John Picture background info
John Picture background info
What are the issues that must be dealt with? And how should they be addressed?
•4 million newly freed slaves?•Assimilate into society? Voting rights? Equality?
•Destruction of south?•Letting Southern states back into the union?•Punishment for Confederates?•What should the powers of Federal and State Governments be now?
Lincoln was prophetic at Gettysburg when he said the war was about a “new birth of freedom”
South after war 1
South after war 1
South after war 1
South after war 1
Human toll of the Civil War: The North lost 364,000 soldiers. The South lost 260,000
soldiers. Between 1865 and 1877, the federal
government carried out a program to repair the damage to the South and restore the
southern states to the Union. This program was known as ReconstructionReconstruction.
FreedmenFreedmen (freed slaves) were starting out their new lives in a poor region with slow
economic activity. Plantation owners lost slave labor worth $3
billion. Poor white Southerners could not find work
because of new job competition from FreedmenFreedmen.
The war had destroyed two thirds of the South’s shipping industry and about 9,000
miles of railroad.
wounds….to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with
all nations.”
Lincoln was assassinated before we would ever know what his full reconstruction plan would be
Lincoln’s speech
“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in
the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish
the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s
What we know- in 1863 he made a reference to:
•10% of people who could vote in 1860 had to swear allegiance to the union to become a state•States had to create a new state government which had to be approved at the Federal level•States had to obey all emancipation laws
Of course, this is only a shell of a plan but we know Lincoln would have shown mercy on the South
Lincoln’s speech
Republicans were upset about the leniency he proposed, so congress passed the Wade-Davis Bill (1864):
•50% of people who could vote in 1860 had to swear allegiance to the union to become a state•States had to create a new state government which had to be approved at the Federal level- only people who had never served or aided the Confederacy could be in politics•States had to obey all emancipation laws with stronger safeguards to protect this
Lincoln’s speech
Republicans subscribed to the “state suicide theory”- when south seceded, they essentially committed suicide and were not a part of the Union, therefore they should be treated as a conquered province
Lincoln disagreed and said they had never actually left the Union and he vetoed the Wade-Davis bill
Republicans responded by refusing to seat the delegate from Louisiana who had met Lincoln’s 10% requirement
The war over reconstruction was already on!
Lincoln’s speech
Lincoln’s speech
April 15, 1865
John Picture background info
•Born into poverty in North Carolina•Taught himself to read and write•Married at 18 to 16 year old Eliza McCardle•Elected Mayor of Grenville, TN in 1833•Served in TN House and Senate, Governor of TN, US House and senate, and President•Only Southern senator who didn’t leave congress upon secession•“I voted against Lincoln, I spoke against him, I spent my money to defeat him. But I still love my country”•Became Lincoln’s running mate in 1864•President in 1865 upon Lincoln’s death
John Picture background info
•Johnson’s wife, Eliza, was in poor health when he took office•She only made two public appearances during his tenure•His daughter (Martha Patter) handled all white house social duties•Andrew Johnson died in 1875 of Cholera•His wife died 6 months later
•Ranked among worst presidents ever•Probably the most openly racist president•Also the last president who was not a Republican or Democrat- he was in the Union Party
Eliza McCardle
•Supported Lincoln’s plan for leniency towards
the South•Engaged in a power
struggle with Congress over who would lead the
country through Reconstruction.
•Would be impeached but not removed from
office.
John Picture background info
Johnson’s plan to readmit the South:
Amnesty:Amnesty: pardoned many ex-confederatespardoned many ex-confederates•Rebels sign an oath of allegianceRebels sign an oath of allegiance
•Once 10% of the population signs, state can be readmittedOnce 10% of the population signs, state can be readmitted
Write new state ConstitutionsWrite new state Constitutions•approve the approve the 13th Amendment 13th Amendment (Banned slavery)
•reject secession and statereject secession and state’’s rightss rights•submit to U.S. Government authoritysubmit to U.S. Government authority
Johnson’s plan to readmit the South:No mention ofNo mention of
•Education for freedmenEducation for freedmen•Citizenship and voting rights for freedmenCitizenship and voting rights for freedmen
ResultsResults•Republican Radicals were not happy- saw Johnson as a Southerner and Republican Radicals were not happy- saw Johnson as a Southerner and
a confederate (he had owned slaves at one time)a confederate (he had owned slaves at one time)•Many former confederates return to power (old power structure Many former confederates return to power (old power structure
returning?)returning?)•Alexander Stephens (VP of Confederacy) elected senator from GAAlexander Stephens (VP of Confederacy) elected senator from GA•Black codes (see next slides) passed to establish white authorityBlack codes (see next slides) passed to establish white authority
•Violence against blacks in South (KKK formed)Violence against blacks in South (KKK formed)
““Neither slavery nor involuntary slavery nor involuntary servitudeservitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall shall
exist within the United Statesexist within the United States, or any place subject to their
jurisdiction.”The CongressCongress shall have power to
enforceenforce by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this
article.14th 13th: Slavery Abolished
As southern states were restored to the Union under President Johnson’s plan, they began to enact black codes, laws that restricted freedmen’s
rights. The black codes established virtual slavery with provisions such as these: Curfews: Generally, black people could not gather after sunset. Vagrancy laws: Freedmen convicted of vagrancy– that is, not working–
could be fined, whipped, or sold for a year’s labor. Labor contracts: Freedmen had to sign agreements in January for a
year of work. Those who quit in the middle of a contract often lost all the wages they had earned.
