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Radical Republicans
Republicans who opposed Lincoln's plan to introduce a policy that would reconcile Southerners with the Union. These radical republicans did not want to reconcile with the south but rather in Thaddeus Steven's words, to "revolutionize Southern institutions, habits, and manners." Their main goals were to prevent leaders of the Confederacy from returning to power, make the Republican Party a powerful institution in the south, and wanted to help African Americans achieve voting rights. -
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Three Phases of Reconstruction
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Lincoln's Reconstruction
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Wade-Davis Bill
An alternative to Lincoln's plan agreed upon by moderate and radical Republicans. The bill would require the majority of the adult white males in a former Confederate state to take an oath of allegiance to the Union. The state could then hold a constitutional convention to create a new state government. Each state's convention would then have to abolish slavery, reject all debts, and deprive all former Confederate government officials and military officers of the right to vote or hold office. -
Freedmen's Bureau
The result of the refugee crisis prompted Congress to establish the Freedmen's Bureau. The bureau was part of the War Department, and General Oliver O. Howard was appointed its commissioner. With the army's support, the bureau played a key role in Reconstruction. It was given the task of feeding and clothing war refugees in the South using surplus army supplies. Beginning in September 1865 the bureau provided nearly 30,000 rations a day for the next year and helped prevent mass starvation. -
Black Codes
A series of laws passed by the new Southern state legislatures which severely limited African Americans' rights. The black codes varied from state to state, but they all seemed intended to keep African Americans in a condition similar to slavery. They were required to enter into annual labor contracts. Their children had to accept apprenticeships in some states and could be whipped or beaten while serving in these apprenticeships. -
Special Field Order 15
An order by General Sherman to divide land in the south into 40 acre parcels which were then given to black families. President Johnson eventually tried to give back this land to the owners and fired General Saxton of the Freedmen's Bureau who refused to carry out his order. Although the president opposed it congress made sure to support blacks in keeping their newly acquired land. This order led to the expression 40 acres and a mule. -
Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan
Lincoln's plan for reconstruction included the Ten-Percent Plan which only required 10% of men in former confederate states to pledge alliance to the Union before the state would be re-accepted. Lincoln wanted the Union to become whole quickly but many Republicans opposed his plan and opted for the Wade-Davis Bill which was similar but more strict. In the end neither were accepted and the states were slowly re-accepted into the Union. -
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13th - 15th Amendments
13th - 1865 Abolished slavery in every state as it was still allowed in the Union states but prohibited in Confederate ones prior to the Amendment.
14th- 1868 Granted citizenship to all people born in the United States excluding Native Americans. This Amendment was a response to the Black Codes in an attempt to preserve African American rights.
15th- 1870 Prohibited prevention of voting based on discrimination of any kind. Response to people preventing African Americans from voting. -
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“Great Constitutional Revolution” concept introduced by Carl Schurz
A concept which supported reconstruction because of the changes being made. Liberties were being expanded not only for African Americans but also whites. Before the war citizenship was too closely tied to race and people thought that the federal government took away rights when it was strong. But what had happened post war had changed the federal government into a giver of rights. -
Presidential Lincoln’s death
Lincoln had many who opposed him due to his stance on rights for African Americans and on one fateful day he was assassinated in a theater by John Wilkes Booth who despised Lincoln's stance on citizenship and voting rights for African Americans. Following Lincoln's death Johnson was appointed to be President who was less for helping out African Americans and ended up being impeached. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
Passed in an effort to override the black codes. The act granted citizenship to all persons born in the United States except Native Americans. It allowed African Americans to own property and stated they were to be treated equally in court. It also gave the federal government the power to sue people who violated those rights. This act eventually led to the Fourteenth Amendment because the Republicans were worried that it would be overturned by the Supreme Court. -
Klu Klux Klan
The largest Southern secret society started up by former Confederate soldiers in Tennessee. The Klan grew rapidly throughout the South and it's goal was to drive out carpetbaggers and intimidate African Americans. Which it did by burning down schools, houses, and churches. These actions successfully helped the South "regain" the South for the Democratic Party. -
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Presidential Reconstruction
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Reconstruction Acts
Also known as the military reconstruction acts split up the former Confederate states into districts which were controlled by the Union's military to serve as the acting government. Former Confederates were against these acts as they felt they had limited power in their own government. These acts needed to be fulfilled before the Confederate states could rejoin the Union though no matter how much they did not like it. -
Impeachment of President Johnson
In 1868 the Republicans knew that they had the votes to override any veto of their policies, but they also knew that President Johnson could interfere with their plans by refusing to enforce laws they passed. Although they distrusted Johnson, Republicans in Congress knew that the SoW and General Grant would support their policies. They decided to vote to impeach Johnson to prevent him from getting rid of those people but were 1 vote short of impeaching him. -
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Congressional/Military Reconstruction
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Scalawags
A Scotch-Irish term for weak, underfed, worthless animals which Southerners used to refer to white Southerners who worked with the Republicans. The scalawags were a diverse group. Some were former Whigs who had grudgingly joined the Democratic Party before the war. Many were owners of small farms who did not want the wealthy planters to regain power. Still others were business people who favored Republican Plans for developing the South's economy. -
Sharecroppers
Following the collapse of the Reconstruction African Americans returned to plantations owned by whites, where they either worked for wages or became tenant farmers, paying rent for the land they farmed. Most tenant farmers eventually became sharecroppers. Sharecroppers did not pay their rent in cash but instead paid a share of their crops around 1/2 -2/3. -
Enforcement Acts
These acts were passed under President Grant and protected many rights of African Americans such as the right to vote, serve in a jury, and receive equal protection under laws. It was passed because African Americans were being targeted by the Klan and needed protection. The acts led to the 14th amendment. -
Slaughterhouse Cases
These cases were the first to interpret the 14th amendment. And it held that the 14th amendment protected the privileges and immunities of citizens of the United states as opposed to citizens of states. Federal rights were few at the time but they did protect the right to travel between states and use rivers. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was passed so that African American's right could not be disregarded. It gave them equal treatment in public accommodations, public transportation, and prevented exclusion from juries. The act was meant to honor Sumner who had just passed at the time and proposed the bill. -
Compromise of 1877
The election of 1877 is known as the Compromise of 1877 due to many people concluding that a deal had been made. They speculated that in exchange for Hayes becoming president that Republicans would recall federal troops from the south. But it is not certain that a deal was made as by 1877 people were tired of the politics of the Reconstruction and even Republicans were ready to put an end to it. Even the previous president had recalled a few troops.
