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Ten Percent Plan
Abraham Lincoln issued the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction in which he outlined his ten percent plan. -
The Wade-Davis Bill and Freedmen's Bureau
Radical Republicans thought that Lincoln was too nice with Southerners. So they and their moderate Republican allies passed the Wade-Davis Bill. Also Congress successfully created the Freedmen's Bureau, which helped distribute food, land, and supplies for freed slaves. -
Presidential Reconstruction
John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln in Ford's Theater in Washington D.C., and vice president Andrew Johnson became president. He readmitted the southern states using Lincoln's Ten-Percent Plan. -
Legislation For Blacks
The bureau's charter was renewed by congress. They also passed the Civil Right Act. Radical Republicans passed the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendment. -
The Swing Around the Circle
Many southerners reacted very violently to the Civil Rights Act of 1866. White people from Tennessee formed the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Johnson blamed Congress for what was happening with the KKK and called it the "swing around the circle." -
Johnson's Impeachment
Congress wanted to limit Johnson's power, so they passed on the Tenure of Office Act. It required president to consult with the House and Senate before removing any congressional appointed cabinet members. Johnson ignored the Tenure of Office Act and fired Stanton, republicans in the House impeached him by a vote of 127-47. Senate voted the president by a margin of only one vote. -
Radical Reconstruction
First Reconstruction Act divided south into five conquered districts, each would be governed by the U.S. military until a new government was established. Also, congress passed the Second Reconstruction act, putting military in charge of southern voter registration. Also, passed Fifteenth Amendment, giving all American men, including former slaves, the right to vote. -
Sharecroppers
Most former slaves in the South became sharecroppers during the Reconstruction period, leasing plots of land from their former masters in exchange for a percentage of the crop yield. -
Black codes and KKK
While presidential reconstruction was being made, white supremacist congressmen passed laws called black codes, which denied black's right to make contracts, testify against whites, marry white women, be unemployed, and be in public places. The KKK was very violent the congress had to pass the KKK act to authorize military protection for blacks. -
Liberal Republicans and The Election
New scandals split the Republican Party in 1872, as reform-minded Liberal Republicans broke from the ranks of moderates and radicals. The Liberal Republicans wanted to institute reform, downsize the federal government, and bring a swift end to Reconstruction. Grant defeated Greeley by more than 200 electoral votes and 700,000 popular votes. -
The Depression
Millions lost their jobs, and unemployment climbed as high as 15 percent. Many blacks, landless whites, and immigrants from both North and South suffered greatly, demanding relief from the federal government. -
The Depression
Millions lost their jobs, and unemployment climbed as high as 15 percent. Many blacks, landless whites, and immigrants from both North and South suffered greatly, demanding relief from the federal government -
Resumption Act
Republicans, refusing to give in to demands to print more paper money, instead withdrew money from the economy by passing the Resumption Act of 1875 to curb skyrocketing inflation. -
Resumption Act
Republicans, refusing to give in to demands to print more paper money, instead withdrew money from the economy by passing the Resumption Act of 1875 to curb skyrocketing inflation. -
The Dispute Election
Tilden campaigned for restoration of the Union and an end to government corruption. The Republican Party, on the other hand, chose the virtually unknown Rutherford B. Hayes. Many Northern voters, tired of Reconstruction and hoping for more federal relief because of the depression, voted Democrat. Ultimately, Tilden received 250,000 more popular votes than Hayes, and 184 of the 185 electoral votes needed to become president. -
The Disputed Election
Tilden campaigned for restoration of the Union and an end to government corruption. The Republican Party, on the other hand, chose the virtually unknown Rutherford B. Hayes. Many Northern voters, tired of Reconstruction and hoping for more federal relief because of the depression, voted Democrat. Tilden received 250,000 more popular votes than Hayes, and 184 of the 185 electoral votes needed to become president. -
The Compromise
Congress passed the Electoral Count Act in early 1877, creating a fifteen-man commission—eight Republicans and seven Democrats—to recount disputed votes in South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida. Resentment and political deadlock threatened to divide the country, but both parties were able to avoid division and strike a deal with the Compromise of 1877. Hayes became president, withdrew the troops, and ended Reconstruction. -
The Compromise
With the election result hanging in the balance, Congress passed the Electoral Count Act in early 1877, creating a fifteen-man commission—eight Republicans and seven Democrats—to recount disputed votes in South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida. Democrats agreed to concede the presidency to the Republicans in exchange for the complete withdrawal of federal troops from the South. Hayes became president, withdrew the troops, and ended Reconstruction. -
Sharecroppers
Most former slaves in the South became sharecroppers during the Reconstruction period, leasing plots of land from their former masters in exchange for a percentage of the crop yield. -
Liberal Republicans and The Election
The discovery of new scandals split the Republican Party in 1872, as reform-minded Liberal Republicans broke from the ranks of moderates and radicals. The Liberal Republicans wanted to institute reform, downsize the federal government, and bring a swift end to Reconstruction. Grant easily defeated Greeley by more than 200 electoral votes and 700,000 popular votes.