The Unfinished Nation A Concise History of the American People Volume 2 Chapter 15 Reconstruction and the New South One of the few periods in American History that created the most bitterness and controversy Following the Civil War the White Southerners and the White Northerners were in constant disagreement about the reconstruction of the South The Blacks looked at it as a way to secure civil rights and economic power for former slaves Reconstruction did help the Blacks set some important legal precedents that helped them survive well into the 20th century but still had a long way to go Over 258 000 Confederate Soldiers died thousand were injured and sick with Gangrene Over 3 5 million Free Slaves were in search of a new life in freedom Most had nowhere to go and only owned the clothes on their backs THE PROBLEMS OF PEACEMAKING THE AFTERMATH OF WAR AND EMANCIPATION After the Civil War the South was completely destroyed Towns were destroyed Plantations burned Farms destroyed Bridges Railroads destroyed No Banking System White Southerners stripped of their slaves and property Definition of FREEDOM for Blacks Land Ownership Established Black Churches Created Black Clubs Societies Started Black Schools COMPETING NOTIONS OF FREEDOM Definition of FREEDOM for White Southerners Ability to create their own destiny w o interference from the North or Federal Gov t Ability to preserve White Supremacy March 1865 the Freedmen s Bureau was a Federal Army created by Gen Oliver O Howard to distribute food to the millions of former slaves help establish schools attempted to settle Blacks on land of their own 1 P a g e The Unfinished Nation A Concise History of the American People Volume 2 PLANS FOR RECONSTRUCTION Republicans a k a Abolitionist against Slavery The Radicals were created by Rep Thaddeus Stevens of PA and Sen Charles Sumner of MA wanted to disenfranchise Southern Whites protect Black Civil Rights confiscate land from wealthy whites and give to the freedmen Abraham Lincoln announced his Reconstruction Plan in December 1863 which offered Amnesty to White Southerners except high officials of the Confederacy High Confederate Officials had to pledge an oath of loyalty to the government and accept the abolition of slavery Only 3 States agreed to this plan in 1864 Louisiana Arkansas and Tennessee The Radicals disagreed with this Plan and refused to allow representatives into Congress from these 3 States The Radicals proposed a new plan the Wade Davis Bill which Abraham Lincoln later vetoed Called for the President to appoint a provisional Governor for each state Abolish Slavery Disenfranchise Confederate Civil Military leaders Wipe out debts accumulated during the War Left the political rights of Blacks up to the States Then Congress would readmit the States to the Union THE DEATH OF LINCOLN Abraham Lincoln was assassinated April 14 1865 by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at the Ford Theater in Washington John Wilkes Booth escaped on horseback but was later caught and shot to death on April 26 1865 8 others were convicted in the conspiracy 4 were hung JOHNSON AND RESTORATION Abraham Lincoln s successor Andrew Johnson a Democrat from Tennessee Under the Andrew Johnson Restoration Plan Invited voters to elect delegates for the Constitutional Convention Amnesty to White Southerners Appointed a provisional Governor for each State Abolish Slavery Consent to the 13th Amendment Wipe out debts accumulated during the War 2 P a g e The Unfinished Nation A Concise History of the American People Volume 2 RADICAL RECONSTRUCTION THE BLACK CODES The Black Codes were created in the South between 1865 66 confront unemployed Blacks fine Blacks for vagrancy wandering Blacks could not own or lease farms Could only work as a plantation worker or domestic servant Slave Jobs In response Congress expanded the powers of the Freedmen s Bureau April 1866 Congress passed the 1st Civil Rights Act which declared Blacks to be U S Citizens Andrew Johnson vetoed both bills THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT April 1866 the 14th Amendment was proposed Congress approved it 14th Amendment offered the first definition of American Citizenship Everyone born in the U S was automatically a citizen and entitles to all the privileges and immunities guaranteed by the Constitution Only the State of Tennessee Agreed to the 14th Amendment restored to the Union in 1866 because of this 1866 Congressional Elections gave Republican The Radicals enough power to enact a plan of their own even over the presidents objections THE CONGRESSIONAL PLAN The Radicals passed 3 Reconstruction Bills in 1867 as a result 10 Confederate States Split into 5 Military Districts Texas Arkansas Louisiana Mississippi Alabama Georgia Florida South Carolina North Carolina Virginia A military commander governed each district Had to register qualified voters White and Black Males ONLY who never participated in the rebellion Each State had to create new constitutions Had to include provisions for Black Suffrage voting Had to agree to the 14th Amendment to be restored to the Union Had to agree to the 15th Amendment later added in 1870 forbid the state and federal government from denying voting to any citizen based on race color or previous condition of servitude status of slavery 3 P a g e The Unfinished Nation A Concise History of the American People Volume 2 1867 The Radicals passed 2 more laws to stop Andrew Johnson 1 The Tenure of Office Act Forbid the President from removing civil officials including members of his own cabinet w o the approval of the Senate 2 The Command of the Army Act Prohibited the President from issuing military orders except through the commanding General of the Army General Grant who could not be fired or reassigned w o the approval of the Senate The Radicals proposed laws to stop the Supreme Court Would require 2 3 vote from the justices to support any decision to overrule a law of Congress Would deny the Supreme Court jurisdiction in Reconstruction cases Would reduce its membership to 3 justices THE IMPEACHMENT OF ANDREW JOHNSON 1867 President Andrew Johnson was impeached from office for firing the Secretary of War Stanton w o Congress approval The case was sent to the Senate for trial Impeachment Trial lasted 2 months and Congress lost the case 35 to 19 1 vote short of the 2 3 approval vote Impeachment case was dropped THE SOUTH IN RECONSTRUCTION THE RECONSTRUCTION GOVERNMENTS Southern White Republicans called Scalawags Farmers who lived