Land restrictions: Freed people could rent land or homes only in rural areas. This restriction forced them to live on plantations. Most became sharecroppers
Couldn’t serve on juries or testify against whites; only real change was marital rights were granted
Mississippi Governor, 1866: Mississippi Governor, 1866: ““The Negro is freeThe Negro is free””
“Whether we like it or not; we must realize that fact now and forever.
To be free, however, does not make him a citizen or entitle him to
social or political equality with the white man.”
Gov of Miss
St. LandrySt. Landry’’s Parish, s Parish, Louisiana, 1865Louisiana, 1865
Section 1: Be it ordainedSection 1: Be it ordained by the by the police jury of parish of St. Landry, police jury of parish of St. Landry, That no negro shall be allowed to That no negro shall be allowed to
pass within the limits of said pass within the limits of said parish without a special permit in parish without a special permit in
writing from his employer. writing from his employer. Whoever shall violate this Whoever shall violate this
provision shall pay a fine of $2.50, provision shall pay a fine of $2.50, or in default thereof shall be or in default thereof shall be
forced to work four days on the forced to work four days on the public road or suffer corporeal public road or suffer corporeal
punishment.punishment.
St. LandrySt. Landry’’s Parish, s Parish, Louisiana, 1865Louisiana, 1865
Section 2: Be it ordained:Section 2: Be it ordained: That That every Negro who shall be found every Negro who shall be found absent from the residence of his absent from the residence of his
employer after 10 oemployer after 10 o’’clock at night, clock at night, without a written permit from him without a written permit from him
employer, shall pay a fine of employer, shall pay a fine of $5.00, or in default thereof, shall $5.00, or in default thereof, shall be compelled to work 5 days on be compelled to work 5 days on
the public road or suffer corporeal the public road or suffer corporeal punishment.punishment.
St. LandrySt. Landry’’s Parish, s Parish, Louisiana, 1865Louisiana, 1865
Section 3: Be it further ordainedSection 3: Be it further ordained, , That no Negro shall be be That no Negro shall be be
permitted to rent or keep a house permitted to rent or keep a house within said parish. Any Negro within said parish. Any Negro
violating this provision shall be violating this provision shall be immediately ejected and immediately ejected and
compelled to find an employer; compelled to find an employer; and any who shall rent, or give and any who shall rent, or give the use of the any house to any the use of the any house to any
Negro, in violation of this section, Negro, in violation of this section, shall pay a fine of $5.00 for each shall pay a fine of $5.00 for each
offence.offence.
St. LandrySt. Landry’’s Parish, s Parish, Louisiana, 1865Louisiana, 1865
Section 4: Be it further ordainedSection 4: Be it further ordained, , No Negroes shall be allowed to No Negroes shall be allowed to congregate in public meetings congregate in public meetings between the hours of sunset to between the hours of sunset to
sunrise and by special permission sunrise and by special permission of the police chief may a public of the police chief may a public
meeting of Negroes occur. meeting of Negroes occur. However, church services are not However, church services are not included in this law. Pay a fine of included in this law. Pay a fine of
$5.00, work 5 days on the road $5.00, work 5 days on the road crew or receive corporeal crew or receive corporeal
punishmentpunishment
St. LandrySt. Landry’’s Parish, s Parish, Louisiana, 1865Louisiana, 1865
Section 5: Be it ordainedSection 5: Be it ordained, No , No Negro who is not in the military Negro who is not in the military service shall be allowed to carry service shall be allowed to carry
firearms, or any kind of weapons, firearms, or any kind of weapons, within said parish, without the within said parish, without the
special written permission of his special written permission of his employers. Subject to $5.00 fine, employers. Subject to $5.00 fine,
road work or corporeal road work or corporeal punishment.punishment.
St. LandrySt. Landry’’s Parish, s Parish, Louisiana, 1865Louisiana, 1865
Section 6: Be it ordainedSection 6: Be it ordained, That it , That it shall be the duty of every citizen shall be the duty of every citizen to act as a police officer for the to act as a police officer for the detection of offences and the detection of offences and the
apprehension of offenders, who apprehension of offenders, who shall be immediately handed over shall be immediately handed over
to the proper police officer or to the proper police officer or captain.captain.
