i knew we had to fix the south!. and i actually started trying to “fix” the south while the war...
TRANSCRIPT
I knew we had to fix the south!
And I actually started trying
to “fix” the South while the
war was still going on…
And something had to be done with them!
Many of them marched with the Union lines and
followed the Union army
But many ex-slaves did not believe they could truly be free until they were off the plantation
Thousands of free blacks migrated all across the nation (North, South and West) trying to track down missing family
Food
Education
Clothing
General protection and assistance to ex-slaves
Dealing With Former Slaves
‑ Joined Union lines
‑ Followed Union armies
‑ Paid to work on plantations now under the control of Union Army
‑ Many believed the only way to be free was to leave the plantations (even if they were paid)
‑ Some sought out relatives they lost touch with under the slave system
‑ The Freedmen’s Bureau
‑ Created by Congress in March of 1865
‑ Supposed to provide food, clothing, and education as well as look out for the general interests of recently freed slaves
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The first thing we had to do was establish a uniform policy for
restoring loyal governments!
Clearly, we could not leave rebels in charge!
But…we need to also make sure the
Southerners feel welcomed back…
‑ The Restoration of Loyal Governments
‑ By 1863 several large portions of seceded states were under Union military control
‑ Lincoln set forth a policy of re‑establishing governments in those states
‑ Goal was to welcome back the South and mend the wounds of war
We didn’t get around to taking the loyalty oath yet…but we can still
participate in the government right?
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But the Radical Republicans in Congress
refused to recognize those government dude
Bummer Dude!
Total Bummer!
‑ The 10% Plan (Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan)
‑ Any southerners, other than high ranking Confederate officials, could take an oath of loyalty to the Union and acceptance of the end of slavery
‑ When the number of men who had taken this oath reached 10% of the registered voters in 1860 a loyal government could be formed
‑ Only those who swore the oath could vote or participate in the newly formed governments
‑ Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana met the requirements and formed loyal governments
‑ Congress (Radical Republicans) refused to recognize their governments
Lincoln is a big softie… we need to punish the
South for their transgressions… not welcome them back!
We also need to restructure Southern
society…make the South more like us!
We also need to increase Republican power in the South…
Wait a minute guys… this sounds like you
basically want to dominate the South…
EXACTLY
Lincoln is such an idiot…
No kidding…
‑ Persistent conflict between Congress and Lincoln over control of reconstruction
‑ Radical Republicans - Lincoln’s opposition
‑ Dominated Congress
‑ Goals- Punish the South
- Restructure Southern society
- Increase Republican power in the South
The Wade-Davis Bill rocks…unless you are a Southerner!
Yes…muahahah!
Charles Sumner (Leader of the Radical Republicans)
Those men had to swear not only that they were
currently loyal, but that they had
always been loyal!
That isn’t even possible…
Unless you give blacks the vote… and pretend they
could vote in 1860
Charles Sumner (Leader of the Radical Republicans)
EXACTLY!
Now you get the idea!
The stress of the war impacted Lincoln significantly. He aged a great deal over the four years.
1861 and 1865
Then, Lincoln was assassinated on April 14th, 1865 by John Wilkes Booth
‑Wade‑Davis Bill (1864)
‑ More than 50% of registered voters (as of 1860) must swear “ironclad” oath of loyalty saying they were now loyal and had never been disloyal
‑ Not possible
- Blacks would have to be given the vote to reach 50%
‑ Supported by Republicans
‑ Feared by Southerners
‑ Pocket vetoed by Lincoln