Main Idea Questions
1. What major challenges did the North face after the Civil War in reconstructing the South?
2. How did Reconstruction policies change over time?
3. What impact did Reconstruction have on blacks in the South.
4. What political or economical factors led to the end of Reconstruction?
2. How did Reconstruction policies change over time?
3. What impact did Reconstruction have on blacks in the South.
4. What political or economical factors led to the end of Reconstruction?
Terms
- Reconstruction -
- Lincoln’s Plan -
- Radical Republicans -
- The Freedmen’s Bureau -
- St. Helena Island -
- Johnson’s Plan -
- Black Codes -
- Convict Lease -
- 14th Amendment -
- Military Reconstruction Act -
- Command of the Army Act -
- Tenure of Office Act -
- 15th Amendment -
- Black Churches -
- Sharecropping -
- Carpetbaggers -
- Ku Klux Klan -
- Election of 1868 -
- Greenbacks -
- Panic of 1873 -
- Election of 1877 -
Reconstruction
Reconstruction was the post Civil War plan to bring the South back into the Union. Different government groups and political parties had different ideas on how that should be done. The main question being, how much should the South be punished for starting and fighting the Civil War? Lincoln began preparing for Reconstruction after the victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg. Lincoln believed that the Southern states had never officially left the Union because they had no legal right to leave. Therefore he saw the Civil War as a rebellion and NOT a revolution for an independent country. Lincoln's plan for Reconstruction was based on forgiveness. He issued the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction in 1863, his intention to reunite the United States. He wanted to create the Ten-Percent Plan which said that a former Confederate state could reenter the Union once 10 percent of its citizens swore an oath of allegiance to the Union.
Voters would then elect delegates to build new state constitutions and new state governments. All former Confederates except high-ranking Confederate army officers and government officials would be granted a full pardon. He said he would guarantee Southerners that he would protect their private property, though not their slaves. Most moderate Republicans supported his plan because they wanted a quick end to the war. Lincoln's plan was lenient because he wanted to convince the South to quit the war.
Voters would then elect delegates to build new state constitutions and new state governments. All former Confederates except high-ranking Confederate army officers and government officials would be granted a full pardon. He said he would guarantee Southerners that he would protect their private property, though not their slaves. Most moderate Republicans supported his plan because they wanted a quick end to the war. Lincoln's plan was lenient because he wanted to convince the South to quit the war.
Radical Republicans wanted to punish the South, they believed that Lincoln's plan was not harsh enough. They hoped to control the Reconstruction process and transform Southern society by first disbanding the rich planter aristocracy, redistribute land, develop industry, and guarantee civil liberties to former slaves. Radical Republicans were led in the house by Thaddeus Stephens and in the Senate by Charles Sumner. They were well known for the opposition of slavery. They were critical of any plans made by Lincoln or his vice president, Andrew Johnson. Radical Republicans believed that the reason for fighting the war was to end slavery, moderates believed it was to reunite the country.
The Radical Republicans created the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which they believed would make it easier to enforce the 13th Amendment passed a year before that ended slavery. This was an attempt to protect the civil rights of blacks and grant them equal protection under the law. In 1867, they were successful in getting the 14th Amendment passed which granted citizenship to blacks. After Lincoln's death Radical Republicans controlled Congress. They deployed military troops to the South to maintain order and to protect the rights of blacks. They also passed the 15th Amendment which granted Blacks the right to vote.
The Radical Republicans created the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which they believed would make it easier to enforce the 13th Amendment passed a year before that ended slavery. This was an attempt to protect the civil rights of blacks and grant them equal protection under the law. In 1867, they were successful in getting the 14th Amendment passed which granted citizenship to blacks. After Lincoln's death Radical Republicans controlled Congress. They deployed military troops to the South to maintain order and to protect the rights of blacks. They also passed the 15th Amendment which granted Blacks the right to vote.
Freedmen's Bureau
Established in 1865 by the Radical Republicans, provided food, housing and medical aid, established schools, and offered legal assistance. It also attempted to settle former slaves on land confiscated from former Confederates.
St. Helena Island in South Carolina was captured by Union soldiers in 1863, it was used as sort of an experiment for Reconstruction because former slaves were given land once owned by slave owners who had fled when Union soldiers arrived. Organizers, mostly Quakers, tried to start schools for former slaves and teach them how to be competitive in the world of free labor. It also created the first school to train black teachers. Many from the North wanted to take away the island from the blacks and begin growing cotton again for export.
St. Helena Island in South Carolina was captured by Union soldiers in 1863, it was used as sort of an experiment for Reconstruction because former slaves were given land once owned by slave owners who had fled when Union soldiers arrived. Organizers, mostly Quakers, tried to start schools for former slaves and teach them how to be competitive in the world of free labor. It also created the first school to train black teachers. Many from the North wanted to take away the island from the blacks and begin growing cotton again for export.
President Andrew Johnson's Plan for Reconstruction
President Johnson's Plan left most of Reconstruction in the hands of the Southern states. His plan was called Presidential Restoration, because he believed the main aim of the war had been to preserve the Union. Confederates were to petition to the president directly for a pardon. In 1868 he issued a blanket pardon for former Confederates, including Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
Back to Radical Reconstruction - The First Military Reconstruction Act divided the ex-Confederate states into military districts and placed them under martial law with Union Generals governing them. Barred ex-Confederates from voting because they had "committed treason." Protected the voting rights and physical safety of African-Americans exercising their rights as citizens of the U.S.
Command of the Army Act - All orders for the military from the President had to go through the commander of the Union army before it was carried out. Also, the commander of the army could not leave Washington DC without Senate approval. This was done by the Radical Republicans to limit the presidents power.
Tenure of Service Act - The president may not remove government officials without senate approval. This was another step by the Radical Republicans to limit the power of the president. The Radical Republicans were wrangling power away from the President. In August 1867 Congress was out of session and President Johnson used this opportunity to remove a cabinet member, when the Congress returned, they denied the president's request. Congress said that Johnson violated the Tenure of Service Act and used that as the excuse they needed to impeach him. The House impeached him, but the Senate failed by one vote to convict him so he was able to finish his term.
Black Churches - After the Civil War the church became a central organizing center for African-Americans - especially with education and economic help. Many northern aid went to black churches in the South to distribute the items needed. This Northern help made them targets for racial violence because Southern churches resented the assistance black churches received from the North.
One of the most well known reactions to Reconstruction was the formation of vigilante groups, such as the most well known group, the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan was organized in December 1865 by six former Confederate soldiers led by Nathan Bedford Forrest, in Pulaski, Tennessee. This organization was formed as a group to fight back against Republican rule in the South and the changes that Reconstruction brought with it. It was essentially a militaristic Democratic organization that used intimidation and fear to achieve their goals.
Southeast Missouri Ku Klux Klan - https://www.stoddardcountyhistory.com/reconstruction-era.html