Presidential
Reconstruction
Andrew Johnson's presidency
Johnson's background
Johnson was a very open racist and a southern slave owner who
also hated southern planters and was a self made man
Opposers of Johnson considered him a tactless man
Johnson was a senator for Tennessee before the Civil War
who heavily opposed secession
Hated by the south for opposing secession, Johnson left the
south after Tennessee's secession out of fear for his life
Johnson takes office
Following Lincoln's assassination, Democratic Vice President
Andrew Johnson becomes the 17th president of the United
States
Congress hasn't reformed since the Civil War, almost a year
without them
Johnson's policy
Johnson took a very laissez-faire approach during his
presidency
He believed that states should be sovereign with limited
federal government
Sympathetic for the South
Johnson's plan
Pardons would be granted to southerners if they pledge their
loyalty to the Union and if they didn't own land in value excess of
$20,000
A state must abolish slavery and repeal secession before
rejoining the Union
New states could hold Constitutional Conventions without
Lincoln's 10% plan
The South had to accept their Civil War debt before returning
Putting his plan in action
Johnson was very sympathetic to the South, makes the North initially
happy, but when Congress forms again they start to dislike him
Reasoned that the South never technically seceded and should be
easily readmitted to the Union
Granted pardons to almost anybody with the exception of Southern
officials who received "special presidential pardons"
Nothing really special about it, just pardons for Southerners of
prominence or criminals during the Civil War
Abolishment and repealing secession
The 13th amendment was already set in place before
Johnson's presidency
Johnson was extremely against the 14th amendment and
vetoed it initially. Finally Republicans in Congress overruled
Johnson and it was then ratified
Johnson is now forcing all Southern states to ratify the 13th
and 14th amendment and repeal secession in order to rejoin
the Union
Southern conventions
Southern states would hold a vote to determine who their
government officials would be to reform their state and
Lincoln's 10% plan didn't matter.
Southern war debts
The southern states must accept their war debts in order to
return to the Union
The South must also repay war debts to the Union
Northern reaction
Northerners were very pleased with Johnson and how he
handled the South after the Civil War at first
Northerners then realize how easy he was being on the South
and saw him as too soft on the South and Reconstruction
couldn't be done with Johnson being so laid back
Southern reaction
Expected to get the worst treatment from Johnson possible
after their treatment of the former Tennessee Senator
Surprisingly Johnson did the opposite and treated the South
with sympathy
South very grateful for it and supported him for the most part
but still acting out
How Congress saw Johnson
Johnson and Congress disagreed on everything
Congress was primarily ruled by moderate and radical
Republicans who obviously opposed Johnson's Democratic
views
Determined to take down Johnson, Congress overruled all his
vetoes which disallowed Johnson to have a say in anything
End of Presidential Reconstruction
Republicans only gain more power in Congress rendering
Johnson ineffective
Reconstruction Acts are passed by Congress marking the
end of this era leaving Johnson humiliated by Republicans
Sources
encyclopedia.com
whitehouse.gov
authentichistory.com
presidentprofiles.com
sparknotes.com
education-portal.com
infoplease.com