2.3

• Reconstruction Period

  end of civil war, 1865 to inauguration of Rutherford B Hayes

  -major cities destroyed, south in debt

  -abolition of slavery wiped out assets

  North: used CW to industrialize, self-sufficient in agriculture

  -reintegration continuous process, not on equal terms
• Reconstruction Questions


  Who would lead Reconstruction?

  -North or South? Fed govt/individual states?

  What to do with former slaves?

  How to reintegrate South
• Partys Positions


  Lincoln: encouraged South to surrender

  Radical Republicans: slavery ended & civil rights to blacks (+south altered to not rebel)

  Conservative: (Repub/Nat Union Party) South integrated & normally restored

  Copperhead: (North Reaction Dem) war end immediately, slavery continued
• Lincolns Reconstruction Plan (10% Plan)


  mercy in victory: readminister into union with 10% citizens sworn loyalty

  -education system to cope with new freed slaves

  -retain power/status
• Wade Davis Bill


  FIRST reconst act in Cong

  -provide readmission 50% sworn oath (over Lincoln 10%)

  -forced to prove didnt fight willingly against North

  Linc analysis: CSA never legally left union

  -opposed bill w POCKET veto (no signature, no action) TOLERANCE
• Freedmans Bureau


  provide immediate needs for those who had been freed from slavery upon surrender

  -short term: provide food, shelter, education

  -medium termL negotiation of jobs

  VETOED by pres Johnson year later
• Andrew Johnson


  War Democrat, VP of Lincoln

  -Souths defeat = constitutionally wrong to secede

  -bring states of South back to union, power of planter aristocracy DIMINSIHED

  *Cong not in session 2 Stories of attempts:

  1 relationship w Congress became hostile

  2 way he changed his mind about who he should support in South
• Reconstruction under Andrew Johnson


  -pardoned ex confederate soldiers/civilians

  -vetoed Repub bills: Freedmans Bureau, Civil Rights Bill (overrode)

  -election of 1866, override vetos
• Radical Reconstruction from Congress


  state suicide: lost IDENTITIES, Charles Sumner

  -readminister w radical changes, keep from rebelling

  HoR lead voice: Thaddeus Stevens

  Military Reconstruction Act: March 1867

  -divided south into 5 districts, each w military governor

  -Wade-Davis Bill filly implemented

  -pressure for full civil rights (right to vote)

  Command of Army Act: limit Johnston power as com in chief

  -allowing issue military orders through grant

  Tenure Office Act: each memb appointed by Senate could also be removed (unconst, badly worded)
• Congress Aims


  1 secure reconstruction through 13th, 14th Am, implement in South

  2 seek personal revenge Johnson (humiliate)

  3 reassert superiority legislature over executive (pre-war norm, restrict pres military role

  -legal system reshaped to reflect priorities of Northern-style economics (indus over agriculture)
• Impeachment of President Johnson


  Cong devote time to finish reconstruction w cooperative pres not disrupting role

  -absence VP to Senator Wade

  -acquitted by one vote (35/36 ag him) tril abandoned
• 13th Amendment, 1864


  banned slavery throughout US

  -Emancipation Proclamation legal status uncertain

  -should/shouldnt ratify solved under Johnson
• 14th Amendment


  gave black people equality under the law w white people

  -pop South increased as whole person (15 seats Cong)

  -adress short term problem faced Af Am South + rad congressmen
• 15th Amendment, 1870


  voting rights for African Americans

  -consolidate gains w 14th (pop/seats)

  -useless in south: allowed imposing literacy tests/poll taxes