Thaddeus Stevens Charles Summner
•Blocked Southerners from entering congress in Dec. 1865
•Advocated political, social and economic equality for the Freedmen.
•Would go after President Johnson through the impeachment process after he vetoes
the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
Plans compared
•oath of allegiance---50% •Created Freedmen’s Bureau to be paid for by states
•Civil Rights Act 1866 (vetoed but later enacted) •Ban high ranking Confederate officials (14th)•lose voting rights if you don’t sign oath (14 (14thth))
•Write new state Constitutions with full suffrage•Ratify: 13, 14 & 15 Amendments•reject secession and state’s rights
•submit to U.S. Government authority•Divide the South into 5 military districts- policed by Union
army
Reconstruction Acts of 1867-Reconstruction Acts of 1867--76 (Harsh)(Harsh)
Military Reconstructio
n
Each number indicates the Military Districts
1865, Congress created the Freedman’s Bureau to help former
slaves get a new start in life. This was the first major relief agency in United
States history.
Bureau’s AccomplishmentsBuilt thousands of schools to educate
Blacks. Former slaves rushed to get an education
for themselves and their children. Education was difficult and dangerous to
gain. Southerners hated the idea that Freedmen would go to school.
Freedmen’s Bureau 2
Freedmen’s Bureau 3
Freedmen’s Bureau 4
•President Johnson vetoed the Civil
Rights Act of 1866 (Gave $$$$ to
Freedmen’s Bureau for schools and
granted citizenship to the Freedmen)
•Congress believed Johnson was working
against Reconstruction and overrode his veto.•Congress would override his veto
often and basically took over the Govt.
•Led to the 14th Amendment
Johnson’s Veto
An inflexible President, 1866: Republican cartoon shows Johnson knocking Blacks of the Freedmen’s
Bureau by his veto.
““All persons born in the U.S. are citizens of this country and the state they reside in. No state No state shall make or enforce any law shall make or enforce any law
which deprives any person of life, which deprives any person of life, liberty, or property, without due liberty, or property, without due process of lawprocess of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction to
the equal protection of the lawsequal protection of the laws.”
The CongressCongress shall have power to enforceenforce by appropriate
legislation, the provisions of this article.
14th 14th: Rights of Citizens
•Also included clauses that reduced the number of representatives and electoral votes from a state if they deny citizenship and voting rights
•Disqualified all former confederate officeholders from holding federal or state office
•Johnson campaigned against it and all southern states rejected it- temporarily put on hold
14th 14th: Rights of Citizens
•Women rights supporters refused to support the 14th Amendment giving African American Men citizenship unless women were added to it.•Abolitionists would not support women’s rights
Abolitionists vs Women’s rights
Brought up on 11 charges of high
crimes and misdemeanors.Missed being
removed from office by 1 vote
Presidency would suffer as a
result of this failed
impeachment. President would
be more of a figure-head.
Impeachment:Impeachment: Bringing charges against the President. Two steps
involved……1st Step: U. S. House of Representatives hold hearings to decide if there are crimes committed. They then vote on the charges
and if there is a majority, then, charges are brought against the President.2nd Step: U.S. Senate becomes a
courtroom. The President is tried for the charges brought against him. The Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court is the judge. Once trial is completed, Senators must
vote to remove President with a 2/3’s vote.
Impeachment process
After Johnson was impeached, Congress passes Reconstruction
Act of 1867.The South would be reconstructed under the Radical Republicans plan.
Republicans would elect Grant as their President
and he would carry out the
Radical Reconstruction.“The Strong
Government”, 1869-1877. Grant
enforcing the Reconstruction Act of 1867 and
“forcing” the South to change.
““The The right of citizensright of citizens of the United of the United States to States to votevote shall not be denied shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or abridged by the United States
or by any State on account of or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition race, color, or previous condition
of servitudeof servitude””..The The Congress Congress shall have shall have power to power to enforceenforce this article by appropriate this article by appropriate
legislation.legislation.14th
15th: Voting Rights
Funding ReconstructionRebuilding the South’s infrastructure, (roads, bridges,
canals, railroads, and telegraph lines)Funds were also needed to expand services to southern
citizens. (Following the North’s example, all southern states created public school systems by 1872).
Congress, private investors, and heavy taxes paid for Reconstruction. Spending by Reconstruction legislatures added another $130 million to southern debt.
New South
New South•Becomes
industrialized•Cities rebuilt
•Railroads•Schools, over
a thousand•Hospitals, 45
in 14 states•Diversify economy.
The Taste of Freedom?Freedom to own land: Proposals to give white-
owned land to freed people got little support from the government. Unofficial land redistribution did take place, however.
Freedom to worship: African Americans formed their own churches and started mutual aid societies, debating clubs, drama societies, and trade associations.
Freedom to learn: Between 1865 and 1870, black educators founded 30 African American colleges.