#6 AIM:                                   What was Reconstruction?

  Reconstruction: Period of time in US history, from the end of the Civil War to 1877, when the South was to be rebuilt & readmitted into the Union.

 Freedman’s Bureau: Federal agency created by Congress to help the newly freed slaves & poor whites. The bureau set up schools, hospitals, & provided food & clothing.

            Lincoln wanted to forgive the South & quickly welcome them back into the Union. His plan for reunification was called the Ten Percent Plan, because it provided for easy readmission to the Union when the former Confederate states ratified the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, and when 10% of the voters pledged their loyalty to the Union. However with Lincoln’s assassination, by a southerner, the new President Andrew Johnson, was not able to carry out Lincoln’ 10% Plan. In addition Congress who was already upset with the South now wanted even more revenge because of Lincoln’s death!

            The US Congress was very upset with the South. The South was blamed for starting the war and appeared to be unrepentant for their war efforts. Moreover some Southern states refused to ratify the 13th amendment, elected the same officials who had served in Congress before the war & most importantly began passing laws, which became known as black codes which severely restricted the rights of the Freedmen, most importantly their right to _________.

            These actions of the former Confederate states angered many members of Congress, and a Republican group in Congress, which became known as the Radical Republicans, wanted to severely punish the South over Pres. Johnson’s objections.

            Congress proposed the 14th Amendment, which guaranteed that blacks & all others born in the US were automatically US citizens. Ratification of the 14th Amendment became a requirement for readmission into the Union. Congress proposed the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, which would have placed harsh penalties on the South, but the act was vetoed by the President. Congress was so upset with Johnson’s action that they overrode his veto and the Reconstruction Act was passed.

                                   

                                                RECONSTRUCTION ACT:

A.     The South was divided into 5 military districts controlled by the army.

B.     Members of the Confederate govt. & officers in the Confederate were not permitted to vote. As a protest to this many other whites refused to vote, which meant that blacks became the majority voters. Many blacks were elected to Congress & state offices.

C.     The southern states must rewrite their constitutions & permit blacks to vote.

D.     They must ratify the 14th Amendment, & those states that refused to ratify it were dismissed.

Congress, by refusing to permit former Confederate officials from voting was ignoring the Constitution, which guaranteed male citizens the right to vote. In addition the Republicans hoped that the newly freed slaves would vote for the Republicans who championed their cause in Congress. In response the South began to vote for the Democratic Party which became a southern stronghold until the 1960’s when the Democratic Party began to be the champion of the Civil Rights movement.

            Pres. Johnson & Congress continued to quarrel until Congress decided to impeach the President, though he had done nothing other then disagree with the actions of Congress. By only one vote did Johnson remain in office & was not forced to leave.

 

 

            HOMEWORK: Read pgs. 540 – 544. Do pg. 537 ques 3B, 4 evaluating & pg. 550 ques. 3 & 4. Do pg. 540 T & N # 1 – 4.