XXIII CHP. - The Reconstruction Era

23.1 — 23.2

The Start of Rebuilding

After the death and destruction of the Civil War, Americans longed for peace. But what would that look like? Many hoped for a reunified nation, where former adversaries could work together to rebuild the South and reintegrate states back into the Union.

    With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace.

A Theatre Turned Wrong

Five days after the Civil War ended, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, an actor and Confederate sympathizer who held deep animosity towards the Union. Booth shot Lincoln while he was attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. The assassination was part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by Booth and several co-conspirators with the aim of reviving the Confederate cause and destabilizing the newly unified United States. Booth's plan included assassinating other key Union officials, but only Lincoln was successfully targeted.

Lincoln died the following day, sending the nation into profound mourning and uncertainty regarding its future. His leadership had been pivotal during the Civil War, and his death raised fears about the stability of the Reconstruction process. Following Lincoln’s assassination, Vice President Andrew Johnson, a southerner from Tennessee who had remained loyal to the Union, ascended to the presidency.

Johnson, who had opposed secession and was a fervent supporter of the Union's efforts during the Civil War, became the first president to lead the nation during its Reconstruction era. Unlike Lincoln, who had a more conciliatory vision for reintegration, Johnson's approach was characterized by his leniency towards former Confederates. He aimed for a swift restoration of the Southern states without imposing stringent conditions. This stance soon turned controversial, as many in Congress believed he was being too forgiving.

Johnson's responsibility included overseeing the complex process of reintegrating the Southern states that had seceded, which involved addressing the needs of millions of newly freed African Americans. However, Congress was divided over how to handle Reconstruction, leading to significant political conflict and tension. Many Radical Republicans felt that a lenient approach would allow former Confederates to regain power and undermine the progress made towards equality. This conflict would ultimately set the stage for a tumultuous Reconstruction period, marked by struggles between Johnson and Congress over civil rights, governance, and the future of the Southern states.

Johnson’s presidency faced intense scrutiny as his policies and actions were challenged, shaping the ideological battles over civil rights and governance that would last for generations.

The Clash of Belief and Foresight

Johnson’s policies ultimately contributed to clashes that would shape the political landscape for years to come, as the nation grappled with issues related to civil rights and the integration of formerly enslaved individuals into society.

Many Republicans in Congress believed that strong measures were necessary to settle the Confederates. They felt that the South required civil, economic, and unifying corrections.

A Start to Something New

In May of 1865, President Andrew Johnson announced his Reconstruction plan, which aimed to facilitate the reintegration of the Southern states back into the Union after the Civil War. Under this plan, a formerly Confederate state could join the Union once it drafted and ratified a new state constitution. This constitution had to include provisions that abolished slavery, ensuring adherence to the 13th Amendment, which had been passed in January of that year. Johnson's approach was notably lenient compared to what many Republicans in Congress wanted, as they were advocating for stronger measures to ensure civil rights and economic opportunities for formerly enslaved individuals.

The Cost of Forced Independency

Johnson's plan required states to declare their secession null and void and to repudiate any debts incurred during the Confederacy. However, it allowed for significant local autonomy and did not impose strict federal oversight, which led to tensions between Johnson and the Radical Republicans in Congress. They felt that without rigorous enforcement of civil rights protections and the need for military oversight, former Confederates could regain control and undermine the progress made towards equality. This leniency would contribute to political conflict during Reconstruction and shape the future social and political landscape of the Southern states, as many white Southerners resisted the changes brought about by the war and sought to maintain their pre-war social orders.

Freedmen’s Bureau

Enter the Freedmen’s Bureau, an organized attempt to assist formerly enslaved Black Americans following the Civil War. Established in March 1865, the Bureau was intended to provide a range of services to help integrate freed slaves into society and address the challenges they faced after emancipation.

1. The Purposes and Functions
   The Freedmen’s Bureau aimed to provide food, housing, education, and medical care to millions of former slaves. It also facilitated employment contracts between freedmen and planters, ensuring fair wages and working conditions. The Bureau played a vital role in setting up schools for African Americans, significantly contributing to a literacy rate increase among the Black population in the South.

2. The Challenges Faced
   The Bureau faced immense challenges, including insufficient funding and manpower, which hampered its ability to meet the overwhelming needs of freedmen.
       Additionally, local white populations often resisted the Bureau’s efforts, viewing its work as a challenge to their authority and social order.
   Acts of violence and intimidation against Bureau agents and freedmen became common, as many Southern whites sought to maintain white supremacy and the status quo.

3. The Freedmen’s Bureau’s Impact and Legacy
   Despite these challenges, the Freedmen’s Bureau made significant strides in helping African Americans transition from slavery to freedom. It left a legacy of educational institutions and legal frameworks that would aid the civil rights movement in the decades to come.

23.3 — 23.4

In 1866, a group called the Radical Republicans surfaced, led by Thaddeus Stevens of the HOR and Charles Sumner of the Senate. They joined with people of moderation, allowing them to pass two acts—the resurface of the Freedmen’s Bureau. However, President Johnson announced these two laws as brutally unconstitutional, and decided that he would fire an official … protected via the Tenure of Office Act.

Breaking this Act, the House of Representatives responded to this action [a violation of the law] … by voting to impeach, or remove, the President from office. During this trial in the Senate, he escaped impeachment by only one vote.

During Reconstruction, many Black men were elected to the House of Representatives and the Senate. It would be more than 100 years before another Black senator would be elected to office.

The Freedmen’s Bureau was then dismantled by the late 1870s due to political shifts and the withdrawal of federal support. Its dissolution marked a turning point, leading to the resurgence of discriminatory practices and the establishment of Jim Crow laws in the South, further complicating the quest for equality and civil rights.