1. Supplementary Notes for Reconstruction
Rebuilding the Union
Supplementary Notes for Reconstruction

2. Reconstruction The Reconstruction Period Freedmen’s Bureau
Refers to the time period in American History after the Civil War in which the south was being rebuilt and rejoined to the union
Freedmen’s Bureau
Lincoln created a federal agency that created schools, hospitals, and cloths for freed African Americans

3. Reconstruction
Lincoln wanted to make it easy for the South to rejoin the union
“with malice [harm] toward none, with charity for all”
Northern Republicans wanted to punish the south
Lincoln was assassinated
Andrew Johnson, his VP, became President

4. Andrew Johnson Former slave owner Ignored the Congress
Offered amnesty and pardons to almost all the white southerners
Top military officers
Ex-confederate leaders
Large plantation owners

5. Rebuilding Brings Conflict
13th Amendment was passed
Abolished Slavery
South was trying to bring back the “old south.”
Passed the Black Codes
Set of laws that limited African American freedoms
All African Americans had to have written proof of employment or else they would be forced to work on a plantation
African Americans were forbidden to meet in unsupervised groups
African Americans were not allowed to own or carry guns

6. Rebuilding Brings Conflict
Congress takes control of Reconstruction
Congress refused to allow Southern Congressman to “seat” until their state was inspected
The US Constitution says that Congress has the right to decide whether its members are qualified to hold office

7. Rebuilding Brings Conflict
Radical Republicans
Wanted the federal government to take an active role in rebuilding the south
Wanted to punish the South
Wanted rapid change in the Southern way of life
Full and Equal citizenship for African Americans
Destroy the Southern Plantation system
Create small farms and free schools
Political Equality for all citizens

8. Civil Rights Act
Declared that all persons born in the United States (except Native Americans) were full citizens regardless of race
President Johnson vetoed the bill
Congress with 2/3 Senate votes and 2/3 house votes overrode the President’s Veto
Civil Rights Act became a law

9. 14th Amendment
To make the law more permanent, Congress made it a part of the Constitution that the President was sworn to protect
The 14th Amendment
All citizens were granted “equal protection of the laws.”

10. 14th Amendment
With the passing of the 14th Amendment the south was angered
Congress turned the South into 5 military districts
The south wasn’t allowed to reenter the union until . . .
State Constitutions were changed and gave all adult men equal rights
They ratify the 14th Amendment

11. New Southern Governments
Southern people (mostly small farmers) voted Republicans in power
Carpetbaggers
Northern Republican politicians that moved south to influence southern politics
Many African Americans were selected to help write the state’s new constitutions
During Reconstruction, over 600 African Americans served as state legislatures

12. Johnson is Impeached
Congress passed a law saying that the President couldn’t fire government officials without the Senate’s approval
Johnson fired his Secretary of War
Senate Impeached the President
To bring charges against
Johnson was acquitted by one vote