History 2057 Reconstruction part I 1863 1877 The American civil war April 1861 April May 1865 11 states succeed Confederate states of America 24 states remain in the union 620 000 deaths War resulted in economic political and social devastation of white southern males died Half of farm machinery gone 60 decline in wealth between 1860 1870 Why had the war begun Breakdown of political system Questions about the EXPANSION of slavery Should slaves be allowed to move west Debate throughout 1850 s about territories Escalating suspicion and declining compromise Secularization War breaks out in 1861 What did the two sides want Lincoln and the north keep the union intact The south preserve way of life Abolishing slavery NOT an initial goal Support did exist not feasible till 1862 Emancipation proclamation January 1st 1863 Military action but also moral Abraham Lincoln Changes tone of the way As the war goes on two questions become important 1 How do we reunite the north and the south 2 What to do about the legacy of slavery This process is called Reconstruction Refers to the process of reunification and rebuilding the South Also refers to this time period 1863 1877 What to do about the fractured nation Legal questions no constitutional guidance or legal precedent Had states been in rebellion Or had they left and forfeited their rights treated like territories Who would lead the reconstruction Lincoln began process during the war New Orleans captured in spring 1862 Major victory for union Declared parts of state under federal control Federal troops occupy new Orleans Citizens had to swear loyalty to the union to remain or lose property Process tentatively applied to rest of confederacy Lincoln wants quick reconciliation Offers pardons during the war keep land to anyone who comes back to union Quick reconciliation would end war faster Lincoln s ten percent plan 10 of voting population has to swear loyalty Could organize new government Readmitted to union No requirements for former slaves Congress not happy with Lincoln s plan July 1864 congress approves Wade Davis Bill Required half of voters to swear allegiance Barred ex confederates in new government Guaranteed equality before the law to freedmen Lincoln doesn t sign bill Just before death publicly supports limited black suffrage Andrew Johnson will continue Reconstruction plans Andrew Johnson Johnson born in north Carolina in 1808 moved to Tennessee in 1820 s Very poor humble background Rose to politics in Tennessee Democrat sided with union Chosen to be VP in 1864 Symbol of unity Strong dislike of white planter class Not sympathetic to freedman either What will that mean or reconstruction under Johnson Congress in recess until Dec 1865 Tougher than Lincoln s plan Residents had to renounce secession Swear allegiance to union Prominent confederates barred from office States had to ratify 13th amendment No other requirements for freedmen Cautious optimism in north and congress about Johnson Some members of congress wanted more Southerners not happy with it at al Elected prominent confederated to congress Passed Black Codes to maintain slavery like conditions Required blacks showed proof of employment Prevented from owning firearms Barred from jury duty No southern state grants the right to vote Imposed heavy taxes on non agricultural pay smaller designed to keep former slaves on plantations Johnson does little to oppose southern states Congress not nearly as accepting North outraged by Lincoln s assassination southern defiance Moderate and radical republicans unite Passed Civil Rights Act of 1866 Equality under the law backed by federal authority Johnson vetoes act Congress responds with constitution amendment The 14th Amendment passed in July 1866 Required for future admissions Granted citizenship to natural born persons Gave equal protection under the law at the state level Johnson tells southern states to reject it Promises 1866 elections will be favorable Republicans maintain strong majority in congress Northerners still angry about war Legal and constitutional issues not the only problem Escalating violence in the south riots in New Orleans and Memphis Congress radicalizes further In 1867 congressional or radical reconstruction begins Whats the point The issue of slavery was the root cause of the civil war
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