Impact of the Civil War

The Emancipation ProclamationJanuary 1, 1863: freed slaves in Confederate

States only– not border states!

Aims: 1. undermine the South2. rally abolitionists 3. gain international support

ReconstructionKey questions:• What to do with the slaves?• How to allow rebellious states to re-enter

Union?• How to treat the leaders of the rebellion?• Should African-Americans get the vote?

Lincoln’s Plan - ModerateAllow state to rejoin Union if:• 10% of voters take oath of allegiance to

U.S.• Abolish slavery

Johnson’s Reconstruction - moderate

• 10% of voters take oath of allegiance to U.S.

• Abolish slavery• Deny vote to Confederate leaders• No treason trials

Freedmen’s Bureau• Federal agency aiding freed blacks• Had jurisdiction over ex-slaves

(freedmen)• Provided food, clothing, and fuel to

destitute freedmen• Established schools

Freedmen• Planters owned land, tools, and draft

animals• Ex-slaves were not generally welcomed

in Northern cities• Many freedmen became sharecroppers –

in exchange for prodcuing cotton, rented land

The Black Codes• Set curfews, wages, limited ability of

African-Americans to enter into contracts• African-Americans could not carry

weapons or sit on juries• Overturned by Civil Rights Act of 1866

Congressional (Radical) Reconstruction

• Election of 1866: Radical Republicans take control of congress

• Have enough votes to override president’s vetoes

• Battled with Johnson (Lincoln’s successor)• Impeached Johnson – Johnson acquitted by

one vote

Radical Reconstruction• Reconstruction Acts: southern states administered in

military districts• The vote extended to all African-Americans by 1867• Confederate leaders not allowed to serve in

government • 10-15,000 Confederates lost right to vote• Civilian governments dismissed• South occupied by federal troops

Radical ReconstructionConditions for readmission to the Union:Each state must:• Hold a constitutional convention with universal

manhood suffrage• Constitution must guarantee black suffrage• State must ratify 14th Amendment• Congress (not President) would review each case

Election of 1868Election was held under military supervisionA Republican coalition:• Northern “carpetbaggers”• Southern “scalawags”• FreedmenSome reconstruction governments engaged in corruption

Southern States under Reconstruction, continued

• Results: • 1868 election: 4/7 governorships, 10/14

Senate seats, 20/35 Rep’s to northerners• Chief task: rebuild economy of South

Backlash in the South• All states gain federal Congressional

representation by 1870• Rise of the Ku Klux Klan – terrorist

organization• Republicans split – Democrats begin to

gain control of states in 1870’s• 1877 – Reconstruction ends

The End of Reconstruction• Election of 1876 is disputed• Tilden (Democrat) vs. Hayes (Republican)• Tilden wins popular vote; dispute about

electoral vote• Congress appoints commission to resolve

dispute• Hayes “appointed” President; Republicans in

House agree to end Reconstruction

The Black Amendments aka the Civil War Amendments

• 13-15th