12.1The Politics of Reconstruction

Objectives:1.Summarize President Lincoln’s Reconstruction policies2.Identify differences between presidential and congressional Reconstruction policies.3.Summarize reasons for President Johnson’s impeachment.4.Plot the steps taken by Congress to protect the rights of former slaves.

CONTEXT

WHAT TASKS FACE THE NATION AFTER THE CIVIL WAR ENDS?

1. How should the devastated South be rebuilt?

2. What would be the place/role of the freedmen?

3. How will the conquered states be re-admitted to the Union?

4. Who will direct/control reconstruction?5. How could Reconstruction have been

done better?ALSO…A. How will Southern leaders/traitors be

treated?B. What economic system will replace

slavery?

RECONSTRUCTION

•When was Reconstruction?▫After the Civil War

•What is being re-constructed?▫The South

•How long did it last?▫1865-1877

•Who did the “constructing”?▫The North

•Did it work?

RECONSTRUCTION PLANSLINCOLN’S 1863 PLAN:

• 10% of 1860 voters must swear allegiance to Union

• Pledge to abide by emancipation

• Focused on pardon of individuals by President

WADE-DAVIS BILL, 1864:

• 50% of 1860 voters must swear allegiance to Union

• STRONG safeguards for emancipation

• Focused on pardon of states by Congress

* Pocket-vetoed by Lincoln, exposed split b/w Moderate and Radical Republicans

Taking the Oath of AllegianceThese white southerners are shown taking the oath of allegiance to the United States in 1865 as part of the process of restoring civil government in the South. The Union soldiers and officers are administering the oath. (Library of Congress)

Taking the Oath of Allegiance

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RADICAL REPUBLICANS

Charles Sumner (left), Senator from Massachusetts, and Thaddeus Stevens, (right), Congressman from Pennsylvania, led the Radical Republican faction in Congress. (Portraits from Library of Congress)

Charles Sumner

What is a Radical Republican?

What were the Radical Republicans worried about?

•Southern States, with more new seats in Congress, would control the Federal govt. and halt Reconstruction.

•WHY DID THE SOUTH HAVE MORE POWER NOW?

•Freedmen counted FULLY, no longer 3/5.

Portrait of Andrew Johnson(Library of Congress)

Pres. Andrew JohnsonWHO WAS HE?

• VP to Lincoln in 1864 to attract pro-Union Democrats to Union Party

• Humble origins, self-educated, self-made man

• From Tennessee, slave-owner

• Pro-Union, appointed war time governor

• Pro states’ rights

JOHNSON’S RECONSTRUCTION PLAN (1865):

HOW WAS IT DIFFERENT FROM CONGRESS’ PLAN?

• Called “Presidential Reconstruction”

• Same as 10% plan of Lincoln, BUT

• Disenfranchised leading Confederates and Planter class ($20,000 property or more)

• Special State Convention to repeal secession laws, repudiate Confederate debts, ratify 13th amendment

*Johnson granted many pardons-enraging Radical Reps.

THE FREEDMEN•Freedmen’s Bureau (lasted from 1865-

1872)

What was the job of the Freedmen’s Bureau?- distribute food and clothing- help house- help educate- help train for independence

Why did Pres. Johnson veto the Freedmen’s Bureau?

King AndrewThis Thomas Nast cartoon, published in Harper's Weekly just before the 1866 congressional elections, conveyed Republican antipathy to Andrew Johnson. The president is depicted as an autocratic tyrant. Radical Republican Thaddeus Stevens, upper right, has his head on the block and is about to lose it. The Republic sits in chains. (Harper's Weekly, 1866)

King Andrew

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REPUBLICAN CONGRESS VS. “ANDY VETO”

• South returns “whitewashed rebels” to Congress

• Republicans close Congress to “rebels” Dec. 4, 1865

• Johnson recognizes Southern states Dec. 6, 1865

• Johnson vetoes extension of Freedmen’s Bureau

• Johnson vetoes Civil Rights Bill of 1866

• Republicans pass 14th Amendment – DOES NOT GRANT RIGHT TO VOTE TO FREEDMEN!!!

• Johnson defeated in 1866 Congressional Elections▫ How could a President be “defeated” in a Congressional

election?

Congressional Reconstruction/ Military Reconstruction: 1867-1877

1867-1869:• South divided into 5 military districts•Disenfranchised former Confederates

• Req. South to ratify 14th Amendment• Req. South to guarantee full suffrage to Freedmen

1870-1877:• Fifteenth Amendment passed to ensure suffrage• Federal troops enforce Reconstruction until

1877

Map: The Reconstruction

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Johnson Impeached

•1867: Congress passes “Tenure of Office Act”

• Johnson fires Sec. Of War Stanton, a Radical sympathizer in the Administration

•House of Reps votes 126 to 47 to impeach

•Senate fails to remove from office by ONE vote

NOTE: Vice Presidency still vacant – many fear Ben Wade as President, despite dislike of Johnson

Distinguished Colored MenThis lithograph from 1883 depicts prominent African American men, several of whom had leading roles in Black Reconstruction. (Library of Congress)

Distinguished Colored Men

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Grant Administration

•Grant (Republican) wins 214 electoral votes to Seymour’s (Democrat) 80

•NOTE: Grant only wins popular vote by 300,000

SIGNIFICANCE: The approx. 500,000 to 700,000 Freedmen’s votes swing election to Grant.

TERMS• Andrew Johnson• Reconstruction• Radical Republicans• Thaddeus Stevens• Wade-Davis Bill• Freedmen’s Bureau• Black codes• Fourteenth Amendment• Fifteenth Amendment

•Objectives:1.Summarize President Lincoln’s Reconstruction policies

2.Identify differences between presidential and congressional Reconstruction policies.

3.Summarize reasons for President Johnson’s impeachment.

4.Plot the steps taken by Congress to protect the rights of former slaves.