Reconstruction (1865-1877), Part 1 PDF

Reconstruction (1865-1877), Part 1 Brief Civil War Review Slavery was the cause of the Civil War The issue started in 1860 Abraham Lincoln (Republican) was elected president on November 6, 1860 Lincoln defeated John Breckinridge (Democrat) Republic Party ○ Ra...

Reconstruction (1865-1877), Part 1 Brief Civil War Review Slavery was the cause of the Civil War The issue started in 1860 Abraham Lincoln (Republican) was elected president on November 6, 1860 Lincoln defeated John Breckinridge (Democrat) Republic Party ○ Radical republicans were the most liberal (anti-slavery) Democratic Party ○ Didn't care or were pro-slavery Lincoln didn't slavery to affect the ‘new' states Slaved states seceded (left) to form the Confederacy when Lincoln was elected Civil War: April 12, 1861 - April 9, 1865 April 14, 1865: Lincoln was assassinated Lincoln often supported these ideas: ○ Free slaved men are to be allowed to vote ○ Worked with the Radical party to apply 13th Amendment (major outcome of the war) | 13th Amendment: Forbids slavery across the United States and every territory under its control unless its a criminal punishment | Reconstruction: A Definition Issue #1: Issue #2: Issue #3: What was going to happen to newly freed slaves? 1st Phase: Presidential Reconstruction (1865-1867) - Andrew Johnson's Plan (May 1865) Johnson and Lincoln were both pro-union However, Johnson was not anti-slavery nor sympathetic to freed slaves Before this, Congress was not in session The Plan In order for Southern States to return, they have to do a loyalty oath for political/property rights Those who were wealthy Southerners must do personal pardons to Johnson (in-person) Johnson wanted the Southern States to return to the Union quickly ○ States has to repudiate (deny) secession ○ Ratify the 13th Amendment White Voters (Southern States) sent the Confederate to Congress ○ 9 confederate congressmen ○ 7 confederate state officials ○ 4 confederate generals ○ 4 confederate colonels ○ Confederate Vice-President: Alexander Stephens Black Codes *These are not Jim Crow Laws/ Jim Crow Laws come later* The codes were not the same for every state They were designed to limit the rights of newly freed slaves  Codes: ○ Newly freed slaves cannot testify in court against a white person ○ Voting rights ○ If wanting to travel, it must be approved by a white person ○ Child can be assigned to former owner ○ Can be arrested for vagrancy (not doing anything) ○ They have a curfew for staying out ○ If they don't pay a fine, they could be auctioned off to a white employer to work Break Between Johnson & Congress (Civil Rights Bill, 1866) Civil Rights Bill was a direct response to Black Codes Johnson didn't like it which he vetoed Congress overrode the vetoed and became a law 2nd Phase: Congressional Reconstruction (1867-1870) - Revitalized Freedmen's Bureau Federal government agency is designed to help slaves road to freedom ○ Building schools (3,000) ○ Help the find work ○ Help provide medical-aid The Military Reconstruction Acts of 1867 divided South states in 5 military and districts Policies for re-admission to the Union ○ Write a new state constitution that guarantees voting rights for black men ○ Ratify the 14th Amendment Passage of the 14th and 15th Amendment (1868, 1870) 14th Amendment: Turns the Civil Rights Bill into a Constitutional Amendment 15th Amendment: Gives black men the right to vote (was not required to sign) Impeachment (Tenure in Office Act, 1867) Johnson fired federal officials who were working on the reconstruction The Radical Republicans and Congress passed the law (Tenure in Office Act) Radical Republicans thought Johnson was going remove important officials Johnson didn’t like that the law was passed so he fired the Secretary of War who was an important official ○ The secretary was an ally of the Radical Republican Johnson was replaced fired officials and replaced them with his own loyal acts Congress decided to impeach Johnson Impeachment = charge the federal official with treason, bribery, or any other high criminal acts House of Representatives draws up the article of impeachment for vote (Half of the House has to vote yes or no) Charged person goes on trial in the Senates ○ Senates act like a jury If found guilty then they would be removed from office (must be ⅔ of the Senate votes) Johnson managed to stay by one vote saying no However, he did not run for office again in 1868 Ulysses S. Grant won the election in 1868 Results The Civil War aftermath was considered a revolutionary time in the U.S.  Republicans dominated the South Northers moved to the South Southern white voted Republican Freed slaves are considered Republicans Black Male Suffrage (Voting Rights) = 90% turnout, at times Occupied 15-20% of State Officials in the South ○ 1 Governor; 3 Lieutenant Governors; 2 State Treasurer; 3 Secretaries of State ○ 2 Black Senators & 15 Congressmen elected Some Southern states that managed by the Republicans cause: ○ Mandated public schools (white & black children) ○ Prison Reforms ○ Passed laws to help the poor ○ Set up Boards of Public Health ○ Homes for orphans and the mentally ill