THE AMERICANS SECTION 12 .1

The Politics of Reconstruction

Lincoln’s Plan

LenientGoal: Lenient to the South to quickly rebuild the

Union

Ten Percent Plan10% of Southerners must take an oath of allegianceUnsuccessful because Congress wants to punish the

South

OutcomeLincoln dies before the plan could be put into action

Republican Reaction

HarshGoal: Wanted to

punish the Southern whites and empower freed slaves

Leader: Thaddeus Stevens

Republican Reaction

Wade-Davis Bill: Proposed that Congress, not the President be in charge of Reconstruction.Also, held that a majority (51%, not

just 10%) of former Confederates must take an oath of allegiance

Unsuccessful because Lincoln pocket vetoes the bill

Republican Reaction

Pocket Veto• if Congress submits a bill with less than

10 days remaining in the session, the President can veto a bill by not taking any action on it all – letting it sit

• when this happens, the bill dies without ever being finally decided

Johnson’s Plan

Presidential Reconstruction

Lenient (easier than Lincoln’s “Ten-Percent Plan”)

Goal: Reunite North and South Punish wealthy white

Southerners

Johnson’s Plan

Four Parts1. Each state would have to withdraw it

secession2. Swear allegiance to United States3. Annul Confederate war debts4. Ratify the 13th Amendment (abolishing

slavery)

Johnson’s Plan

“white men alone must manage the South.”Opposed to slavery, Johnson did not want

equal rights for African-AmericansJohnson was lenient on Southern states

abiding by the terms of Presidential Reconstruction (for example, Mississippi did not ratify the 13th Amendment)

Johnson pardoned Confederates who had fought against the US angering Radical Republicans and African-Americans

Johnson’s Vetoes

Freedman’s Bureau: goal was to feed and house freed slaves

and poor whitesCivil Rights Act of 1866

Goal was to forbid black codes passed by states

Johnson’s reaction: Vetoes both!

In the Congressional midterm election in 1866, Radical Republicans get 2/3 control of both houses of Congress and can override any future Johnson veto

Congressional Reconstruction

Reconstruction Act of 1867HarshSought to punish Confederates for the war

and for slaveryDid not recognize state government admitted

under the Lincoln and Johnson plans

Reconstruction Act of 1867

Four Parts1. Divided the other 10 former Confederate

States into 5 military districts, each headed by a Union General

2. Voters in the districts, including African-Americans, would elect delegates to state constitution conventions

3. New state constitutions had to ensure suffrage to African-American men

4. Each state had to ratify the 14th Amendment

Fourteenth Amendment

Four Parts1. African-Americans are citizens2. Equal protection under the law for blacks3. Banned Confederates from voting/holding

office4. Annulled all Confederate debts from the

war

Congressional Reconstruction

Tenure of Office ActPresident cannot remove an appointed

cabinet members with out Senate permissionJohnson did anywayAlthough he was impeached by the House of

Representatives, he was not removed by a margin of one vote

Congressional Reconstruction

15th AmendmentAffected Northern and Southern states alikeNo one can be prevented from voting based

on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”