-
The 10 Percent Plan
The 10 Percent Plan was when Lincoln announced a plan for reconstructing the Confederate states that are already under control to abolish slavery. Lincoln offers Confederates who take a promise to support the Union, therefore, when 10 percent of the state's citizenseligible to vote in 1860 Lincoln promised to admit the state to the Union.
Fact: A convention met at Little Rock in January 1864, wrote a new constitution that abolished slavery and repudiated secession. -
Period: to
Reconstruction Timeline
Reconstruction Era -
The Wade-Davis Bill
Many Congressional Republicans thought the 10 percent plan was pitiful, that it did nothing for the economy, and the community. Plus, they thought that Lincoln went to far issuing the plan for reconstruction. The Wade-Davis bill requires states to abolish slavery, refuse to receive wartime debts, and rather than 10 percent of voters in 1860 to take a pledge of allegiance to reorganize states. However, Lincoln refused to sign the Wade-Davis Bill. -
Freedmen's Bureau
To plan an attempt to protect the rights of former slaves and to supply them with educational and medical needs, the Congress generated the Freedmen's Bureau. The top priority for the Freedmen's Bureau is to overlook labor contracts within ex-slaves, and employees.
Fact: Headed by Major General Oliver O. Howard, the Freedmen’s Bureau might be termed the first federal welfare agency. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Lincoln's Assassination makes Vice President Andrew Johnson president.
Fact: John Wilkes Booth initially plotted to kidnap President Lincoln early in 1864, in order to trade for ransom and the release of confederate prisoners of war.
Fact Cited: "Abraham Lincoln Assassination - Facts and Timeline." Lincoln's Assassination. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2014. <http://www.american-presidents-history.com/abraham- lincoln-assassination.html>. -
Johnson's plan for reconstruction
Johnson gave immediate forgiveness towards Cofederates; own less than $20,000 of property. Ex-Confederates may request Johnson for presidential forgiveness. His proposal to readmit former Confederate states needs them to order conventions to deny their acts of secession, and eliminate slavery, reject war debts. Texas was only state in December that didn't seek readmission. South Carolina didn't condemn their acts of secession, Mississippi refused to approve 13th ammendment; abolish slavery. -
Black Codes
"Black Codes," legal codes that deny African Americans the right to purchase or rent land, were adopted by the ex-Confederate states starting with Mississippi. More strict codes also denied the right to bear arms to African Americans, come together after sunset, and marry whites. Homeless laws allowed authorities to arrest blacks "in idleness" and sell them at auctions, put them in chain gangs. Some laws let whites arrest any blacks for "insulting gestures" or malicious mischief." -
Johnson Declares the Union Restored
Besides Johnson's failure for readmissions, he announced that the Union was restored. Congress refused to seat Congressional representatives from former Confederate states. A joint committee of 6 senators, and 9 Representatives argued that former Confederate states had forfeited their statehood, and declared that only Congress, no the President, can readmit the Union. -
The States Ratify the 13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment abolishes slavery. -
Congress Attempts to Protect Ex-Slaves by Expanding the Power of the Freedmen's Bureau
As a reaction to the black codes, Congress attempts to protect freemen's rights by maxmizing the power of the Freedmen's Bureau. Giving it power to try people who deny freedmen of civil rights in military court. The bill is passed over President Johnson's veto.
Fact: In 1866, Congress passed the Freedmen's Bureau Bill, providing shelter and provision for former slaves and protection of their rights in court, as well as the Civil Rights Act, defining all persons born in the U.S. as citizens. -
Congress Passes the Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was taken over by President Johnson's veto, listing the rights of the citizens in the U.S. Also, includes the right to make contracts, sue, and give evidence in court, plus purchase and sell property,
Fact: The Civil Rights Act of 1866 granted citizenship and the same rights enjoyed by white citizens to all male persons in the United States "without distinction of race or color, or previous condition of slavery or involuntary servitude." -
Congress Submits 14th Amendment to the States for Ratification
Congress offered the 14th Amendment, which warrants the citizenship of African Americans, in case the Supreme Court declares the Civil Rights Act unconstitutional. It also drops all Confederate debts, and drops any government from supplying repayment for loss of slaves. While it doesn't warrant African Americans the right to vote, it lowers Congressional Representation of states that oppose franchises. President Johnson advises southern legislatures to decline the amendment. -
Whites Riot in Memphis and New Orleans
Riotes occurring in Tennessee, Memphis, Louisiana, and New Orleans, caused numerous African Americans to be killed. That persuaded many Northerners that powerful measures are needed to save the freedmen.
