Reconstruction Era Study Notes

Reconstruction Era Overview

  • Period: 1865-1877

  • Focus on reunification of the US after Civil War and addressing rights of freed Black individuals.

Key Events

  • April 11, 1865: Lincoln proposes voting rights for some Black individuals.

  • Lincoln's Assassination: Occurs three days later, shifting Reconstruction to Andrew Johnson.

  • Johnson's Reconstruction Plans (May 1865):

    • Emphasized strong unionism and states' rights.

    • No federal regulation on voting or states' issues.

    • Return of confiscated land to prewar owners.

    • Southern states to:

    • Abolish slavery (13th Amendment)

    • Swear loyalty to Union

    • Pay war debts.

    • High autonomy for rebuilding governments.

Freedmen’s Bureau

  • Established in 1865 to assist formerly enslaved individuals with food, housing, education, and legal support.

Politics of Reconstruction

  • Lincoln and Johnson aimed for a quicker unification post-war.

  • Johnson’s leniency allowed southern states to enact Black Codes to restrict freedmen's rights.

  • Congress responded with the Freedmen’s Bureau and Civil Rights Bills (early 1866) to protect rights of freedmen.

  • Johnson's vetoes caused a permanent rift with Congress.

  • Civil Rights Act became law over presidential veto.

Radical Reconstruction

  • Occurred post-1866 elections favoring Radical Republicans.

  • Reconstruction Act of 1867:

    • Divided South into military districts; required ratification of the 14th Amendment for rejoining Union.

  • 15th Amendment (1870): Guaranteed voting rights regardless of race.

  • Significant African American participation in government; establishment of public schools and anti-discrimination laws.

End of Reconstruction

  • White supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan arose in response to Radical Reconstruction.

  • Federal efforts under Grant (1871) aimed at combating Klan violence; however, white supremacy regained strength.

  • By 1874, the Democratic Party regained control of the House.

Compromise of 1876

  • Resulted from contested presidential election; ended federal support for Reconstruction.

  • Only Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina remained Republican.

  • Marked the end of Reconstruction, but issues around race and equality persisted, impacting civil rights movements years later.