Political Reconstruction

1863-1869

How Do You Rebuild a Nation?

• Lincoln– Conf. gov’t must disband– New state gov’ts must be formed– No Conf. leaders can hold political office;

but amnesty to those who swear allegiance to US

– All slaves must be freed– 10% of population must swear allegiance

to United States– Popular, people willing to follow even if

uncomfortable with plan• Johnson

– Plans to follow Lincoln’s basic outline– Democrat, not Republican– Harsh person, abrasive personality;

people didn’t trust as much– Had to go through Congress– Finally, said

• Free slaves• Repudiate war debts• Repeal ordinance of secession

• Congress– Led by Radical Republicans

(elected in 1862, 1864)– Punish Conf. states before

readmitting– Wade-Davis Bill (1864)

• Put South under military rule• Required majority of state to

take loyalty oath• Lincoln kills with pocket veto• Ticks off Congress

– AR, LA, TX meet Lincoln’s criteria, Congress refuses to readmit

– By summer 1865, every state except TX had followed Johnson’s formula, but Congress still refused to readmit

– Concerned about leniency

The Plans

Plan Supporters Detractors

10% PlanPres. Lincoln and moderates

Radical Republicans

Wade-Davis BillRadical Republicans

Pres. Lincoln and moderates

Johnson’s PlanPres. Johnson, South

Congress

Reconstruction Act of 1867

Congress Pres. Johnson

The 10% Plan

• President Lincoln’s plan

• Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, Dec. 1863– 10% of voters who had voted in 1860 had to

pledge allegiance to Union & accept emancipation, then they could create a state govt.

– Confederate officials were not eligible and had to request presidential pardon

Wade-Davis Bill

• Radical Republicans, make it harder to reenter Union– Former confederate states would be ruled by

military governor– 50% of eligible voters had to pledge

allegiance– Required state conventions to repeal

secession and abolish slavery

• Pocket-vetoed by Lincoln

Johnson’s Plan

• Johnson wanted to reward white small farmers and displace planter aristocracy

• Created plan while Congress out of session– Most southerners could pledge allegiance,

gain amnesty, and regain their property– Repeal secession & accept 13th amendment– Disregard southern war debt– Confederate officers (civil & military) and rich

planter ineligible to vote or hold office

Results of Johnson’s Plan

• Creation of Black Codes in South– Severely restricted rights, movement, and

work of freedmen

• Congressional backlash– Refuse to seat southern Congressmen– Override veto and extend Freedmen’s Bureau– Override veto and pass Civil Rights Act of

1866, making black men U.S. citizens– Propose 14th Amendment to ensure

citizenship

Reconstruction Act of 1867

• Invalidated state govts. formed under prior plans

• Divided Confederate states into five military districts

• Required new state constitutions ensuring black male suffrage (blacks included in state conventions)

• Required state legislatures to approve 14th Amendment to be readmitted to U.S.

Reconstruction Act of 1867

• Could have been worse for South– No charges of treason for Confederate

officers– No confiscation of property

Impeachment of Johnson

• Johnson refuses to give military help to enforce Reconstruction Act

• Then he defies newly passed Tenure of Office Act and replaces his Secretary of War, Henry Stanton, without Senate approval

Impeachment of Johnson

• Johnson charged with being “unmindful of the high duties of office”

• Nine total charges

• 11 weeks of debate

• Congress finds him guilty 35-19, but falls short of 2/3 majority required to convict

• Johnson stays in office, but does not run again

The Reconstruction Amendments

• 13th Amendment, Dec. 1865: Prohibited slavery in the United States

• 14th Amendment, July, 1868:– Defined citizenship– Loss of rep. if deny suffrage to any citizen– Disqualified prewar officials from office holding– Repudiated (got rid of) Confederate debt

• 15th Amendment, March 1870: Prohibits denial of suffrage based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude

What about the women???

• 15th amendment divided woman suffrage movement– American Woman Suffrage Assn: support

abolitionists and 15th Amendment, lobbies for state approval of woman suffrage

– National Woman Suffrage Assn: rejects 15th Amendment and supporters, pushes for a national woman suffrage amendment (Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton)

• Women won’t get vote until 1920

Talking heads…

Radical Republican Freedman Southern

DemocratModerate Republican

What were your goals and hopes for Reconstruction?