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Congress Passes Wade-Davis Bill
This bill would require that 50% of white males in a southern state would remain loyal to the Union. It also stated that blacks would get the right to vote. Although, Lincoln had decided not to sign it and use a pocket veto. -
Lincoln's plan for Reconstruction
This plan was to take place to rebuild the south after the civil war. This plan also included the ten percent plan. The ten percent plan stated that ten percent of voters must take an oath of allegiance to the Union. Lincoln wanted to pardon the confederates and appeal the the poor whites. He wanted the process to be so so that states could quickly make new constitutions. -
13th Amendment Approved in Congress
The 13th amendment would fully abolish slavery in America. "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." Prior to having the 13th amendment, Lincoln had passed the Emancipation Proclamation but that did not quite end slavery. -
Freedmen's Bureau Established
The Freedmen's Bureau was established to protect the rights and freedoms of free African Americans and poor whites. It was set up to help these people after the Civil War. It provided food, housing, education, medical aid and legal aid to those who needed it. They were unable to make too much of an impact due to their shortage of funds. -
Johnson becomes President
Johnson was the 17th president of the United States. He had served as Vice President at the time of Lincoln's assassination. His plan for reconstruction did not include the protection of African Americans and favored restoring the damaged Union states. He was later impeached in 1869 -
Black Codes Enacted
The black codes were enacted in the south. They restricted blacks from having complete freedom. African Americans were restricted from holding real jobs. The codes basically replaced slave laws. They also existed in north. -
Radical Reconstruction Begins
Had been started by Radical Republicans. They had opposing ideas to President Johnson being that they supported federal civil rights for Freedmen. They had pushed for the 14th amendment to be ratified after violence against slaves in the South had occurred. They fought for equal rights for African Americans during Reconstruction. -
Civil Rights Bill of 1866 Passed
This was passed over Johnson's veto. This act stated that all people who had been born in the United States were citizens no matter their race. People who had not allowed former slaves to use their rights would be charged with misdemeanor and be faced with a fine. -
Credit Mobilier Scandal
This scandal had involved the Union Pacific Rail Road and a construction company when building the eastern part of the Transcontinental Railroad. The company had charged too high rates. Bribes had also been given to powerful politicians including the Vice President. -
Johnson fires Sec. of War Stanton
Edwin Stanton had not supported Johnson's very lax Reconstruction policies. After Johnson had attempted to fire him, Stanton had joined radical efforts to have Johnson impeached. Stanton had resigned as secretary of war in 1868 and in 1869 he had been appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. -
South Divided into Military Regions
The south was divided into 5 main regions during Reconstruction. The military was sent to protect the newly freed slaves. The south was divided into these regions after the radical republicans had passed the Military Reconstruction Acts of 1867. -
Johnson's impeachment
Andrew Johnson was impeached in 1868. He was impeached for his “high crimes and misdemeanors” dealing with the 2nd amendment. His main charge though was his ignorance of the Tenure of Office Act. The trial began on march 6th and on may 16th the senate failed to convict Johnson on one of the two articles. He was the first impeached president. -
14th Amendment Ratified
This amendment gives citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States". This had allowed all the freed slaved to have citizenship. This amendment is known as the "Reconstruction Amendment". Both women and African Americans had used this law to gain their right to vote. -
15th Amendment passed in Congress
The 15th amendment gave African American men the right to vote. This amendment signified the fulfillment of promises made to the African Americans in America. This signified the beginning of struggles that African Americans would face when fighting for equal rights and ending segregation. -
Grant Elected President
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th president of the United States. His time in the White House lasted from March 4th 1869 to March 4th 1877. He served 2 terms. Prior to serving as president, Grant had served as a general in the military. He had been the youngest president to have ever served at that point in history. Grant strived for a peaceful reconciliation between the north and south and focused on reconstruction. -
Southern States Codify and Enforce Segregation
The southern states, even after the civil war, were still reluctant to fully embrace emancipation. to retaliate and take away new freedoms for African Americans, the south put Jim Crow Laws in place. These laws were passed to enforce segregation. Black children were not allowed in white school and transportation was even separated. After Brown vs. The Board of Education, Jim Crow laws had been removed from the south. -
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 was a financial crisis in both Europe and North America. It had lasted about 5 years in America and even longer in other countries. In England, this event is known as the "Long Depression". In American this was known as the "Great Depression" before the events in the 1930s. -
Colfax Massacre
This was a riot that had occurred on Easter Sunday in 1873. About 150 African American men had been murdered bu white men in Colfax, Louisiana. This showed the African Americans that they had the great disadvantage in their fight for equality. This was the worst act of racial violence that had taken place during the Reconstruction era. -
Civil Rights Bill of 1875
The bill was enacted during the reconstruction of the south to ensure the freedom and fair treatment of African Americans. This bill was signed into aw by Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil Rights Bill was the last legislation related to the Reconstruction era and the last bill for civil rights to be passed until the Civil Rights act of 1957. -
Reconstruction Officially Ends
By the end of Reconstruction, Johnson had been impeached. African Americans now faced the challenge of earning their equal and civil rights in both the North and the South. Many African American men had begun to participate in government after the 15th amendment had been passed. Although, there were more problems with racist blacks in the south. Ulysses S. Grant has been elected as the new president and scandals and financial problems arise.
