Chapter 17 Section 1
Reconstruction
Plans
Post Civil War America
• Because Southern states had
seceded from the Union, the federal
government needed to establish a
system by which they could be
readmitted.
Post Civil War America
• The economy and society of the
South was devastated and needed to
be rebuilt.
Reconstruction
• Period of rebuilding from 1865-1896
• Refers to the various plans for
readmitting Southern states to the
Union.
Lincoln’s Plan
• Before his assassination, President
Lincoln had been planning for readmittance of states during the last
few years of the Civil War.
Lincoln’s Plan
• Lincoln felt that punishing the South
served no useful purpose and he
wanted to offer amnesty-a pardon-to
all white Southerners who took an
oath of loyalty.
Ten Percent Plan
Plan involved:
• When 10% of voters of a state took
an oath of loyalty to the Union, the
state could form a new government
• Adopt a state constitution that banned
slavery
Radical Plans
• Many Republicans in Congress
considered Lincoln’s plan far too
forgiving of the South.
Radical Republicans
• Republicans in the House
and Senate that favored a
radical, or extreme, approach
to reconstruction.
• Congress was controlled by
the radicals and they voted to
deny any congressional seats
to representatives from states
readmitted under Lincoln’s
plan.
Thaddeus Stevens
• Leader of the Radical Republicans in
the House. He was adamant about
punishing the South.
Wade Davis Bill
Reconstruction plan passed by the Radical
Republicans in July 1864:
• over 50% of the white males of a state
had to swear an oath of loyalty
• only white males that swore they fought in
the Confederate army could play a role in
writing new state constitutions
• states had to ban slavery
• no former Confederate could hold any
public office
Wade Davis Bill
• Lincoln refused to the sign the bill
and vetoed it.
Freedman’s Bureau
• In March 1865, Lincoln and Congress
worked together to set up this
government agency.
• The bureau helped freed slaves to
adjust to freedom.
Freedman’s Bureau
• It provided food, clothing, medical
services, and helped freed slaves
acquire land or find work.
Andrew Johnson becomes
President
• Upon Lincoln’s death on April 15,
1865, Vice-President Andrew
Johnson assumed the powers of
President.
Andrew Johnson becomes
President
• Johnson was a Democrat from
Tennessee that supported the Union
during the war.
Restoration
Johnson’s plan for reconstruction included:
• granted amnesty to most Southerners that
swore loyalty
• High-ranking Confederates could only be
pardoned by appealing to the President
• only pardoned loyal whites could be play a role
in writing new state constitutions
• states had to denounce secession and ban
slavery
• states had to ratify the 13th Amendmentpassed in January of 1865 the amendment
abolished slavery in the United States