Reconstruction 

**Reconstruction**

Two Kinds of Reconstruction Philosophies-Congressional

 

•     Radical Republican Congressional leaders thought that they had the right to oversee the Reconstruction period in the South

•     Congressional leaders believed this since they considered the Southern states to be "conquered provinces," which Congress controls

Two Kinds of Reconstruction Philosophies-Presidential\*\*

 

•     Lincoln ignored the Radical ideas, arguing that secession was not legally possible,

Lincoln's Two-Part Plan

 

•     Presented Dec. 1863

•     Pardons for all Southerners (with two types of exceptions) who would swear allegiance to the U.S.

•     A "10% Plan" dependent upon the oaths of 1860 voters

The Wade-Davis Bill

 

•     Introduced in July 1864

•     Required a majority of white male citizens had to take a loyalty oath

•     The Bill also denied ex-Confederate officeholders and military personnel the opportunity to vote

•     Bill was pocket vetoed by Lincoln; he was criticized for "dictatorial powers" by his opponents

Johnson carries on

 

•     After Lincoln's death, Johnson attempted to continue Lincoln's plans while Congress was not in session.

•     Amnesty was given to most former Confederates willing to take a loyalty oath

•     Provisional governments were allowed to form

Johnson's still carrying on

 

•     Loyal whites were allowed to form new state constitutions and elect new state legislatures

•     The legislatures were required to:

○  Repeal ordinances of secession

○  Repudiate Confederate state debts

○  Ratify the 13th Amendment

Thanks, Andy!

 

•     The southern states quickly complied, taking advantage of the leniency.

•     Johnson promised to remove federal troops and respect the Southern people elected to office.

•     Congressional Republicans were outraged

The "New South" ?

 

•     Elected and sent to Congress in 1866 were ten Confederate generals, six Confederate cabinet officers, fifty-eight Confederate Congressmen, and former Confederate vice-president Stephens.

•     "Black Codes" were enacted throughout the South to keep African-Americans "in their place."

Examples of Black Codes-Ala., Miss., Florida

 

•     Blacks were banned from bearing firearms, consuming alcohol, marrying whites, traveling without identification, and congregating in public after dark.

•     Unemployed males over eighteen could be fined and jailed vagrancy.