Fact: The Memphis Riots of 1866 refers to the violent events that occurred from May 1 to 3 in Memphis, Tennessee. -
Republicans Capture Two-Thirds of Both Houses of Congress
During the fall elections of 1866, Republicans won majority in all northern legislatures and two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress, satisfying the party of enough votes to overturn any presidential veto.
Fact:The views of Lincoln and Johnson prevailed until the Congressional elections of 1866 in the North, which enabled the Radicals to take control of policy, remove former Confederates from power, and enfranchise the freedmen. -
Congress Divides the South into Military Districts Subject to Martial Law
The First Reconstruction Act, which is a new program for reconstruction, divides the former Confederate states into five military districts due to martial law. Then, the ex-Confederate states need to ratify the 14th amendment, and take in new state constitutions ,and warrant black men the right to vote. 703,00 African Americans are registered as voters. In Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and south Carolina, black people make up the majority votes. -
Period: to
Impeachment on President Johnson
-
Impeachment of President Johnson
Congress passed multiple laws regarding presidential powers, due to prevent the President from obstructing his reconstruction program. That included restricting his authority over the army, and laws that prevents him from appointing Supreme Court Justices. Then came the Tenure of Office Act, which blocked him from removing without Senate approval. August 1867, Johnson tested Tenure of Office Act; removing Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War. February 1868, House voted to impeach him; 126-47 votes. -
Georgia Expels Blacks from Its State Legislature
In June 1868, six former Confederate states, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina, are readmitted to the Union. In September, Georgia expels blacks from its state legislature, causing Congress to re-impose the military rule in the state.
Fact: Between 1867 and 1872 sixty-nine African Americans served as delegates to the constitutional convention (1867-68) or as members of the state legislature. -
Grant Elected President
Ulysses S. Grant is elected president by only 306,000 votes out of 5.7 million cast. His victory depended on 500,000 black votes.
Fact: Ulysses S. Grant served as U.S. general and commander of the Union armies during the late years of the American Civil War, later becoming the 18th U.S. president.
Fact Cited: "Grant Elected President." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 18 May 2014. http://www.biography.com/people/ulysses-s-grant-9318285#awesm=~oEEJMIZyeHTe4r. -
Congress Proposes the 15th Amendment
In 1868, only eight northern states allow African Americans to vote. Furthermore,February 1869, Congress proposes the 15th Amendment, which bans states from denying a citizen of the vote because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The Amendment is ratified in March 1870.
Fact: Although ratified on February 3, 1870, the promise of the 15th Amendment would not be fully realized for almost a century. -
Period: to
The Force Act and the Ku Klux Klan Act
-
The Force Act and the Ku Klux Klan Act
To crush violent intimidation by the Ku Klux Klan and other secret organizations , and to imply the 14th and 15th Amendments, Congress passes the Force Act and the Ku Klux Klan Act banning the use of force to prevent people from voting.
Fact: With passage of the Third Force Act, popularly known as the Ku Klux Act, Congress authorizes President Ulysses S. Grant to declare martial law, impose heavy penalties against terrorist organizations, and use military force to suppress the Ku Klux Klan. -
Collapse of the Freedmen's Saving and Trust Company
Multiple former slaves funded their savings in Freedmen's Savings and Trust Company, which had been rented by the Federal government to teach the value of thrift. It failed following the Financial Panic of 1873, and the federal government doses nothing to bail out depositors.
Fact: The Freedman's Savings and Trust Company is a rare document that has a rich source of data pertaining to the ex-slave immediately following the Civil War. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1875
This law guarantees equal rights in public places and prohibits exclusion of blacks from juries. An article that would prohibit separated schools is defeated.
Fact: The last biracial U.S. Congress of the 19th century passed the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
Fact Cited: "The Civil Rights Act of 1875." PBS. PBS. Web. 16 May 2014. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reconstruction/activism/ps_1875.html. -
Period: to
Disputed Presidential Election of 1876
-
Disputed Presidential Election of 1876
The Republican Party agrees to remove all federal troops from the South, officially ending Reconstruction, for southern traditional support for Republican Rutherford Hayes's inauguration as president. The Republicans also pledge federal aid for southern railroad construction and flood control along the Mississippi River.
Fact: Samuel J. Tilden of New York outpolled Ohio's Rutherford B. Hayes in the popular vote, and had 184 electoral votes to Hayes' 165, with 20 votes uncounted.
