Reconstruction- Presidential Abraham Lincoln
December 8, 1863, issued a Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction for
Confederate areas occupied by Union
General Amnesty to those who took an oath of loyalty to US and pledge to obey federal
laws regarding slavery
High Confederate officials and military leaders excluded from process, initially
1/10th of voters from 1860 election had taken the oath, the state could set up a new
government and elect representatives to Congress
10% plan
Wade- Davis Bill (1864)
Radical Republican plan for reconstruction before the end of civil war
Appoint provisional military governors in seceded states
Majority of white citizens swore allegiance to union, could call constitutional convention
Had to abolish slavery, repudiate secession and disqualify Confederate officials from
voting or holding office
Required oath that person never voluntarily gave aid to Confederacy
Lincoln pocket- vetoed the bill
Presidential Reconstruction- Andrew Johnson
Pardoned white southerners who took oath of allegiance
o Excluded Confederate leaders and wealthy planters who had property valued at
$20,000 or more
o Received presidential pardon
Appointed provisional governors, call for state conventions elected by whites
o
Must abolish slavery, repudiate secession, refuse to pay confederate debt
Black Codes
Denied right to testify against whites
Denied right to serve on jury, in state militias, or vote
Had to sign yearly work contracts
o Otherwise, could be arrested and hired out to white landowners
Limited occupations
Indentured children to white owners
Radical Republicans
lost with wade Davis bill with Lincoln
Call for dissolution for governments under Johnsons plan and establishing new
governments
Moderates tried to modify Johnsons plan but Johnson vetoes the legislation
14th amendment
All native born, including blacks are American citizens
Equal protection of the laws
Could either black men or lose representation in congressional seats and electoral
votes
Guaranteed the national and debt repudiated the confederate debt
Empowered conges to enforce the 14th amendment
Reconstruction Acts of 1867
Starts Radical Reconstruction Period
Divided 10 Confederate states into 5 military districts
Enfranchised males 21 and older including blacks
Impeachment Attempt
March 1867- Tenure of Office Act
Johnson removed Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton
One vote short of 2/3 needed to impeach him
15th amendment
Fed 1869, Congress approved
Prohibited federal and state governments from denying any citizens the right to because
of race
Ratified in 1870
Native Americans were not covered
Successes of Reconstruction
Black officeholders, local government leaders
Established state- supported public schools
14th and 15th Amendments
Freedmens Bureau
Limits of Reconstruction
Highest positions of power still held by whites
Failed to attempt at land and economic redistribution
Black codes, standards to prevent voting, violence and rise of KKK
Rise of the Redeemers in mid to late 1870s
Bargain of 1877
o Presidential election between Republican Hayes and Democrat Tilden
o Election too close appointed a 15 member electoral committee. 8 Rep and 7
Dem
o Trade
Hayes would get the vote
Recognize democratic control of South
Avoid further intervention in the south... remove troops and support
Place a southerner in the cabinet as postmaster general
Work for federal aid to Texas and Pacific railroad
Was is a success or failure
Set legal precedent for civil rights.
Black men were free.
Define Reconstruction, define success and failure.
Talks about whose goals were accomplished.
Could unify the country again.
What were the limits of freedom of freedom for black freed men and women in the South?
They couldnt actually vote.
They couldnt be in a jury.
KKK
How did Reconstruction set the stage for the Civil Rights movement in later years?
14th and 15th amendment created foundation for it to occur.
Changed social interactions.
Provided a motivation.
White individuals used rhetoric still alive in 60s