5.10 Reconstruction
Three Big Questions of Reconstruction
1. What do we do with the former Confederates?
2. What do we do with the formerly enslaved people?
3. Who should be in charge of deciding #1 & #2: Congress or the President?
Reconstruction Amendments
The Civil War and Reconstruction resulted in significant political changes in the United States, enhancing the federal government's power over citizens' rights.
The three critical Reconstruction Amendments are:
13th Amendment: Abolished slavery throughout the United States.
14th Amendment: Granted citizenship to African Americans and equal protection under the laws.
15th Amendment: Granted African American men the right to vote.
The women’s rights movement faced setbacks as women were not included in the 14th and 15th Amendments, leading to a division in the movement which previously united black rights advocates and women’s rights advocates.
Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan
Prior to his assassination, President Abraham Lincoln established the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, commonly known as the 10% Plan.
The plan stipulated that:
Full presidential pardons would be granted to most Confederates who agreed to:
Take an oath of allegiance to the Union and the US Constitution.
Accept the emancipation of slaves.
A state government could be reestablished as legitimate if at least 10% of voters in that state took the loyalty oath.
Congress and the Wade-Davis Reconstruction
Many Republicans in Congress opposed Lincoln’s 10% plan, fearing it would enable disloyal secessionists to dominate reconstructed state governments.
In response, Congress passed the Wade-Davis Bill in 1864, which proposed stricter terms for Reconstruction:
Required 50% of the voters of a state to take a loyalty oath.
Allowed only non-Confederates to vote for a new state constitution.
Lincoln exercised a pocket veto on this bill by refusing to sign it before Congress adjourned.
Freedmen's Bureau
Created in March 1865 by Congress, the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (Freedmen’s Bureau) acted as an early welfare agency.
Its main objectives included:
Providing food, shelter, and medical aid for individuals affected by the war, including both freed African Americans and homeless whites.
Success in educational initiatives led to the establishment of nearly 3000 schools for freed blacks, including several colleges, under the leadership of General Oliver Howard.
Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan
Following Lincoln’s assassination, Andrew Johnson, a Southern Democrat who had aligned with Lincoln, became president in 1865.
He initiated a process called Presidential Reconstruction, allowing the South to reenter the Union upon ratifying the 13th Amendment.
Johnson's policies permitted:
States to enact Black Codes which discriminated against freedmen.
Black Codes Overview
Black Codes restricted the rights and movements of former slaves, exhibiting various oppressive measures:
Prohibited blacks from renting land or borrowing money to buy land.
Forced freedmen into semi-bondage under laws designating them as “vagrants” and “apprentices,” requiring them to sign work contracts.
Restricted the legal rights of blacks, such as testifying against whites in court.
Criminalized black unemployment, which resulted in arrests for vagrancy if contracts with white employers were not upheld.
Limited black employment opportunities to low-wage positions like servants or laborers.
Congressional Radical Republican Reconstruction
The Radical Republicans in Congress opposed Johnson's plans, creating a division in Reconstruction strategies.
Congress took steps to override Johnson's vetoes and passed significant legislation, including:
The Civil Rights Act of 1866, declaring all individuals born in the US as citizens entitled to equal rights, repudiating the Dred Scott decision as reinforced by the 14th Amendment.
The Reconstruction Act of 1867, asserting:
Military occupation of the South with the division of former Confederate states into five military districts under Union army control.
Ratification of the 14th Amendment as prerequisite for states seeking readmission.
Constitutional guarantees for voting rights for all adult males, regardless of race.
The Congressional Reconstruction period saw the election of the first black congresspeople, including Blanche K. Bruce & Hiram Revels, who were acclaimed as the first Black US Senators.
Johnson’s Impeachment
Johnson's threat to the Congressional Reconstruction stemmed from his defiance of federal mandates, dismissing officeholders who supported Radical Reconstruction.
The Tenure of Office Act was enacted to limit presidential authority over such appointments, requiring Senate approval for removal.
Johnson's dismissal of the Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, evoked pro-impeachment sentiments in Congress, culminating in his impeachment by the House on February 24.
However, Johnson's trial in the Senate concluded just one vote shy of the two-thirds majority needed for removal from office.
Vocabulary
13th Amendment: Constitutional amendment abolishing slavery throughout the United States.
14th Amendment: Constitutional amendment granting citizenship and equal protection under the laws to formerly enslaved people and other African Americans.
15th Amendment: Constitutional amendment granting African American men the right to vote regardless of race or previous condition of servitude.
Citizenship: Legal and political status signifying belonging to a nation with accompanying rights and responsibilities.
Congress: Legislative branch of the US federal government, comprising the Senate and House of Representatives.
Enslaved People: Individuals held in bondage, forced to labor without freedom or compensation.
Equal Protection Under the Laws: Constitutional guarantee that all citizens receive the same legal protections and treatment.
Federal Government: Central government of the United States with authority over the states.
Moderate Republicans: Republican faction advocating for a less aggressive Reconstruction and greater leniency toward the South.
Presidency: Authority and executive office of the President of the United States.
Race Relations: Dynamics and interactions between different racial groups in society.
Radical Republicans: Republican faction advocating for aggressive federal intervention and essential protections for African American rights during Reconstruction.
Reconstruction: Period from 1865 to 1877 post-Civil War focused on rebuilding the South and integrating formerly enslaved people into society.
Voting Rights: Legal rights of citizens to participate in elections and vote.
Women's Rights Movement: Advocacy for equal rights and opportunities for women, including suffrage and legal protections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Reconstruction, and when did it happen?
What were the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, and what did they accomplish?
Why did Reconstruction ultimately fail despite initial successes?
How did Reconstruction redefine the relationship between state and federal government?
What are the differences between Radical Republicans and Moderate Republicans during Reconstruction?
How did the women’s rights movement respond to the 14th and 15th Amendments?
Explain how Reconstruction granted rights to African Americans but these rights were subsequently rescinded.
What were the short-term successes of Reconstruction vs. long-term failures?
How to craft a DBQ essay evaluating the effectiveness of Reconstruction policies?
What does “reorder race relations in the defeated South” mean in simpler terms?
Why did Northern interest in Reconstruction diminish, leading to less support?
What new political opportunities arose for formerly enslaved people during Reconstruction?
How did Southern resistance work to undermine Reconstruction efforts?
**What were the citizenship debates during Reconstruction, focusing on inclusion and exclusion?