Reconstruction
Rebuilding the South
Main Idea: Conflicting plans for dealing with the post-Civil War South
had long-lasting effects on government and the economy.
Presidential Reconstruction
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President Lincoln proposed;
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Amnesty for southerners except High
Rank confederate leaders
Re-admittance plan
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(10% plan)
When 10% of all southern voters in a
state pledged loyalty to the
Union/Emancipation the state could be readmitted
State governments had to Ban Slavery.
States re-admitted under this plan

Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee
Congress Responds to Lincoln’s
Plan

Wade-Davis Bill 1864
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Required the majority of states voters to
pledge loyalty to the union before the state
could be re-admitted.
Lincoln killed the Bill with a pocket Veto
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(He ignored the bill for 10 Days)
Johnson’s Plan
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President Andrew Johnson’s
plan
Same as Lincoln’s plan…
but:
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Johnson exempted wealthy
southerners from amnesty
forcing them to apply for a
presidential pardon.
Southerners felt that
Johnson was a traitor. (
Johnson was from Tennessee)
The Southern Reaction to
Johnson’s Plan

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Former Confederates took office
in the south
 Sent to congress
Black Codes
 Varied by State
 Intended to keep former
slaves in a dependant
position
 To offer cheap labor to
Planter
Ku Klux Klan
 Formed in 1866
 Designed to terrorize African
Americans and the whites
who supported their rights.
Congress takes Control

Moves by southern states upset many in
congress
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Strengthened Radical Republicans in Congress
Moderate republicans in congress passed
two bills.
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Freedman Bureau support bill.
Civil Rights Act of 1866
Both bills passed the house and senate but
were vetoed by Johnson.
Radical Reconstruction

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14th Amendment
 Worried that the CRA of 1866
would be overturned.
 Granted citizenship to all
persons born in the U.S.
 Granted equal protection of
the laws.
Congressional Elections of 1866
 Radical republicans gain
enough seats in congress to
override Presidential vetoes.
Radical Republicans Take control
of Reconstruction
Radical Reconstruction Cont…

Congress passes 4 reconstruction
acts over President Johnson’s
Vetoes
 Divided the south into 5
Military districts
 Set conditions for readmission
 Ratify the 14th Amendment
 Write new state
constitutions that grant
and guarantee right to
vote
 Form new governments
elected by ALL male
citizens.
Republicans in Charge

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Congress also passed the Tenure of Office Act in
1867, requiring the Senate’s permission to
remove any official it appointed.
When Johnson tested the act by firing Secretary
of War Edwin Stanton, who supported Radical
Republicans, the House voted to impeach him.
The Senate lacked one vote for the two-thirds
majority they needed to remove Johnson from
office.
1869 – Republicans pushed through congress
the 15th Amendment to protect the voting rights
of African American males.
New Governments in the South

Made up of Scalawags and Carpetbaggers
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Scalawags - southerners who supported
reconstruction
Carpetbaggers – Northerners who moved
south to take advantage of economic rebirth
Freedmen in government

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Nearly 700 African Americans served in
southern governments
16 African Americans were elected to
congress.
Response to Freedom / Economic
Changes

Many freed slaves moved to urban areas in the south.
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Some went west
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Were met with prejudice and low paying jobs
Business owners
Miners
Cowboys
Soldiers
Many new slaves hoped to own land but white southerns
would not sell to them.. why?
Emergence of new farming models

Sharecropping

Tenant farming
Reconstruction Ends
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Discontent with reconstruction
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Liberal Republicans
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People upset the military still needed to control violence in the
south
Many southern governments were ineffective
Discontent with current matters helped democrats regain power
in Congress in 1872
Economic depression in 1873 turns Congress’ attention away
from Reconstruction
Compromise of 1876

Democrat Tilden won the popular election

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Lacked 1 vote to gain the majority
Rutherford B Hayes was given the election in return republicans
would withdraw federal troops from the south.
Effects of Reconstruction