Civil War and Reconstruction

Freedman’s bureau

agency of the army established to assist former slaves in transition to freemen and poor whites

• Gave social services, medical care, and education

• united African Americans

• Accomplishments: distribute food, create schools, minimal land for some, supported impoverished homeless whites

• Opposed by southerners and President Johnson

  • tried to veto—overridden by congress

  • faces a lot of backlash and discrimination from terrorist groups (KKK)

Emancipation proclamation (1863)

an executive order issued by Lincoln that declared all slaves in Confederate states free

• Lincoln believes fed gov did not have right to abolish slavery but the army could as a military action to weaken the south

• freed slaves behind confederate lines not slavery overall

Impact:

• discourages British support (foreign relations)

• Higher moral purpose (freedom of slaves not js preserve Union)

• freed blacks and allowed them to fight for the Union

• Confederacy more determined

• Compromise no longer possible—one must win

Abraham Lincoln

president of the US; won election of 1860 prompting secession of south

• republican—opposed expansion of slavery

• president and leader of Union during CW

• not initially abolitionist—not constitutional to abolish slavery

  • decides army can with emancipation proclamation

• Expanded presidential power (Habeas corpus)

• issued emancipation proclamation and delivered Gettysburg address

• 10% plan: lenient reconstruction post civil war

  • wanted quick peaceful reconciliation and limited punishment for south

  • assassinated before could be fully implemented

Jefferson Davis

president of Confederate states of American during Civil war

• led the South after they seceded from Union

• chose to turn peaceful secession into war—Fort Sumter 1861

• Supported states rights and slavery

  • had the right to secede and defend souths ay of life

• struggled managing South and when it was divided and centralizing authority

• Captured in 1865 and imprisoned for 2 years—never tried for treason

Presidential Reconstruction

• Lincoln assassinated April 15 1865 by John Wilks Booth (avenge south) and VP Andrew Johnson take over (Democrat)

• First phase of presidential reconstruction—Lincoln 10% plan (Wade-Davis Bill)

• Johnson takes over and own Presidential reconstruction

  • states must swear allegiance, annual debts, and ratify 13th amendment

  • did not address voting rights, land and laws for former slaves

• Against rights for African Americans—veto civil rights act, Freedmen’s bureau, reconstruction act 1867—congress overrode

• Black codes emerged under his presidency

• Lenient towards former Confederates

  • pardon for all Confederates who swore allegiance

  • high ranking confederate officials and wealthy planters had to apply for individual pardon which he granted liberally

  • Southern states allowed to reestablish gov if they ratified 13th amendment and denounced secession

• Ended with Johnsons Impeachment

Radical Reconstruction (1867-1877)

when the Radical Republicans in Congress took control of the Reconstruction

• Ex: reconstruction act of 1867, Civil Rights Act of 1866, Constitutional Amendment, Freedmen’s Bureau

• Wade-Davis Bill

• Caused reconstruction come to standstill when refused new southern legislator in congress

Radical republicans

• wanted strict terms for Southern reentry and strong protections for freedmen

  • Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens

  • destroy power of former slaveholders and give full citizenship, suffrage to African Americans

  • Johnson did not agree—vetoed many bills to help Blacks