Reconstruction and the South
Lincoln’s Assassination:
• Friday, April 14th, 1865.
• Lincoln shot by John Wilkes Booth in back of the
head.
• Booth said; “sic semper tyrannis” (The South
shall live)
• Booth caught 12 days later near a barn in
Maryland and shot.
• Conspiracy plot involving 8 others and attacks or
planned attack on other cabinet members of
Lincoln’s was revealed.
Ford Theatre
Lincoln’s funeral procession:
Funeral Train route…
Consequences of the Civil War
• The nation as a whole is viewed as more
important than individual states.
• The Federal Government expanded.
• Tremendous growth in industry.
• The South needed to be rebuilt physically,
politically, and emotionally.
-railroads, bridges, etc… needed to be fixed.
-slaves were now, “freemen”.
-disease, hunger, grief.
Find evidence to support each statement
1. Lincoln supported a Reconstruction plan based
on amnesty and forgiveness.
1. Andrew Johnson proved to be a difficult
president for Congress to work with.
1. Republicans in Congress disagreed on the
approach and execution of Reconstruction.
The Black Codes:
• Legislation in southern states that aimed to
restrain black freedom.
examples:
-could not bear arms
-forced labor contracts
-restrictions on type of
employment
These codes varied state to state.
They also can be seen as attempts to circumvent
the 13th amendment.
Effects of the Black Codes:
1. Congress passed a bill expanding the
Freedmen’s Bureau.
-Johnson vetoed it.
2. Congress passed a Civil Rights Act, assisting in
the enforcement of the 13th amendment.
-Johnson vetoed it.
Continued…
• These were considered Radical reforms.
• Johnson was stubborn, and also did not want
to alienate his Southern ties politically.
• However his vetoes only pushed more
moderates toward the radical cause.
• END RESULT: April 9, 1866: 2/3 majority in
Congress overides Johnson’s veto. First time
in U.S. history when this happened for a major
piece of legislation.
Andrew Johnson,
Kicking the
Freedman’s Bureau
Johnson’s vetoes and impeachment:
• Johnson defended his vetoes on constitutional
grounds; however, his personal beliefs regarding
slavery (such as that the true evil of slavery was the
harm it did to poor whites, not to enslaved blacks)
were the true basis for his vetoes.
• Congress then moved to limit Johnson’s power
through the Tenure of Office Act, which required that
Johnson obtain the consent of the Senate before
removing any appointed official that the Senate had
previously approved.
• Johnson disobeys by firing Edwin Stanton, is
impeached.
Radical Reconstruction
• Moderate and radical republicans now united
against Johnson.
• U.S. Grant (Republican) easily wins election of
1868
THOUGHT ON RADICAL
RECONSTRUCTION…
“In order to ensure new freedoms for all men, it
may be necessary to restrain old freedoms for
some men.”
Radical Reconstruction legislation:
• 14th Amendment:
- clearly defined citizenship to
include freedmen.
-attempted to prevent discriminatory
legislation.
-reduced a state’s congressional
representation if it denied black vote.
-barred Confederate officials to hold
office (unless gain a 2/3 congressional
majority)
-renounced Confederate debt.
Continued…
• Reconstruction Acts
-broke the former Confederacy into 5
military districts to enforce new laws.
-required military to register voters and
supervise election process.
-dealt with the creation of new state
constitutions in the South.
Continued…
• 15TH Amendment
-forbade states to deny anyone the
right to vote “on account of race,
color, or previous condition of
servitude.”
*U.S. Grant, the now president applauded the
new amendment.
What made these so radical?
• 14th amendment
• 15th amendment
• Reconstruction Acts
Problems with Radical Reconstruction
• Still no common view of racial equality, even
in the North.
• Many Northern states (including PA) rejected
bills that would have granted black voting
rights from 1865-1868.
• Radicals were calling for “extra” rights for
freedmen in the form of protection by the
federal government to ensure adherence to
laws.
THOUGHT ON RADICAL
RECONSTRUCTION…
“In order to ensure new freedoms for all men, it
may be necessary to restrain old freedoms for
some men.”