AMERICAN HISTORY

CH. 12-2 CONGRESSIONAL

RECONSTRUCTION

RECONSTRUCTION UNDER PRESIDENT JOHNSON

Most white southerners liked Johnson’s approachThey were relieved there would be no punishment

for the rebellionAfter the war, deep-rooted PREJUDICE against

African-Americans did not simply vanishJohnson said African-Americans had rights but

those rights DID NOT include a role in government

STATE GOVERNMENTSPresident Johnson pardoned nearly every planter

and former Confederate Leader that applied

Southern states restored most of their former leaders to power

9 Confederate Generals, 2 Confederate cabinet members, Confederate Vice-President Alexander Stephens were sent to Washington as Congressmen

Congress refused to seat these people

THE BLACK CODESLaws designed to keep freedmen in a slavelike

condition and to give planters a supply of cheap labor

Former slaves, and sometime their families, were forced to sign contract to for his employer for a year

If the freedman quit before the year was up, he forfeited his wages

It was illegal for one employer to higher a freedman that was under contract to another employer

Freedman could not rent property in cities or towns to prevent them from starting their own businesses

Any freedman refusing to sign a contract or who left his job early could be arrested for being jobless

The punishment was fine or a year of forced labor

In some states freedman could not own gunsIn other states guns and dogs were taxesThis prevented freedman from hunting as a

source for food.

SOUTHERN DEFIANCELocal sheriffs and Civil War veterans enforced

Black Codes because it was a similar way of life they were used to

The invaded African American homes, seized guns, and abused African Americans

These activities inspired whites to form their own private groups—among these were the Ku Klux Klan

KKK—began as a social club in TN in 1866 but soon began terrorizing African Americans and whites who were loyal to the US government

Local officials rarely prosecuted whites who committed violence against blacks

CONGRESS TAKES CONTROL OF RECONSTRUCTION

At first most southerners supported Johnson’s reconstruction plan

NORTHERN OPPOSITION GROWSThey did not like former Confederates

returning to powerBlack Codes were also troublingIf the south was allowed to abuse freedman,

the northern victory would be diminished

CONGRESS FIGHTS BACKGroup of senators and representatives

wanted a more thorough reconstruction planThis group was known as RADICIAL

REPUBLICANSThey wanted freed slaves to have economic

opportunity and political equality after the war

December 1865—Congress reconvenesJohnson says the reconstruction is completeCongress decides to improve on Johnson’s

plan

JOHNSON VS. CONGRESSModerates did not share the Radicals’ desire

for social revolution in the southModerates proposed two bills in January

18661) Extend the life of the Freedman’s BureauThe Bureau could continue to build schools,

finding land, and providing aid to freedmenThe Bureau had legal authority in disputes

between whites and freedmen

2) THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT—African Americans given citizenship and “equal benefits of all laws and proceedings for the security of person and property

Anyone who denied freedman these rights could be tried in federal court

Both bills easily passed CongressJohnson vetoed both bills, saying that they were

unnecessary and unconstitutionalCongress modified the Freedman’s Bureau bill but

Johnson vetoed it againCongress voted to override both bills and they

became law

RADICAL RECONSTRUCTION

XIVth Amendment (1866)—requires states to grant citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States”

It promised citizens equal protection under the lawBarred states from depriving anyone of life, liberty,

or property without due process of law

THE ELECTION OF 1866Johnson campaigned for candidates (mostly

democrats) that favored his policiesRepublicans won overwhelming victories

THE RECONSTRUCTION ACTSFirst of four laws passed over Johnson’s veto

in March 1867Divided the south into five military districts

under control of the US Army--required states to approve XIVth Amendment--write state constitutions that guaranteed

freedman the right to vote--form new governments elected by all male

citizens, including freedmen

A state could not be readmitted until these three conditions were met.

The Congress passed 3 more reconstruction acts in 1867 & 1868

Authorized US Army to register African Americans to vote

Since the Army was in charge, Congress worried that Johnson would use his power as commander-in-chief to interrupt reconstruction

Congress pass the TENURE OF OFFICE ACT (March 1867

This law required Senate permission to remove any official whose appointment had required Senate approval

PRESIDENT JOHNSON’S IMPEACHMENTFinal battle between Johnson and the

RepublicansCentered around Secretary of War Edwin

Stanton

Johnson fired Stanton without getting Senate approval

February 1868—US House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson for violating the Tenure of Office Act

Johnson would be tried in the Senate and could be removed from office by a 2/3 vote

Trial lasted two monthsJohnson escaped conviction by 1 vote so he

stayed in office

He lost the battle of reconstruction but continued to issue pardons

End of 1868, almost all confederate leaders had been restored

THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENTNov. 1868—Ulysses Grant elected PresidentXVth Amendment (March 1870)—People

could not be denied the right to vote because of their race.

Women criticized the amendment because it didn’t give them the right to vote

XVth Amendment brought millions of potential new voters to the Republican party

It aimed to protect freedman from the growing political power of pardoned former Confederates

This protection was temporary because the amendment did not ban denial of suffrage for reasons other than race.

THE END