Reconstruction What is Reconstruction? Key Questions 1. How do we bring the South back into the Union? 2. How do we rebuild the South after its destruction during the war? 3. How do we integrate and protect newly- emancipated black freedmen? 4. What branch of government should control the process of Reconstruction? After the Civil War The Civil War was the most costly war in American History in terms of total devastation. At least 618,000 Americans died in the Civil War, and some experts say the toll reached 700,000. These casualties exceed the nation's loss in all its other wars, from the Revolution through Vietnam. Amazing War Losses Lincolns Plan for Reconstruction Lincoln wanted to welcome back the southerners into the Union. Even though Lincoln had freed the slaves, he did not wish to achieve political equality for them. Goal was to bind up the nations wounds He never gets that chance Lincolns Plan Quick and easy 10% Plan (the states never really left the Union) Govt pardon all but high- ranking officials 10% of voters take oath of allegiance HARSH MEDIUM EASY One More Loss: On April 14, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, in Ford's Theatre, while watching the play "Our American Cousin. America mourned the loss of the man who upheld the Union. The funeral was seen my millions. Lincolns Funeral Funeral train across the U.S. following the route of his President-elect tour in days to travel from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Illinois The train itself carried 300 mourners Thousands of mourners viewed the open casket at each stop along the way The Escape: After Booth murdered the President he cried out Sic Semper Tyrannis from the stage, which in Latin means Thus ever for tyrants. Does that saying sound familiar to you? THUS EVER FOR TYRANTS Andrew Johnsons Plan V.P takes over from Lincoln Presidential Reconstruction States have to Withdraw secession Swear allegiance to the U.S. Anul war debts Adopt 13 th amendment HARSH MEDIUM EASY President Johnson: Impeachment Johnsons reconstruction plan is ridiculed by Radical Republicans as being too easy on the former Rebels. Johnson is Impeached and comes one vote from being removed from office. Radical Republicans Plan Congressional Reconstruction Wanted to punish the South for starting the war Iron clad oath 100% Military occupation Attempted to impeach Johnson when he rejected this plan HARSH MEDIUM EASY The Radical Republicans Plan The Republicans, unlike Johnson, wanted to be very hard on the rebellious southern states. They organize the south up into 5 military districts each controlled by a former Civil War General. Freedmans Bureau Assisted former slaves & poor whites Distributed food & cloth Established hospitals and job training facilities The South during Reconstruction Black Codes Discriminatory laws that severely restricted Afr. Americans lives Returned to pre- Civil War society The South during Reconstruction Ku Klux Klan (KKK) Founded as a gentlemans club for Confederate veterans Became a white supremist terrorist organization. Carpetbaggers: Northerners who came south for economic reasons after the Civil War. Land Afr. Amer. Could not own land Tenants rented land Sharecroppers - % of crops were given to landowner, the rest kept by farmer The South during Reconstruction Disenfranchisement of Freedment (taking away the vote) Poll tax pay money in order to vote (most Afr. Amer. could not afford this) Literacy test pass the test to vote Grandfather clause if your grandfather could vote before a certain date then you could too (excluded former slaves) The South during Reconstruction 13 th Amendment Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction 14 th Amendment Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. 15th Amendment Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Amendments to the Constitution 13 th (XIII) ABOLISHED SLAVERY 14 th (XIV) granted citizenship & due process 15 th (XV) granted voting rights Election of 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes (Rep.) v. Samuel Tilden (D) Hayes LOST popular vote but WON electoral vote Compromise of 1877: Rep. wanted to keep the Persidential office so they agreed to remove troops from the South Election of 1876 Compromise of 1877 ENDED RECONSTRUCTION South reverted to pre-Civil War society Freedmen were abandoned to a redeemded SOUTH. LINCOLN PROPOSED HIS PLAN IN 1863: HE OFFERED A PARDON TO ALL SUPPORTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY IF THEY SWORE ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNION AND PLEDGED TO ACCEPT THE END OF SLAVERY. WHEN 10% OF THE MEN ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN 1860 DID THIS THE STATE QUALIFIED FOR REENTRY INTO THE UNION NEW STATE CONSTITUTIONS HAD TO OUTLAW SLAVERY NO PROTECTION FOR FREED AFRICAN- AMERICANS JOHNSON PROPOSED HIS PLAN AFTER LINCOLN WAS ASSASSINATED AND HE ASCENDED TO THE PRESIDENCY AMNESTY TO WHITES WHO SIGNED LOYALTY OATHS STATES MUST ABOLISH SLAVERY STATES MUST PAY WAR DEBTS NO ROLE FOR FREED BLACKS NO VOTE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS RADICAL REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS PROPOSED THEIR PLAN PROMOTED EQUAL RIGHTS FOR FREED AFRICAN AMERICANS MILITARY OCCUPATION OF THE SOUTH TO OVERSEE CHANGES VOTING RIGHTS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES 13 TH, 14 TH, 15 TH AMENDMENTS THREE PLANS FOR RECONSTRUCTION Civil War and Reconstruction Linksconstruction_of_the_south/pages/resources. htmlhttp://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/re construction_of_the_south/pages/resources. html