Reconstruction

Part 1

The South in Ruins

The end of the Civil War sees the South laid to waste.
Virtually all of the issues that had existed before the war, issues of states rights, the status of
black Americans, economic domination by the few, are still prevalent issues.

Politics in the South

Following the Civil War there are substantial questions about how to readmit the Southern
states. Could former Confederates have a role in government? How could the Union prevent
the planter elites from reestablishing dominance?

Social Issues in the South

With the slaves freed, what would their place in society be? How can they be included in the
Democratic process?
Overwhelmingly free blacks would face poverty and institutionalized racism that sought to
disenfranchise them.

The Readmission of the Confederacy

A major debate in Congress will be over the readmission of the former
Confederate states. During the war, Republicans had enjoyed virtual one
party rule over the country.
They are unwilling to consider any Reconstruction legislation that might allow
Confederate Democrats to control newly reformed state governments.

A substantial conflict will emerge between Lincoln (Later Johnson) and

Congress over what should be required to readmit states to the Union.
Lincolns plan will be generous
Congress will respond with the Wade-Davis Bill.

Lincolns Reconstruction Plan

Lincolns primary goal from his election to his death at the hands of assassin
John Wilkes Booth was the preservation of the Union.
His plan will be incredibly generous to the former Confederates and was
designed to quickly restore the country.
Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (1863) - Originally designed during the war to
create a simple process of readmission. This process would leave unionists rather than
secessionists in charge.
Full pardons would be granted to any Confederate who took an oath of allegiance to the United
States and accepted the Emancipation of slaves.
State governments could be reestablished as soon as 10% of elegible voters took the oath.

His plan was very lenient (angering Congress) but would enforce the Emancipation
Proclamation.

Johnsons Reconstruction
Lincoln is assassinated in 1865 and is replaced by Andrew Johnson,
his Democratic Vice President.
He is a white supremacist who believe the war was ONLY fought to restore
the union. (Wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time.)

Johnsons plan is similar to Lincolns, but permanently

disenfranchised wealthy southerners.
Johnson retained the ability to pardon anyone as he saw fit, and through his
actions many wealthy planters were back in office within the year.

He will clash violently with Congress as a result of his policies.

 Within a year of taking over for Lincoln, Johnson had re-admitted all 11
former Confederate states.
Each state was required to repudiate both secession and their war debts. They were
also required to approve the 13th Amendment (Abolished Slavery).
They were not required to extend voting rights to the freed slaves, to the anger of the
Republicans.
Southern states will follow up with the passing of Black Codes which restricted the
rights and movement of African Americans in the South.

Johnson also made substantial use of his veto powers

He vetoed all attempts by Congress to improve the resources available to freed blacks
in the South and more significantly vetoed all proposed civil rights legislation.

Congressional Reconstruction
Congress is enraged by Johnsons actions and appeal directly to the voters in the
election of 1866 (midterm).
Republicans are successful in associating the Democrats with secession and win a landslide
victory in 1866.
This grants the Republicans a veto proof majority in Congress and the ability to now control the
process of reconstruction.

Congress passed the Reconstruction Acts of 1867.

Placed the South under military rule.
It strengthened the requirements for readmission to include requiring acceptance of the 14th
amendment. (Equal treatment by the law)