ReconstructionReconstruction

The Freemen The Freemen &&

Restoring the UnionRestoring the Union

Destruction of the Old SouthDestruction of the Old South The war had utterly devastated the The war had utterly devastated the

CSACSA• Physical destructionPhysical destruction• Cultural destructionCultural destruction• Way of life was alteredWay of life was altered• Considerable economic displacementConsiderable economic displacement

Manassas Junction, VirginiaManassas Junction, Virginia

Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia

The FreedmenThe Freedmen Sudden freedom was not what many Sudden freedom was not what many

former slaves thought it would be.former slaves thought it would be. Difficult transition for many freedmen. It Difficult transition for many freedmen. It

was hard for the newly freed slaves to was hard for the newly freed slaves to adapt to freedom.adapt to freedom.

Many had high hopes. Sherman wanted to Many had high hopes. Sherman wanted to divide up parts of the CSA and give each divide up parts of the CSA and give each Freedman 40 acres of land that had Freedman 40 acres of land that had belonged to a confederate.belonged to a confederate.

Southern DespairSouthern Despair White southerners faced a daunting task.White southerners faced a daunting task. Their states had been physically Their states had been physically

destroyed.destroyed. Disease and hunger were problems.Disease and hunger were problems. Capital was gone. Three sources of Capital was gone. Three sources of

financial loss.financial loss.• Slaves were now free.Slaves were now free.• Destruction of property.Destruction of property.• Confederate economic system destroyed, the Confederate economic system destroyed, the

CSA’s debts, currency, and bonds were void.CSA’s debts, currency, and bonds were void.

Lincoln’s plan for ReconstructionLincoln’s plan for Reconstruction Lincoln wanted to Lincoln wanted to healheal the Union quickly. “I shall the Union quickly. “I shall

destroy my enemy by making him my friend.”destroy my enemy by making him my friend.” Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction was Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction was

issued on Dec. 8, 1863.issued on Dec. 8, 1863.• It offered a full pardon, It offered a full pardon, amnestyamnesty, to all southerners, , to all southerners,

except high ranking Confederate leaders, who would except high ranking Confederate leaders, who would swear an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and swear an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and would swear to follow all federal laws.would swear to follow all federal laws.

• The “10 Percent Plan” would allow a state to rejoin the The “10 Percent Plan” would allow a state to rejoin the Union when 10 percent of the state’s residents had Union when 10 percent of the state’s residents had sworn their loyalty to the Union.sworn their loyalty to the Union.

Lincoln’s approachLincoln’s approach Unlike Congress, Lincoln did not want Unlike Congress, Lincoln did not want

to have a harsh reconstruction plan.to have a harsh reconstruction plan. Lincoln favored a flexible, lenient Lincoln favored a flexible, lenient

approach.approach. We will never know if his ideas would We will never know if his ideas would

have worked.have worked. Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth

on April 14, 1865.on April 14, 1865.

Lincoln’s Private CarLincoln’s Private Car Funeral Coach Funeral Coach

The Locomotive That Pulled The Locomotive That Pulled Lincoln’s Funeral TrainLincoln’s Funeral TrainPhoto Courtesy of H.L. Broadbelt Collection of Baldwin Locomotive WorksPhoto Courtesy of H.L. Broadbelt Collection of Baldwin Locomotive Works

Lincoln’s Funeral Train in Lincoln’s Funeral Train in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania

Photo courtesy of H.L. Broadbelt Collection of Baldwin Locomotive Works NegativesPhoto courtesy of H.L. Broadbelt Collection of Baldwin Locomotive Works Negatives

Lincoln’s rail pass as a state legislator in Illinois. He was aLincoln’s rail pass as a state legislator in Illinois. He was a strong advocate of strong advocate of rail transportation and a transcontinental railroad. He believed it would tie the rail transportation and a transcontinental railroad. He believed it would tie the

west to the rest of the nation.west to the rest of the nation.

