1. The ordeal of Reconstruction
Chapter 22
American Pageant 13th ed.
The ordeal of Reconstruction

2. Reconstruction, 1865-1877 How to(s)?
bring the South back in to the Union
rebuild the South
protect and integrate emancipated African-Americans

3. Lincoln’s plan…1863 Southern states had never left Union 10% Plan
10% of voters from 1860 election had to take loyalty oath to Union
Establish new state governments
Recognize & accept emancipation
Pardons most Confederates, except high ranking
Congress said no!
Too easy on the Confederates… next plan, please

4. Wade-Davis Bill…1864 Congress likey… 
Claimed states gave up their rights upon secession & would be admitted as conquered provinces
Wade-Davis Bill – Republican driven
50% of voters take loyalty oath
Recognize & accept emancipation
Required state constitutional convention
Lincoln “pocket-vetoed” - split of Republicans

5. Lincoln’s Assassination
April 14, 1865…
Andrew Johnson becomes President
No formal education
A Tennessee Democrat
Disliked planter aristocracy
A white supremacist

6. Johnson’s Plan…1865
10% +
Agreed with Lincoln about readmission of Confederate states
Loyalty oath for 10% (or more) people except Confederate military officers and those whose personal holdings were over $20,000
Planter aristocracy & others can ask for pardons
State constitutions must repeal articles of secession & ratify the 13th amendment

7. More about President johnson
Sanctioned Black Codes
Guaranteed stable labor supply now that blacks were emancipated
Made freedmen tenant farmers w/ low wages
Contracted to land
No right to vote or serve on a jury
Did not help race relations
Kept races separate & blacks socially & economically suppressed

8. Johnson & Congress Freedmen’s Bureau (1865)
Provided food, clothing, medical care,& education to refugees (carpetbaggers)
Johnson vetoed it
Congress passed Civil Rights Bill 1866 (14th Amendment, silly Black Codes)
Congress overrode both (1st time in US History)

9. 14th Amendment Ratified 1868
A constitutional guarantee of the rights and security of freed people
Insure against neo-Confederate political power
Enshrine the national debt while repudiating that of the Confederacy

10. Radical Republicans’ Plan
Republicans concerned the “South will rise again”
Required new state constitutions, including black suffrage and ratification of the 13th and 14th Amendments
Passed an act that authorized the military to enroll eligible black voters and begin the process of constitution making

11. Reconstruction acts of 1867
Military Reconstruction Act
Restart Reconstruction in the 10 Southern states that refused to ratify the 14th Amendment.
Divide the 10 “unreconstructed states” into 5 military districts each led by a Union General & Federal troops

12. Reconstruction acts of 1867
Command of the Army Act
The President must issue all Reconstruction orders through the commander of the military.
Tenure of Office Act
The President could not remove any officials [esp. Cabinet members] without the Senate’s consent, if the position originally required Senate approval.
Watch out for this one…
Edwin Stanton

13. Reconstruction … Each state had to ratify 14th amendment
Constitutionally give adult black men suffrage
Whole idea was to give voting support to the North
No provisions for education or social promotion for blacks
15th amendment eventually passed giving citizens the right to vote (ratification 1870)
No women's’ vote though
Troops stayed in Southern states until 1877
Blacks exercised new freedoms; Ku Klux Klan emerged

14. President Johnson’s impeachment
Johnson removed Sec. of State Edwin Stanton in February 1868; violated Tenure of Office Act
Johnson replaced generals in the field who were more sympathetic to Radical Reconstruction
The House voted to impeach him for “high crimes & misdemeanors” before even drawing up the charges by a vote of 126 – 47!

15. President Johnson’s impeachment
11 week trial in Senate
Senate voted not to impeach Johnson 35 to 19 (one vote short of required 2/3 majority)
If impeachment had occurred…
No V.P. so Ben Wade would be President
Destabilized a nation

16. Another thing happened on the way to Reconstruction …
Secretary of State William Seward purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2million
What a bargain! Strategic area, furs, gold, oil and Sarah Palin!

17. Johnson, A. [Image]. (2008). Retrieved on December 20, 2008 from
Lincoln, A. [Image].(2008). Retrieved on December 20, 2008 from
Pojer, S. (2008). Retrieved on December 20, 2008 from