Reconstruction Era: Johnson's Plan

Andrew Johnson's Presidency

• Andrew Johnson became President following Abraham Lincoln's assassination.
• Johnson aimed to adhere to Lincoln's reconstruction strategy.

Key Components of Johnson's Plan

• Southern states were required to formally retract their secession from the Union.
• States had to pledge allegiance to the Union as part of the reintegration process.
• Ratification of the 13th Amendment was mandatory, necessitating the formation of new state constitutions that abolished slavery.

Historical Significance

• Johnson opposed African American suffrage and enacted policies that constrained their civil rights.

Black Codes Overview

• Black Codes mirrored Slave Codes, imposing restrictions on the freedoms and rights of African Americans.

Specific Restrictions under Black Codes

• Curfew: Imposed restrictions preventing gatherings after sunset.
• Vagrancy Laws: Individuals not engaged in employment faced fines, physical punishment, or forced labor.
• Labor Contracts: Agreements bound workers such that quitting resulted in the forfeiture of unpaid wages.
• Land Restrictions: African Americans were prohibited from renting land or housing in rural locations.

Johnson vs. Congress

• Johnson's approach caused friction with Congress, particularly with Radical Republicans who disapproved of his stance on African American rights.
• Radical Republicans responded by expanding the Freedmen's Bureau to hold state officials accountable for denying civil rights.

Legislative Actions

• The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was enacted to dismantle Black Codes and fortify civil rights for African Americans.

Andrew Johnson's Downfall

• Johnson faced impeachment due to his contentious governance and conflicts with Congress.