The Funeral Train on the The Funeral Train on the Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania Railroad

Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania RailroadPhoto courtesy of the Pennsylvania Railroad

Funeral Train Power In OhioFuneral Train Power In OhioPhoto courtesy of Dr. S.R. WoodsPhoto courtesy of Dr. S.R. Woods

Final Leg of the JourneyFinal Leg of the JourneyThe Funeral Train heads for Springfield, IllinoisThe Funeral Train heads for Springfield, Illinois

Photo courtesy of the Illinois Central RailwayPhoto courtesy of the Illinois Central Railway

President Andrew JohnsonPresident Andrew Johnson He was a Democrat. Unusual as Lincoln He was a Democrat. Unusual as Lincoln

was a Republican. Selected for his pro-was a Republican. Selected for his pro-Union beliefs as well as the hope that he Union beliefs as well as the hope that he could reach out to Southern Democrats could reach out to Southern Democrats and Unionists.and Unionists.

Former slaveholder and tailor.Former slaveholder and tailor. Very little former education.Very little former education. Hated the wealthy Southern Planters.Hated the wealthy Southern Planters. Very low regard for African-Americans.Very low regard for African-Americans. Did not have Lincoln’s political skill or the Did not have Lincoln’s political skill or the

ability to compromise.ability to compromise.

Johnson & CongressJohnson & Congress Initially Johnson got along with Initially Johnson got along with

Congress.Congress. Wanted to punish high ranking CSA Wanted to punish high ranking CSA

officials – this pleased Congress.officials – this pleased Congress. Then he issued a blanket pardon to Then he issued a blanket pardon to

all confederates except CSA all confederates except CSA officeholders and wealthy officeholders and wealthy landowners. He pardoned these on landowners. He pardoned these on an individual basis.an individual basis.

Johnson’s Reconstruction PlanJohnson’s Reconstruction Plan Only required the following:Only required the following:

• Nullify their acts of secessionNullify their acts of secession• Abolish slaveryAbolish slavery• Refuse to pay CSA debts – a provision Refuse to pay CSA debts – a provision

designed to hurt the wealthy planters designed to hurt the wealthy planters who had financed the CSA.who had financed the CSA.

Johnson’s Reconstruction PlanJohnson’s Reconstruction Plan Would allow former CSA leaders to be in Would allow former CSA leaders to be in

control of Reconstruction in their own control of Reconstruction in their own state. Many were ex-CSA military officers state. Many were ex-CSA military officers who still wore their uniforms.who still wore their uniforms.

Removed black Union soldiers from the Removed black Union soldiers from the South due to complaints.South due to complaints.

Recognized Mississippi’s new government Recognized Mississippi’s new government despite the state’s failure to ratify the 13despite the state’s failure to ratify the 13thth amendment abolishing slavery.amendment abolishing slavery.

The Black CodesThe Black Codes Designed to deny former slaves their new Designed to deny former slaves their new

found freedom.found freedom. Prevented them from:Prevented them from:

• Holding meetings unless whites were present.Holding meetings unless whites were present.• Travel without a permit.Travel without a permit.• Own firearms.Own firearms.• Reestablished white control over black labor. Reestablished white control over black labor.

Some states required 12 month labor Some states required 12 month labor contracts.contracts.

Congressional ObjectionsCongressional Objections Did not like the 10 Percent Plan.Did not like the 10 Percent Plan. Did not trust the rebels to conform or Did not trust the rebels to conform or

protect the rights of the newly freed protect the rights of the newly freed slaves.slaves.

Also felt Congress should control Also felt Congress should control Reconstruction.Reconstruction.

Wade-Davis BillWade-Davis Bill Passed in the summer of 1864, it Passed in the summer of 1864, it

required the former Confederate required the former Confederate states to abolish slavery and for a states to abolish slavery and for a majority of each state’s white males majority of each state’s white males to take a loyalty oath.to take a loyalty oath.

Vetoed by Lincoln. He did not wish Vetoed by Lincoln. He did not wish to be tied to a single plan of to be tied to a single plan of Reconstruction.Reconstruction.