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Bell-work

EQ: What were the plans for Reconstruction?

Became the crowning achievement of Lincoln’s presidency

Encouraged freedman to join the USCT

Encouraged freeman to seek revenge against slave owners

Encouraged the passage of the 13th Amendment

The Emancipation Proclamation did all except

Agenda:

Reconstruction in a nutshell mini-lecture

Power Notes

Summary

I do

We Do

You do

ReconstructionWhat will be done when the war is over? Lincoln knew it would be a

challenge as evidenced by his second inauguration address

Reconstruction - The period following the Civil War in which Congress passed laws designed to rebuild the country and bring the Southern states back into the Union.

The problem was the president and Congress had different ideas about how it should be done!

President Abraham Lincoln• Lincoln wanted the country to come back together peacefully. • Lincoln’s plan was created in 1863, about two years before the end of the war.• At the time of his death(assassinated on April 15th, 1865) , the war was just

ending and he was not able to put his ideas into practice.• His plan was called the 10% plan, he wanted to readmit the southern states

quickly so the plan was lenient.

The Ten Percent Plan• 10% of voters in the seceded states must swear loyalty

under oath to the Union.• The seceded states must abolish slavery.

Republicans in Congress• Wanted to be more strict with the States that had rebelled. • Wanted a State to re-enter through a slower admission process and

wanted them to be punished for secession and the war

Wade-Davis Bill• The majority of white men from formerly Confederate states

must swear loyalty to the United States.• The seceded states must abolish slavery.• Former Confederate soldiers or volunteers cannot hold office

or vote.

President Andrew Johnson• Wanted to be strict with the States that had rebelled, but ended up making

it relatively easy for them. • This allowed for segregation of the races and Jim Crow laws (grandfather

clause, poll tax, literacy tests)

Johnson Plan• The majority of white men from formerly Confederate

states must swear loyalty to the United States.• Formerly Confederate states must ratify the 13th

Amendment.• Former Confederate officials may hold office and vote.

Radical Republicans• Radical republicans, often abolitionists, represented a large

part of Congress. • These Congressmen wanted to be strict with the States that

had rebelled. • They also wanted to protect the newly freed slaves.• So they passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 granting

citizenship rights to A.A and all people (nullified by separate but equal)

Reconstruction Act• Formerly Confederate states must disband their state

governments.• Formerly Confederate states must write new state constitutions. • Formerly Confederate states must ratify the 14th Amendment• Formerly Confederate states must allow African Americans to

vote.

13th Amendment (1865)

Ratified in December, 1865.

Banned slavery and forced labor except as punishment for convicted criminals.

Gave Congress the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation (laws)

14th Amendment

Ratified in July, 1868.* Provide a constitutional guarantee of the rights

and security of freed people.

* Says any person born in the US in a citizen

* Declares states may not pass laws that take away citizen’s rights (cannot deprive life, liberty, or property)

Southern states would be punished for denying the right to vote to black citizens!

Amendment became a tool for enforcing Civil Rights and put the Radical’s in charge of Reconstruction

15th Amendment

• Ratified in 1870• It barred all states from denying

African American males the right to vote, “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude)

• Amendment lacked power and states still required voters to own property or pay a poll tax

Rise of the KKK

• Anger about the success of free slaves and AA entering the political sphere led to the creation of secret societies to terrorize AA

• The most widely known was the Ku Klux Klan, who’s members wore white robes with hoods

• Threatened AA voters, burned crosses, and even torture, shoot, or hang AA

• Congress responded with the KKK Acts of 1870 or 1871 barred the use of force against voters

Freedman’s Bureau

• Priority was to assist AA in transitioning from a life of slavery to a life of freedom

• Primary goal is to provide emergency relief to those AA displaced by the war

• Government agency ran by the Department of War• The Bureau helped solve everyday problems of the

newly freed slaves, such as clothing, food, water, health care, communication with family members, and jobs.

End of Reconstruction

• Southern states are forced to readmit under military occupation

• Brought sweeping changes to the South both positive and negative, it will be called the “New South”