districts head by Union generals.  Elect delegates to conventions where new state constitutions would be drafted.  Constitutions must allow African Americans to vote & state must ratify 14 th amendment.

Major Reconstruction Legislation, LegislationProvisions Freedmen's Bureau Acts ( )Offered assistance, such as medical aid & education to freed slaves & war refugees. Civil Rights Act of 1866Granted citizenship & equal protection under the law to African Americans. Fourteenth Amendment 1868Makes all persons “born or naturalized in the U.S.” citizens; barred most Confederate leaders from holding political office Reconstruction Act of 1867Abolished governments formed in the former Confederate states; divided those states into five military districts; set up requirements for readmission to the Union Fifteenth Amendment 1870States that no ne can be kept from voting because of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Enforcement Act of 1870Protected the voting rights of African Americans & gave the federal government power to enforce the 15 th amendment.

Johnson Impeached  Radical leaders felt Johnson was not carrying out his constitutional duties to enforce the Reconstruction Act.  Impeach – to formally charge him w/ misconduct in office.  Passed the Tenure of Office Act – stated that the president could not remove cabinet members.  Johnson fired Secretary of War, Stanton.  Congress then brought impeachment charges against Johnson.  “Not Guilty”

Ulysses S. Grant  Grant won the presidency  Passed the 15 th amendment  States had no right to keep anyone from voting b/c of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Answer the following questions 1. What was Lincoln’s Ten Percent Plan? 2. Who proposed the Wade-Davis Bill? Why? 3. How did Lincoln deal with the passage of the Wade-Davis Bill? 4. How did Johnson’s plan follow and differ from Lincoln’s? 5. How did the Radical republicans kill presidential reconstruction? 6. What did the Freedmen’s Bureau accomplish? 7. What legislation did moderates and radicals pass in 1866? 8. What was the Reconstruction Act of 1867? 9. Why was Johnson impeached? 10. Why was the Fifteenth Amendment passed?